[nabentre] Introduction

[David Andrews]

Robert:

There isn't an easy, or obvious answer to your question.  This is, in 
fact a large part of why stuff for the blind and/or visually impaired is 
more expensive.  We are difficult, and expensive to market too.  This is 
because our numbers are small, and we are scattered throughout society, 
and the U.S.  So, there isn't an easy way to reach many of us at once.

By getting ILA and MaxiAids to carry your products, you have probably 
done the biggest, and best thing.  You can benefit from their marketing 
and catalogs.  You should have a web site, and search engine 
optimization and other things can have you appear in searches, buying 
ads if you have the money.

There are the major magazines, Braille Monitor, Braille Forum, and 
others Matilda Ziegler, Dialogue, etc.  There are organizations, 
conventions, e-mail lists, twitter, facebook, some low vision stores, etc.

It won't be easy, you definitely have a niche, but with aging baby 
boomers, a potentially larger market.

Dave



On 12/12/2011 10:57 PM, Half-Blind Press wrote:
> Hello,
>
>
>
> My name is Robert, and I've been following this list for a little over a
> year now.  Up until now I've been listening, reluctant to weigh in on
> topics, because I haven't really had a lot to say.  But as the holiday
> season gets into full swing, I decided it was time to introduce myself and
> get some feedback from other Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs.
>
>
>
> Unlike many on this list I do have a moderate amount of usable sight
> although I've been legally blind since birth.  I was "main streamed" as they
> say, however, that did not improve my chances for good employment and
> self-sufficiency as it turned out.  Over the years, I have experienced a
> substantial amount of discrimination, as well as, verbal and physical abuse
> from classmates, co-workers, employers, and family.  I was even made to feel
> unwelcome at churches, stores, and restaurants.  So it was, out of necessity
> and concern for other legally blind individuals that I found myself forced
> to embrace being self-employed.  Maybe you could make the argument that my
> entrepreneurial streak went back to my lemonade stand days as a kid, but if
> so, it was only to train me to recognize other opportunities, other niches.
> Now, after waiting 25 years for someone else to market better quality huge
> print stationery products, I find myself owner of Half-Blind Press, a
> business that does just that, manufactures huge print stationery products
> specifically for those who are legally blind.
>
>
>
> Unfortunately, while my products are in Independent Living Aids and MaxiAids
> and available thru a number of low vision stores, it is clear that we are
> not reaching enough people who are legally blind.  So, my question to
> everyone is threefold: 1) How do you market to your clientele?  2) Do you
> market specifically to and in the low vision community?  3) As someone who
> is blind/legally blind how would you like to be marketed to?
>
>
>
> Thank you for your time and I wish everyone on this list a happy and safe
> holiday season.
>
>
>
> Warm Regards,
>
> Robert
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------
>
> R. M. Dunn
>
> Founder/CEO
>
> Half-Blind PressTM
>
> PO Box 16730
>
> Tucson, AZ 85732
>
> 520.250.4547
>
> Fax: 520.269.7862
>
> www.halfblindpress.com<http://www.halfblindpress.com/>
>
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