10 Quick Recession-Proof Strategies to Sell More in a Down Economy

Interior Designers - 10 Quick Recession-Proof Strategies to Sell More in a Down Economy

As an interior designer, no doubt things don't look great for your interior design business. But you don't have to throw your hands up in despair. Below are 10 quick steps you can take to sell more in a down economy.


1. Reactivate Dormant Accounts - Contact previous clients and suggest ideas for areas you talked about with them, but didn't get around to doing, last time you worked with them. Don't spend too much time, but it could muster up memories of more work that you want to do.


2. Reactivate Old Leads - Although they may not have ordered in the past, don't give up. Get back in touch and see if there's anything they'd like or need today.


3. Give superior Service - With the clients you do have, spend the time to give them exceptional service and attention. Go over the top. Send a special thank you gift, handwritten note, etc.


4. Create Packages - Group items or services together to create a package 'deal'. A window treatment, coordinating pillows and a matching headboard for a bedroom.


5. Break Things Down - Offer to do larger projects in manageable phases. This creates smaller budgets and more phases for your client. Sometimes doing projects in smaller increments helps clients make the commitment to move forward. Think of it as a payment plan. Sometimes it comes down to the fact that people will buy if there's a payment plan, and they won't if there's not.


6. Use Low Cost Add-Ons to Increase Sales - Suggest coordinating pillows, a table skirt or seat cushions, trim on draperies, a remote control for window treatments, an upgraded finish on cabinets, etc.


7. No Prima Donna's - It's tempting to get a swelled head when things are busy and you're in demand. But when things are slow, your clients have choices as to who they want to work with. And you may not be their first choice.


8. Don't Raise Your Fees - Clients that might not usually be price conscious are much more so now. So keep your fees at a minimum and you're more likely to keep the money coming in.


9. Get More Aggressive with Your Marketing - When things are slow, take advantage of the lull and increase the amount of time you spend on marketing. Update your website, negotiate better rates with newspaper or magazine advertising, spend more time networking and establishing relationships.


10. Start Moving Your Offline Marketing to Online - Online marketing is nearly free. A printed newsletter costs a bundle to send every month, but an online newsletter can cost $15 - $30 per month, depending on the size of your list.

Being affected by an economy that is not doing too good is not reason to give up. There are a lot of strategies on how to boost your business even if the economy is down. It might be really discouraging to go on especially if your business isn't doing as well as it used to be. This is why we came up with this list of strategies. Why prolong your agony when you can do something about it? You just have to take a look at the strategies we gave, step it up and you'll be on your way to success in no time.

By Barbara Deckmeyer
Photography by Redbaron


Barbara Deckmeyer works with Interior Designers in business for over 5 years who want more clients or are ready for more big-budget clients. Visit http://www.HighDollarDesigner.com for FREE Marketing Tools or for More Information Today! (c) Copyright - Barbara Deckmeyer. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.



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