| Collection
Strategies: Phone Home
By Conrad Melancon
Last month’s article, Go
Where the Cell Phones Roam,
we explored the best way
to provide consumers with
a recycling solution and
make a profit – go
to the source. By far the
best place to try to collect
the most cell phones is from
the retailers themselves. After
all, almost every wireless
user goes into a retail store
at least once a year for
one reason or another. This
month we’ll take a
look at different collection
strategies and how to most
effectively reach the end
user directly.
With approximately 200 million
cell phone users in the U.S.
today it is estimated that
some 130 million of them will
replace their phone during
the next 12 months. Additionally,
industry analysts also estimate
that most cell phone users
have 2-3 old phones stashed
in a drawer, closet, toy box,
or other area around their
home where the phone does absolutely
no good.
Although millions of consumers
are recycling their cell phones
at retailers when they purchase
a new phone or upgrade service,
more than 70% still do not
know what to do with their
old phone. Your job, should
you choose to accept it, is
to approach these consumers
and collect ALL their phones – not
just the ones they have with
them when they purchase a new
one.
One of the most effective ways
to collect phones from end
users is to find a local charity
or civic cause to support,
enlist their help and then
advertise your collection efforts.
Let’s
face it; the efforts of local
charities directly impact the
members of their communities.
Many people will support a
local group or cause much faster
than they will support one
on a National level. Many organizations
have public outreach programs
which cause them to interact
with large members of their
community on a regular basis.
Use these events and efforts
to advertise your collection.
Some agencies do door-to-door
collections at different times
of the year. Try to piggyback
off these and have them leave
flyers, bags or door hangers
throughout the community.
Advertising may include asking
the local newspaper or magazine
to place a public service announcement
in their publication, or asking
a TV or radio station to run
public service announcements.
If your city has a newsletter,
see if they will donate some
space to you.
Another great place to market
your collection efforts is
through the Chamber of Commerce.
These organizations are comprised
of area businesses whose owners
and workers live in the community
and who have a vested interest
in supporting local causes – as
well as helping to keep their
environment clean.
Most organizations are more
than happy to share the revenue
you help them raise. Remember,
the key to success using this
type of program is to reach
people where they live and
work as well as show them that
by getting rid of their “trash”,
they can raise money for a
worthy cause - and help keep
the environment clean.
There is absolutely nothing
that says you need to hitch
your wagon to a local cause;
you can certainly start a local
cell phone recycling business
by using the same strategies
I outlined above without the
charity.
The above examples are only
a couple of ways you can generate
revenue and do a good thing.
The sky is the limit when it
comes to this type of business
and you’re only limited
by your own imagination.
A final thought: Always remember,
the closer you get to the people
who actually own the phones,
the more chance you have of
running a successful collection
program.
Next month – Collection
Strategies: Working With Government.
Conrad
Melancon is the President of RMS
Communications Group, Inc. He
joined the company in November
of 2004 as the Director of
Business Development and assumed
his current position in December
of last year.
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