Keyring Fobs

[dai]

Hi,
My name is Steve, I am 60 yrs old and want to start a key ring business up advertising peoples business on a perspex keyring fob.The advert on the fob will consist of the companies Name, Tele Number,
Web Address, and Email Address, I have done one job for a company in Gloucestershire they have a fleet of 17 vehicles and they wanted the company logo and registration numbers of their vehicles put on both sides, registration on one side and company logo on the other side of the fob, the job was done and the transport manager was very pleased with the job I done for them. The problem is I have only done that 1 job. They are selling for £2.45 elsewhere, I do the same for £0.70p I have got the suppliers and all the gear to do it, but just cant get it going,

can you give me any advice on this please,

Thanks,

Steve.

 

[schwarzberg]

What have you tried to generate business? How did you get that first customer?

 

[Dan Izzard]

Sounds like you are going to have to deal with a significant number of products to make any real money. What did the transport manager use them for? Could he recommend you to others? Are there other target customers in your area?

 

[silvermusic]

They are selling for £2.45 elsewhere, I do the same for £0.70p I have got the suppliers and all the gear to do it, but just cant get it going,

There's good reason others are selling at £2.45 rather than 70p, you need a huge mark up to make it worthwhile. Snap-together blank acrylic keyrings can be bought for silly money if you buy enough, even on eBay they're only around 15p each depending on quantity. Anyone with a colour printer and pair of scissors can make their own. That's the reason you'll struggle because every stay at home mum is knocking then out on eBay, take a look.

When looking at this sort of business you need to look at what the barrier to entry is, with this one the barrier is so low that many will try their luck. If however something along the same lines requires a specific piece of equipment (even better if it's more expensive) or a great deal of skill / knowledge then very few will try their hand at it.

Been there, done it, it's a horrible market, I tried it as a sideline to my main business and sold off the remaining blanks about 3 years ago.

 

[DazRave]

A whole business selling just keyring thobs? Or is that just one of many products?

 

[silvermusic]

A whole business selling just keyring thobs? Or is that just one of many products?

It's possible in a big enough quantity, finding enough large sales is going to be hard as every muppet eBay seller will undercut you. Trying to sell a large quantity one or two at a time on a web site or eBay would drive you mad, it really would have to be part of a larger overall business.

 

[DazRave]

It's possible in a big enough quantity, finding enough large sales is going to be hard as every muppet eBay seller will undercut you. Trying to sell a large quantity one or two at a time on a web site or eBay would drive you mad, it really would have to be part of a larger overall business.

Anything small is worth someone's time if sold in big enough quantities, I got that, but in this day in age do people still buy bulk orders of customised key fobs?? Other than something you get given in a goodie bag at an exhibition what else are they used for?

Just curious, and amazed, to find out there is such a market still!

 

[dai]

What have you tried to generate business? How did you get that first customer?

Hi Mr Schwarzberg, I hope I have addressed you rightly.
The way I had my first customer was with ebay, and then I started to email central heating engineers, gas fitters, transport companies, I used to be a bus driver with first buses and then owned my own taxi company just the one car, but ill health stopped me from working, ebay took 3 years for one customer.

 

[silvermusic]

Anything small is worth someone's time if sold in big enough quantities, I got that, but in this day in age do people still buy bulk orders of customised key fobs?? Other than something you get given in a goodie bag at an exhibition what else are they used for?

Just curious, and amazed, to find out there is such a market still!

There is a market for bulk numbers in one sale, but finding those is an uphill struggle, it depends on what you call a decent size order 50, 100, 500?

The market to make money in this is very much the goodie bag, small gift area, hence so many eBay sellers do personalised keyrings. I couldn't see you ever becoming rich on this, as a sideline product to a main business or a few quid on the side perhaps. The main problem with this is there's you and 24 hours in a day, how many hours a day do you want to be doing this for relatively little money, you'd struggle to make minimum wage even if you were rushed off your feet, especially at 70p a pop.

