Chef Archive

Some decent ideas. I've pretty much tried all but the rebate program.

This is what works for me:

1. I sell product on the bazaar (fishak and BoH only...used to sell pet food but stopped). In the description window I simply cut and paste "Visit my vendors at:" and the waypoints. In addition, I use 2 bazaar slots that has a bofa treat and a charde; each renamed with something along the lines of "Master Chef Vendor WP#,#. I have them both there as auctions for 3k. Once per week I spend 40 credits to keep the advertising there.

2. Build a mailing list. I built a client list for mailings that at the peak had nearly 300 names. Due to recent changes in my gameplay, I've had to stop adding people to the list as I could not keep up with that administrative side of the business. I used this list for a once a week or once a month press release (I run several vendors with differing industry products).

3. I talk to people. When I am ingame, I train folks, answer questions, help when I can.

4. I used to put my vendor waypoints on harvesters and factories. That became a bit tedious though when I was moving entire farms on 2 accounts weekly.

5. I used to sell directly in the cities...now I have no time to stand around and pawn my goods...if someone asks, I direct them to the closest vendor or if I am lucky, I have some stock in the bank.

All in all, my food business is fairly sucessful and I would like to believe I have a good reputation...but in the end all that matters is that the satisfied people return for more goodies. As long as they come back, the business is successful.

One Ad campain that made a HUGE diffenance was my weekly Menu post on my server board.

Every week I would make a post that listed my current stock complete with stats/charges per crate and the costs along with my location and maybe a little known food fact.

The people that frequent the server boards are usually the hardcore players/crafters and they have the means and inclination to purchase your wares.

Try it. it works wonders.

I never really advertised at all. Ppl just came and they became more and more. I guess if you keep stocked, word travels by itself.

I liked being the secretive chef that you had to look hard to find

Gablak

Master Chef

I have yet to find out if this has any effect or not, but here's what I've done.

I have a separate vendor that just has a "menu" of items, all priced ridiculously high so nobody buys them. Then I include all my clever descriptions of the items, suggestions for what other foods compliment them, and I should add in a standard price per single/crate but I have yet to do so.

Then inside I have my "real" vendor where I keep my actual stuff.

One word: Coupons.

Make a novice Artisan item (can even be food), throw it in a factory so all have the same serials and either throw them on bazaar or hand em out. On the coupon put vendor wp and the amount the coupon is for. Let them know that to use the coupon they need to use the "Offer to Vendor" tab and offer the coupon for the coupons amount. If they try to offer it for more, reject it, their fault. It is VERY effective.

Also trying giving some free to your regular customers and just ask that they spread the word about your shop.

Word of mouth brings in tons of business. Once a day I make a sale from a person I have never sold to before.

Two words: Thank you!

The response to this thread may eventually give me what I have always wanted on these boards. One of those nifty yellow folders, or maybe even one of those folders with the flame on them (they are waaay cool) on a thread that I started.. yaay!

To answer JediBahamaMama's request for how to copy and paste. In your options (CTRL + O in game), there is an option to alter your key map. I don't remember what tab it was under, but I do remember that it was a little button sort of out of the way that lets you mess with your key map. Once you get to your keymap, move over to the "ALL" tab and look for something similar to text paste, text cut, and text copy. I think you just click on the one that you want to map, and then press a key, or a key combination to map (perform) that particular function. For example CTRL + 1 for me is to copy, and CTRL + 2 is to paste.

Very effective tool!