Advertising

[CV Windshield Repair]

For those who do a lot retail headlight restoration, what type of advertisment seems to work for you?

[Frank EU]

Before - After pictures tell the story. It may not be appropriate in all situations (it may lead to misunderstandings and confusion) to use before after images, but it may be helpfull. That being said....we have never advertized for our own HL restoration service. Or is your question about the medium to use for your promotions?

[Kgobin]

This is one of the items that we use for headlight restoration and when talking about it we emphasize "going green". For example, headlight restoration prevents headlights from going into landfills.

[Golddust52]

The 2 best ways that I have found to advertise is POS signs or Posters and word of mouth. I have tried newspaper and phone book and they don't work that well in my area. They may work better someplace else. The best is my POS and referral business. This brings in about 60% of my business.
I am talking with a radio station about doing some promotional deals for HLR and for WSR also.
Will keep you posted on how this works out.
Horace

[scrubs147]

I don't get it. On the back of my business cards I wrote a note which stated; 

"your headlights are cloudy - both headlights restored back to clear again - comes with 2 year guarantee - improves nighttime visibility back to 100% - offer ends 7/31/2010".

I went around and placed these on the driver's door of vehicles that had heavily contaminated headlights. I put out over 200 hundred in the last couple of days and so far no calls.

My location right now is in the lower Lancaster county Pennsylvania, many cars I see have one new headlight and the other is still very cloudy as if this person bought one light, perhaps they couldn't afford to buy both. 

Just today I drove to the store (I have advertisement on my car for headlight restoration) and when I got out of the store someone placed one of my business cards on my windshield and across the front of the card someone wrote, "no thanks".

Are people that clueless? I have done three sets of headlights within the neighborhood where I am staying and all three customers have expressed surprise to just how good they looked. I get people telling me that their headlights look better than new or, they didn't look this good when they were new. One customer told me that he had no idea that this process could be done.

I'm thinking that due to the several kits that are on the market that only lasts a little less than 3 months, it has left a bad impression in people's mind making it almost immpossible to reinvent this service. I am at awe by the response of the general public who think that spending several hundred dollars for a couple of headlights is more ideal than spending around $50 for restored.

[speedyprowsr]

I took the plastic license plate cover from the front of my motorhome and made a "visual aid". The plastic was badly yellowed and cloudy, to the point that you couldn't see the license plate any longer. I masked off half the plastic and restored the other half. Now I have a physical reference that the customer can see. Trust me, it makes a big difference for those customers who don't believe photos and posters. I also keep a photo album of all HLR's I do. Anything and everything that you can put before your customer helps to make up their minds, so for me, overkill works.

Hope this helps.................Karl

[Golddust52]

I went to an auto savage company and bought a used headlight and did the same thing to it. I paid about
$10.00 for the headlight after I explained what I was wanting to do.
The owner wanted to see it when I finished. When I showed it to him he gave me 2 more to do the same way.
He then put one on display at his business. Now he referrs people to me.
I have my buisness card enlarged to 4x6 postcard size and on the back it says I will take $20.00 off my regular
price if the postcard is returned when thier headlights are restored.
This seems to work fairly good for me along with the referrals.
Horace

I took the plastic license plate cover from the front of my motorhome and made a "visual aid". The plastic was badly yellowed and cloudy, to the point that you couldn't see the license plate any longer. I masked off half the plastic and restored the other half. Now I have a physical reference that the customer can see. Trust me, it makes a big difference for those customers who don't believe photos and posters. I also keep a photo album of all HLR's I do. Anything and everything that you can put before your customer helps to make up their minds, so for me, overkill works.

Hope this helps.................Karl

[candyman]

Scrubs147. Don't give up. I did the same. Now I use 1/2 sheet flyer stating basicly the same.

Attention Please!
Your headlighhts are cloudy or fogged. You are losing your night illumination which reduces your visibility to drive by 50% or more. I can restore your headlights for ________. Please call me today at ____________, to imporve your safety or your teenage driver's.

or

Will your headlights pass your next vehicle inspection, Are you having difficulty seeing while driving at night. Does your vehicle appear old due to your headlighhts.

Call me today at ___________to improve your safety or your teenage driver's.


I change this around to include specials. I continue to do this because it gets my name out to the public and sooner or later someone will respond. That person will spread the news to their friends which will generate additional customers. It only takes about 20 minutes to cover a small shopping center. I only place flyers on vehicles that need my services.

Sometimes I may not get any work after posting a shopping center. Then a few weeks or months down the road you get a call out of the blue from someone that you placed a flyer on their vehicle. Just do positive things and it will come back to reward you. Some people do only Tents or Car Washes. I try to do a variety of things. This is not my full time job yet. It very easily could be, however I am finishing up the time required to lock me in to a state retirement. I already draw federal retirement from the military. Just say positive in all your efforts and it will pay off.

[WW973]

For those who do a lot retail headlight restoration, what type of advertisment seems to work for you?

for me i go to used car lots and do a free restoration demonstration on one of thier vehicles and give them a competive price