 

[dai]

Sounds like you are going to have to deal with a significant number of products to make any real money. What did the transport manager use them for? Could he recommend you to others? Are there other target customers in your area?

Hi Dan thanks for your reply,
Re Products, I would like to keep it simple at he moment as i have the equipment ready to start I don't think I would like anything else to start off with at the moment, it is not for the want of trying. The transport manager, he had fobs with the registration number of his vehicles on one side and company logo on the other side, he didn't mention he would recommend me to any one. I have tried the companies in my area but not successful. Steve

 

[Christine Hough]

Seems strange to have the registration on the key fob. If anyone finds the key, they know which van it will drive. I don't even like to use Ford/ Nissan/ Vauxhall fobs.

On the other hand what about contacting Hotels? They like to have a return phone number for people who walk off with them.You could even provide a 3rd party address for lost keys to be returned to.

Other organisations where keys are given out include schools, care homes, community buildings.

 

[silvermusic]

That's the problem Christine, the time taken to get out there and source sales of maybe 20-30 units at 70p a pop when there's only you and 24 hours in a day.

 

[dai]

Seems strange to have the registration on the key fob. If anyone finds the key, they know which van it will drive. I don't even like to use Ford/ Nissan/ Vauxhall fobs.

On the other hand what about contacting Hotels? They like to have a return phone number for people who walk off with them.You could even provide a 3rd party address for lost keys to be returned to.

Other organisations where keys are given out include schools, care homes, community buildings.

Hi Christine,

Thank you for your reply, I really don't know why that guy wanted registration numbers on key ring fob of each vehicle for, but I can see your point its an easy theft for somebody, mmmm I never thought of that.
Regarding hotels fobs I would have thought that they would have wanted something like leather or fancy metal one's, I have tried a local hotel where I live but no success, but have not tried schools, I would have thought care homes would be a bit more of an elaborate key fob as in electronic with a battery built inside with a pass code also built inside fob for safety,


Thanks Steve

 

[colin_mckellar]

Car dealers frequently give key rings with their details on it to every new customer. Two keys per car times the number of cars each dealer sells in a year.

 

[Carl S]

What about estate agents and new homes sellers/mass developers (Barretts/ Persimmons etc etc). Usually when houses complete estate agents hold the keys, they'd be able to add their branded keyring to the key each time. Also the developers usually just give a bunch of keys to a new home with a sticker with the plot number on (well they have in my experience). Might be worth popping into a show home and having a word with them. Just a thought.

 

[TradeSmart]

Would you not be better off selling the advertising space on the fob and then distributing large quantities of the key rings free of charge to other businesses.

For example: Sell the space on say 2000 fobs to Joe Blogs Decorating service. Then give these fobs free to local letting and estate agents free of charge to use on all the keys they have. Bit like the way beer mats in pubs work. The pubs receive beer mats free of charge which the companies advertising on them have paid for.

 

[MOIC]

Get exhibitor lists from all the different exhibitions in the UK.

Send them a proposal of your key fob with their logo on it promoting their company that they can give away at the fairs they exhibit at to promote their company.

Or you can visit the larger fairs and approach potential customers.

Some leg work may be required and best to approach potential customers who will order 1000 plus to make it worthwhile.

Good luck.

 

[NJ123]

My advice? Don't get involved in that particular market. Massive competition, low margins and low volume for the type of company you're looking to hit. You may get a bit of work from a local plumber, but you can guarantee you'll spend a lot of time messing around with artwork and colours, that in the end you'll tell him to 'sod his order for 50 keyrings'. It's time-prohibitive. There's just no reward for the time.

You cannot just take into account the stay at home whats-its that bang them out on an inkjet printer either. There's hundreds, no thousands of established promotional merchandise suppliers who have access to 70-100k products, which can all be branded within 7-10 days of artwork approval. There are a lot of blue chip companies already on supply agreements over the next 5 years - merchandise companies will gladly hold their stock, call-off, re order etc. Very competitive as everything is coming in from China and the Far East. I'd stay away from that side as a 'novice' - in the nicest possible way.

