I consider myself to have a decent amount of sales experience in a small business setting. My most recent business was and still is in the firewood business. I started the business a little over a year ago when I one day passed by a “wood for sale” sign alongside the road. At the time, I didn’t have a job or means of making money. I briefly thought over the idea and it made sense to start a wood selling business since my parents own a good amount of property. I made my first firewood sale to an employee of my dad who has bonfires in the summer only. My marketing plan was a roadside sign and an advertisement on Craigslist. I found that the Craigslist ad was a bit more productive but often times I would find myself having to drive long distances to drop off wood deliveries. On average, I would sell one load of firewood a week. After my first summer of cutting and splitting, I expanded to business. I knew a local farmer down the road who had recently logged his woods off. I paid him a visit and asked to take the scrap logs that the loggers decided not to take. Once I was told yes, I hastily went to work. In one week I pulled out a full logging truck load of logs. A lot of my sales have now become repeat sellers. One hard thing I have found while selling firewood while going to school is the availability issue. Many times people would call me and say they NEEDED firewood right away and I couldn’t always get home to fill orders. I still am improving my selling process and look for new ways to innovate it.
testacr22