Advertising to Teens w/low budget

**KKoher** · 12-20-2007 07:29 AM

Hey, anyone have any great advertising ideas? We are a clothing and accessory store, mainly selling to teens and young adults. I know word of mouth is the best form of advertisment...but, we would like to do something to get the word out about us. We don't have a hugh budget so tv is out...any other ideas?

**jasaunders** · 12-20-2007 08:00 AM

Sure, what is your budget?

**akula** · 12-20-2007 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by KKoher

Hey, anyone have any great advertising ideas? We are a clothing and accessory store, mainly selling to teens and young adults. I know word of mouth is the best form of advertisment...but, we would like to do something to get the word out about us. We don't have a hugh budget so tv is out...any other ideas?

what are the case studies of sucessful clothing and accessory stores telling you?

**KKoher** · 12-20-2007 09:22 AM

As far as budget goes, between $500-$1000. And for other successful stores, I don't know. Out biggest competition is Hot Topic, Pac Sun, and Anchor Blue. I've never seen them do any advertising on tv, newspaper, or any where. Its basically word of mouth, atleast that I know of.

**ltressel** · 12-20-2007 10:11 AM

KKoher,

All of the said competitions are nationally known and have already been around years. They've established a following from skaters to surfers.

You've mentioned that your market segment is punk rock, do a research on that specific area. You've also mentioned before that you are in the mall (please correct me if I'm wrong), make sure that you're store front looks trendy and not just a mom and pop looking store.

I see store fronts that are not part of a retail chain and they cannot compete with the store layout and design. I know that I don't walk in them. It takes a lot of creativity to win curiosity of mall rats and mall wanderers. I would really concentrate on that aspect because $500-1,000 dollars isn't enough to run a good campaign.

Since the mall provides you with traffic already, your job is to reel them in the store. Think of something that intrigues them about your store. Maybe frame some vinyl covers of punk rock bands for the purpose of nostalgia. Maybe buy some memorabilia from the punk rock time line. This is where your going to activate your word of mouth activities.

I think you get what I mean. Just think outside the box. I'm sure you can think of something better than what I've spouted here. Good luck to you. Hey maybe you can also show us your store front some time.

LT

**2gould** · 12-20-2007 10:36 AM

Find a few spots where your target market hangs out and pass out flyers or postcards. Are there any magazines or publications that they typically read? Barter for an ad in those publications.

Go and read the book Guerilla Marketing; borrow it from the library if you don't want to buy it. The book will give you tons of ideas that are inexpensive yet supposedly effective. I bought it and was quite pleased with all the advice.

**KKoher** · 12-20-2007 12:36 PM

Hey...Thanks for all the advice. Our store is in the mall, and we do have a very eye catching store front, and layout inside. We will probably talk to the demographics office, and send out postcards to the families in the area with coupons and such. Check out our MySpace with pictures of the store, and let me know what you think....myspace.com/akoher Thanks.

**jasaunders** · 12-20-2007 12:58 PM

If you are a retail buisiness, you need to have an advertising budget bigger than $500-$1000. That is tiny and won't be effective at all. You need to spend money to make money.

**ltressel** · 12-20-2007 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by KKoher

Hey...Thanks for all the advice. Our store is in the mall, and we do have a very eye catching store front, and layout inside. We will probably talk to the demographics office, and send out postcards to the families in the area with coupons and such. Check out our MySpace with pictures of the store, and let me know what you think....myspace.com/akoher Thanks.

Direct Mailing only works if you really have "pure" target list. Getting it from the mall demographics office will be pointless. What you will get is a generic list of income, sex, occupation, etc. However, your main demographic are teenagers.

They have no income and probably no occupation just yet. Besides they are not the type to fill out surveys from surveyors. The "list", needles to say will be inaccurate data for you. Your money will be wasted on printing costs and postcards that went to waste because "mom" who is normally the mail sorter in the household has thrown your postcard away.

Think outside the box, man. Invite a local punk rocker group with a following and invite them at your grand opening for cd sample signing or something.....

LT

**2gould** · 12-20-2007 01:35 PM

Or...go to the concerts that are popular with your customers and talk to them about your store and getting the word out. Ask them how best to reach out, they will obviously know.

**stand856** · 12-20-2007 02:41 PM

Better yet go to the concerts with plain white t's and have your store's logo on them, give them out for free. $1000 will go a long way.

**globalsouth** · 12-26-2007 03:20 PM

Have you tried facebook?

**rogercbryan** · 12-26-2007 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by stand856

Better yet go to the concerts with plain white t's and have your store's logo on them, give them out for free. $1000 will go a long way.

I like this idea. You can hang out in front of the shows after they are over and pass out postcards with some type of discount on them. This is a great and efficient way to market. Plus you can measure your success by the number of cards that are brought back in.

Try PostCardMania.com you can get 6000 cards for $395 ask for Sabrina and tell her Roger Bryan sent you (I'll get $50 off my next order)... sorry- full disclosure :-)

You can also try putting a few items up on eBay. Make sure the posting looks good and it gives as much info about your company as possible. You should be able to list and item for under $5 and get 100-1000 hits. This is a great marketing venue. Do read eBay’s terms and conditions before going about this as it can get a little tricky.

**MASapparel** · 12-26-2007 03:53 PM

Yeah the card idea is a good one and I provide printing and design on items like that. I would offer you a good deal since I like the people on the forums.

Around 5000 cards for 150 and then another 100 for the design.

Also you could give out free shirts with your store name on it for purchases over $50 or something along those lines.

Which we also do and I would give you a good deal on as well.

If you are interested or have any questions email me at info@makeascenenow.com

This pretty much stands for everyone else on the forums as well.

**BusinessAdviser** · 12-26-2007 05:08 PM

My two cents:

These are all great ideas, I suppose. The problem for me is that I don't know enough about the company to try to offer advice as to how best to advertise. With such a small budget, you need to focus on the most efficient and effective ways to get to your niche target market. You told us who your competitors are, but why? And what do you do to differentiate yourself from them? What do you have that is unique to your company? Once we know how you're different and where the value in your company lies relative to your competitors, ONLY THEN can optimal advice be given regarding marketing.