The Grass Doctor

Does it make sense to pass out a manufacturers flyer with our business card attached?

we have a well established service company in the lawn care/ landscaping field..one of the owners wants to diversify the business by distributing flyers printed up by a major manufacturer of outdoor lighting products and simply staple our current business card to it. I say that it is a bad idea because first of all we dont even come close to doing all the work that could be done for our existing customers, neighbors, and referrals--secondly we have no track record and no experience in the new area--and thirdly if someone has an interest and calls the company or goes to their web site we are not on the approved vendor list for our area and their website will send them to someone else. Are there any published figures on marketing using flyers like this to a cold market? What has been other peoples experience ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Public Comments

1. It seems you are asking the basic question "Do flyers work?" answer..yes...especially when they are professional looking and include a worthwhile offer. ...stapling a business card onto it.....well that only makes sense if the flyer attached to it is also of your company....which in this case it appears it isn't. Your overall theory on the strategy is correct in my estimation. If you are not an authorized service dealer, then that big company is effectively your competition. You definately don't want to be directing traffic to them. You must creat your own professional looking flyer/sell sheet, and on it, offer only that which you can actually provide to the customer. If part of what you provide, is that big companies product, you want to maintain your position as the middle man....the customer always coming to you for the solution....even if you are reselling someone elses stuff.
2. I'm a sub-contractor for a roofing company who works with a program sponsored by Florida Power and Light when i first started handing out my flyer's i was only using my companies name the sales revenue was descent but once i reprinted my flyer's using the FPL logo along with my companies name my sales pretty much tripled so believe it or not the it works i recommend you highlight your name and phone number on all the cards that way when people have questions or have the need to call that will be the first thing to catch their eye. hey it worked for me!!!!!