“Wait a minute!” you say.

“In your last post, Tat artist increases sales 217%, you tell me to build a list… to capture email addresses, names and birthdays.

Are you nuts? You think I got four arms or what?

If I did all that crap, I’d sell less not more. I don’t know what you’re smokin’ Kirk. But, I can’t see the 217% increase.”

(You’re not shy. You say what you think.)

Let’s see, how can I wiggle my way out of this?

First, let’s be sure I understand your point. (I’m stalling for time… maybe I’ll think of something smart.)

Your point is that taking a digital picture and capturing critical info takes a lot of time… maybe more time than it takes to do a tat.

So, what should you do?

Focus on doing tats now and make money now or all the other crap, and hope to hit pay dirt down the road?

Drum roll please.

Here’s how to do more of both and make more than a 217% increase in sales year to year.

Do this:

1. Hire an assistant. “Geez, Kirk, you are nuts. Assistants cost money! How’s an assistant goanna put money in my pocket? They sure as the hell are goanna take some out.”

(I understand your impatience. Hear me out.)

2. Train your assistant to do five things:

(We did this up selling at our last trade show using paper tickets which we bought at a party store. When we collected the money for the tat the customer got a blue ticket and the tat stencil. When we sold crystal accents they got a pink ticket for each $1 accent they bought.)

You’re not goanna make the money you should until you work at it systematically.

Here’s something most don’t know: The best time to sell to a customer is when they’ve just bought something from you.

Train your assistant to up sell the instant the money is collected on the first sale. First, offer that customer Swarovski crystal accent(s) for one dollar each. Second, if your customer buys a crystal accent(s) or does not, offer them the opportunity to buy a second, similarly priced tat (as their first buy) at half price.

Train your assistant to do this systematically, INSIST that it be done with all your customers and guess what? You’ll be a happier tat business professional. Your customers will have greater respect for you and your business. It’s the right thing to do.

If I were your customer, I’d want the chance to say yes or no to these offers and so would most others.

I’m not done.

When you’re putting a tat on each customer tell them to get their picture taken so you can email it to them. Again, tell them that you’d be happy to put a crystal accent on them for only one dollar each and again, offer them a second tat at half price.

Kirk