Author:
Cassie Scott
If community members don’t come to you, you must go to them.
Whether you set up a booth at nearby fall festivals, county fairs or farmer’s markets, your business benefits in many ways when you stay involved in your community. Let’s review the perks of boosting your profile locally.
Community events help you meet people who might like archery or bowhunting. Use these face-to-face interactions to establish rapport with potential customers. Photo Credit: ATA/Lester Photography.
1. Increased Brand Exposure
Exhibiting is a great way to network, build relationships and market your business. Chances are your business isn’t on Main Street, but you can make it mainstream at local events! Use clever signage, fun attractions and good marketing techniques to draw attention to your business and boost your brand’s reputation.
2. Attract New Customers
Community events help you meet people who might like archery or bowhunting. Use these face-to-face interactions to establish rapport with potential customers. Smile, explain your business and its services, and invite them to try archery right now or later at your shop. Give them your business card or something that includes your company’s information. To further entice prospects, give them a coupon or discount card for free range time. They’ll be more inclined to visit when they’re available.
Although selling products at community events generates immediate sales, it’s more important to focus on building relationships and long-term customers. The sales will follow. Photo Credit: ATA/Lester Photography.
3. Provide Education and Instruction
Community events are opportunities to emphasize that archery is fun, safe and inclusive, especially for new participants. The ATA’s many resources can help, including the ATA Archery Safety Brochure, which compares the sport’s injury rate to those of football, baseball, soccer and other sports. You’ll learn why archery is one of the nation’s safest recreations.
By including information about safety, you’ll ease fears and answer questions, which might give them the confidence to try archery. Also explain archery’s many benefits, and introduce them to your certified instructors, who assure newcomers they’ll learn proper shooting form, and enjoy fun, positive experiences.
4. Generate Sales
Although selling products at community events generates immediate sales, it’s more important to focus on building relationships and long-term customers. The sales will follow. People like to support businesses that support their community, and they prefer to buy from companies they know. By making your community members feel valued and appreciated, you’ll see never-ending returns on your investments.
Get involved in local events to increase participation and build a strong archery community. It takes time and effort, but the benefits reward the work.
Need help planning your event and boosting attendance? Contact Nicole Nash, ATA’s member outreach manager, at (866) 266-2776, ext. 116, or nicolenash@archerytrade.org.