Search 'Promotional Merchandise' on Google. Check out the competition.

It's a market i've worked in trade side - if you'd like to discuss the possibility of working with other products, then i can send you a contact for Promotional Merchandise trade suppliers. You'll be able to launch a company and use their pre printed brochures to test the water. I think that'll give you a fighting chance, if you're confident in selling.

It's not easy though matey - i'd recommend using your previous sales experience and concentrating within one sector. Maybe reduce your product range to 20/30 products that work in that sector, negotiate exceptional rates on those products, incorporate some stuff from local or online printers - business cards/letterheads etc and become somewhat of a 'one stop shop' for companies.

Don't just do keyrings.

Good luck.

 

[dai]

My advice? Don't get involved in that particular market. Massive competition, low margins and low volume for the type of company you're looking to hit. You may get a bit of work from a local plumber, but you can guarantee you'll spend a lot of time messing around with artwork and colours, that in the end you'll tell him to 'sod his order for 50 keyrings'. It's time-prohibitive. There's just no reward for the time.

You cannot just take into account the stay at home whats-its that bang them out on an inkjet printer either. There's hundreds, no thousands of established promotional merchandise suppliers who have access to 70-100k products, which can all be branded within 7-10 days of artwork approval. There are a lot of blue chip companies already on supply agreements over the next 5 years - merchandise companies will gladly hold their stock, call-off, re order etc. Very competitive as everything is coming in from China and the Far East. I'd stay away from that side as a 'novice' - in the nicest possible way.

Search 'Promotional Merchandise' on Google. Check out the competition.

It's a market i've worked in trade side - if you'd like to discuss the possibility of working with other products, then i can send you a contact for Promotional Merchandise trade suppliers. You'll be able to launch a company and use their pre printed brochures to test the water. I think that'll give you a fighting chance, if you're confident in selling.

It's not easy though matey - i'd recommend using your previous sales experience and concentrating within one sector. Maybe reduce your product range to 20/30 products that work in that sector, negotiate exceptional rates on those products, incorporate some stuff from local or online printers - business cards/letterheads etc and become somewhat of a 'one stop shop' for companies.

Don't just do keyrings.

Good luck.

Thanks everybody for your preview,

Judging by most previews i might as well forget doing keyrings,

Thank you everybody a very disheartened Steve,

Thank you for your advice

 

[dai]

My advice? Don't get involved in that particular market. Massive competition, low margins and low volume for the type of company you're looking to hit. You may get a bit of work from a local plumber, but you can guarantee you'll spend a lot of time messing around with artwork and colours, that in the end you'll tell him to 'sod his order for 50 keyrings'. It's time-prohibitive. There's just no reward for the time.

You cannot just take into account the stay at home whats-its that bang them out on an inkjet printer either. There's hundreds, no thousands of established promotional merchandise suppliers who have access to 70-100k products, which can all be branded within 7-10 days of artwork approval. There are a lot of blue chip companies already on supply agreements over the next 5 years - merchandise companies will gladly hold their stock, call-off, re order etc. Very competitive as everything is coming in from China and the Far East. I'd stay away from that side as a 'novice' - in the nicest possible way.

Search 'Promotional Merchandise' on Google. Check out the competition.

It's a market i've worked in trade side - if you'd like to discuss the possibility of working with other products, then i can send you a contact for Promotional Merchandise trade suppliers. You'll be able to launch a company and use their pre printed brochures to test the water. I think that'll give you a fighting chance, if you're confident in selling.

It's not easy though matey - i'd recommend using your previous sales experience and concentrating within one sector. Maybe reduce your product range to 20/30 products that work in that sector, negotiate exceptional rates on those products, incorporate some stuff from local or online printers - business cards/letterheads etc and become somewhat of a 'one stop shop' for companies.

Don't just do keyrings.

Good luck.

 

[NJ123]

Don't be disheartened, Steve. Be grateful that you've saved a valuable asset - time.

Good luck with whichever new venture you choose.