Dear Friends, 

 

Last week, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I decided to go to the co-op and get some ingredients for a pumpkin pie. 

I wanted to make a pie from scratch, using an actual pumpkin. I also had a friend coming over, so I wanted to be sure I had enough stuff so that she could take one of the pies home, and I wanted to be sure I had enough ingredients to make a spare pie... for breakfast.

 

Needless to say, I went completely overboard and by the time I left the store I had enough ingredients for at least 14 pies. 

 

This isn't the first time this has happened to me. Every now and then, especially in the winter, I have a baking frenzy. The winter when I was 9 months pregnant with Calvin was legendary, because my husband came home to find every available surface of our apartment covered in cookies. 

 

I knew that by the time I finished this baking frenzy I would have more pies than I ought to eat. So I did something that I've never done before: I put a picture of the pies online and offered to sell them for $20 each.

 

I was pleased to find that several people ordered pies. One person even bought my pumpkin seeds, which I really didn't expect. I made a profit, and had pies left over to give as gifts. Everyone was happy!

 

Which reminded me of a Zig Ziglar quote, "Selling is essentially a transfer of feelings."

 

When Thanksgiving pies are involved, then yes, selling is definitely a transfer of feelings. My new customers gave me money (yay!) and I gave them pie (yay!). I decided that I want to do this more often. 

 

In fact, that is going to be my New Year's (I know, it's still December, but you have to get a jump on these things) resolution: Sell more stuff. 

 

I'm going to attempt to sell something every day in 2015. Hopefully, by following this challenge I will get insanely good at selling anything, I will be a better copywriter so my clients will make more money, and I will also make more money. 

 

You might be thinking, "Gosh, Mandy is sounding a little money-grubbing right now." 

 

That's OK. I will deflect that criticism with a Woody Allan quote: "Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons."

 

So far I'm on the right track. I've sold a dozen pies, a bag of baby clothes, an article, I tried (and failed) to sell cranberry scones, and I am getting ready to sell my handmade rugs. 

 

Wish me luck, and let me know if you want a pie to go along with your marketing advice.

Mandy Marksteiner

Copywriter and Marketing Consultant

505-515-7001