Kitchen Marketing

I have been neglecting my blog for the last two weeks due to travels – last week with the NKBA for Officers Training in New Orleans and the previous week with the SEN Design Group in St. Augustine for the annual spring conference. 

I return to Chapel Hill with a few things to report. 

The kitchen and bath industry is feeling optimistic.  Not to put the kybosh on any national economic recovery, but dealers are reporting more showroom traffic  That means if you have not implemented your marketing strategy to get the resurgence of buyers into YOUR showroom – you better get started.  Of course we can assist you in your efforts.

Facebook is all anyone wants to discuss.  Yes, Facebook is a great way to network with your customers and all kitchen and bath professionals should have a presence.   BUT, your Facebook page should be one part of your integrated marketing plan – not the whole thing!  And, you want to set up a business page, NOT a personal page in the guise of your business.  Follow this link to set up your business page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/pages/create.php

The last thing I want to talk about is in my opinion the most important – that is Social Networking – the old fashioned way.  Meeting people face to face, making new friends, bonding with old friends, all without the aid of your computer. 

Whether you are member of the SEN Design Group, BKBG, NKBA, NARI, KCMA or any of the other alphabets in our industry, the strength of each organization is the people.  If you have not yet experienced the benefits of networking within these organizations [on a regional or national level] consider…

1. The ability to discuss your business – your problems and your successes with a peer from another part of the country who is not a competitor.  Local chapter meetings, not so much.
2. Getting the “inside story” on vendors – new innovations, available deals, customer service, etc.
3. Sharing marketing ideas – from new technology to tried and true measures, what are your peers doing successfully.
4. Creating bonds that could prove to be beneficial in the future.  People change jobs, people grow, people move so perhaps you can help one another at another time.
5. I am sure there are more – post your ideas to this blog.

I have been with SEN since 2001 and a chapter officer in NKBA since 2004 – the relationships I have developed and the friends I have made are among the best from a personal, as well as a professional level.  Not all are clients, some will never be, other may eventually be – but regardless all contribute to my knowledge and understanding of the “unique and exciting” world of kitchen and bath professionals – thank you.

Now… who reading this will help me get to 200 fans on Facebook?