To contact a prospective ECA you would want to know your prospective ECA before determining the best way to approach them. I'm not talking about having to know them personally, but you will want an idea of what their 'brick and mortar' store is all about.
Not every prospective ECA will have a "brick and mortar" store either. One of the best ways to find a potential ECA is on foot - go to a local Farmer's Market or flea market that is in your town. People who handcraft their own items are ideal ECA's with TripleClicks and would very likely jump at the chance to sell their creations online.
Once you have made your game plan of who you will approach, gather the information you will want them to have. Print out flyers or brochures that are available on our own Marketplace here at SFI.
Dress appropriately - no one will take you seriously if you show up at a local dress boutique wearing ripped up cutoffs and a stained t-shirt!
You don't want to over-dress either - a 3 piece suit is too much too stuffy if you are approaching prospects at a Farmers Market. Just use your best judgement and common sense and you will be fine.
Obviously, if you are approaching potential ECA's at a craft fair, an open-air market or even a food cart on a city street, the best way is face-to-face. Talk to the owner (if you can) or a salesperson, about the items they have displayed, ask them how they make them, where they get supplies, how do they usually sell their wares? That is a natural lead-in to offering to set them up with TripleClicks and the perfect time to hand them your marketing materials like flyers, business cards and the like.
Potential ECA's can also be found on the internet. You certainly don't want to spam anyone, but if you work with someone who has a side-business or even just a friend that wants to sell their clutter, you can get their email address, then send them one, two or three gift cards. Explain that they are getting the cards, what they are worth and then tell them that they could sell their items on TripleClicks too. This gives them the chance to get into TC and look around. It will "sell" itself.
You can advertise on classified ads, even offer the gift cards with a headline like "Get a FREE webpage to sell your stuff! Here is $12 just to check it out!" or some type of enticement like this. Anyone that responds may very well turn into your next ECA.
So, like I said in the beginning, know your targeted potential ECA's. Be professional. Know your stuff. Be prepared. Use your imagination and have fun!
PS - SFI has way more answers than I do to this question.
Check out https://www.sfimg.com/Training/ECAStrategies
less
To contact a prospective ECA you would want to know your prospective ECA before determining the best way to approach them. I'm not talking about having to know them personally, but you will want an idea of what their 'brick and mortar' store is all about.
Not every prospective ECA will have a "brick and mortar" store either. One of the best ways to find a potential ECA is on foot - go to a local Farmer's Market or flea market that is in your town. People who handcraft their
...
more