[nabentre] nabentre Digest, Vol 65, Issue 3
Brad Dunsé
lists at braddunsemusic.com
Mon Dec 19 02:48:05 UTC 2011
Glad to be of help Robert. such resources, such
as this list, have proven to be quite useful
. Let us know if there's anything else we can help you with.
Brad
On 12/15/2011 11:23 PM Half-Blind Press said...
>I want to thank everyone who took the time to respond to my post.
>
>Mary Ellen, I especially want to thank you for your insights. Some things I
>was aware, others I was not. I have been in contact with AARP, but we are
>not big enough for them to deal with yet. However, nearly all of your other
>recommendations and suggestions should keep me busy for years. Maybe I
>should hire you on as a marketing contractor!
>
>Brad, you make some interesting points as well. And, if you do ghost
>writing or press releases, we can probably work something out. I find my
>time over stretched at this point and any work I can delegate, I am more
>than happy to do.
>
>And Dave, yes, I have the website, Facebook, newsletter, and, of course, I'm
>in a couple of the catalogs. That's about all I can keep up with for now.
>But your specific list of magazines to investigate is very useful, most I
>wasn't even aware of. So thank you.
>
>And Everett, thanks for your input as well. Seniors are definitely a huge
>potential, and as you say, many will be highly resistant to losing their
>sight and want to use what they have as long as they can. And, while some
>will adopt the new electronic technologies, many will find the voice
>navigation challenging and the text sizes too small to be usable. In
>response to your question to the group, as one who makes and markets
>calendars, as a part of my research in preparing to start my business I was
>unable to find ANY good calendar making software programs which one could
>use to make huge print calendars. There are many that can do simple layouts,
>but once you get into the really big fonts, they look tacky and ugly.
>
>Thanks again everyone and Merry Christmas!
>Robert
>
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of nabentre-request at nfbnet.org
>Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 11:00 AM
>To: nabentre at nfbnet.org
>Subject: nabentre Digest, Vol 65, Issue 3
>
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>Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Introduction (Half-Blind Press)
> 2. Re: Introduction (Mary Ellen)
> 3. Re: Introduction (Brad Duns?)
> 4. Re: Introduction (David Andrews)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:57:19 -0700
>From: "Half-Blind Press" <info at halfblindpress.com>
>To: <nabentre at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: [nabentre] Introduction
>Message-ID: <000001ccb953$b1ab00e0$150102a0$@halfblindpress.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>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/>
>
> <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Half-Blind-Press-LLC/190262545535%23> Follow
>Us on Facebook
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:42:39 -0800
>From: "Mary Ellen" <gabias at telus.net>
>To: <info at halfblindpress.com>, "'NFBnet NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing
> List'" <nabentre at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [nabentre] Introduction
>Message-ID: <1C7EA89DD3BA4EC48C6D836B3F6E8BB4 at bytz6cfd11aa06>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Hello Robert,
>
>If you've been following this list for a year, you'll know that we come in
>all varieties. There are entrepreneurs here who do network marketing. We
>have travel agents, internet marketers, and a variety of other sorts of
>businesses.
>
>Some of us market primarily to blind/vision impaired people, but most of us
>do not. However, through our involvement in the National Federation of the
>Blind, many of us will be happy to share what we've learned that might
>assist with your marketing challenge.
>
>First, you've covered some of the obvious bases. On that score, I'd urge
>you to read several articles about MaxiAids that have appeared in the
>Braille Monitor. Go to www.nfb.org and look for publications, then for the
>Braille Monitor. Alternatively, just search Maxi Aids in the search box
>provided and you will be taken directly to the Monitor articles.
>
>You might also want to contact Future Aids, the Braille Book Store.
>www.braillebooks.com It's a Canadian company run by two brothers, both of
>them blind. They have a reputation for offering a wide variety of products
>at a fair price. They have an entire selection of products for people with
>low vision. Their customer service is first rate.
>
>The Materials Center of the National Federation of the Blind might also be
>interested in offering some of your merchandise. I can't speak for anyone
>there, but you can make contact by phoning (410) 659-9314 and following the
>prompts for the Materials Center.
>
>If you look on www.nfb.org, you'll note contact information for NFB state
>affiliate presidents, committees, divisions, and groups. You mighte want to
>let leaders within the Federation know what you have to offer.
>
>Having said all that, I truly believe your best source of customers will be
>outside the usual channels for reaching blind individuals. Most of the
>people with severe vision loss who have not embraced the label "blind," are
>over the age of 65. Have you considered contacting magazines with a high
>proportion of older readers? I'm thinking here of the American Association
>of Retired Persons and similar organizations. There are also numerous web
>sites specializing in providing information to older individuals.
>
>I'm certain that there is an association for Assisted Living facilities.
>Assisted living housing caters to older people who are experiencing serious
>health challenges but still desire to retain as much independence as
>possible. Most cities of any size have at least one such facility, and many
>have several. By contacting them, you could let activity directors and
>other staff know about your products. Thousands of residents have serious
>vision problems but absolutely refuse to self identify as blind.
>
>The American Association of Homes for the Aging and the National Nursing
>Home Care Association also could be a rich source of customers.
>
>The Beteran's Administration has a program for reaching out to veterans who
>are losing eyesight. They call their staff who do such work VISTA
>coordinators. You can find Vista people at most VA hospitals. You could
>also contact the regional rehabilitation centers that the Veteran's
>Administration has set up to help in the rehabilitation of blind/vision
>impaired veterans.
>
>Many religious denominations have set up services to provide Bibles and
>other religious materials in alternate formats. I'm a Catholic, and I find
>Xavier Society for the Blind very helpful www. xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
>I know the Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran Church, and
>many other groups produce Braille, large print, and audio materials. Some
>of these organizations have news letters and might be willing to include a
>notice about your company. While you're thinking of publications, make sure
>you remember "The Braille Monitor," which is the Federation's magazine and
>has the largest circulation of any magazine in the field of blindness.
>
>Every state has at least one library for the blind. Librarians are famous
>for searching out helpful information and would love to include information
>about your products in the list of resources they keep on hand to offer
>their borrowers. Many libraries for the blind have periodic news letters
>that they send to borrowers.
>
>I hope that helps in the marketing of your products. I'd also welcome you
>to get to know the National Federation of the Blind in all its richness and
>positive energy. Sometimes people who still retain a fair degree of useful
>vision feel that a blindness organization isn't really for them. From the
>things you mentioned in your email, your personal experiences are those of a
>blind person. When it comes right down to it, we who are blind/vision
>impaired are more wedded to the distinctions amongst us than our sighted
>neighbors. To most of the world, we're either blind or nearly blind.
>Anyone who isn't sighted is a bit of a mystery to our neighbors. I'm afraid
>that those who have remaining eyesight often face a more difficult job of
>educating than those of us who are totally blind. The Federation helps in
>so many ways, not the least of which is putting the experiences we face into
>perspective. If you have not already done so, you might want to get to know
>Federationists in your state. The NFB national convention, to be held in
>Dallas in 2012, is an unbelievably enriching experience. If you can manage
>to get there, I promise you a very enriching week.
>
>I hope this beginning list of ideas is the kind of information you're
>seeking. I'm sure others on the entrepreneur list will have more
>suggestions. In any case, welcome to active participation on the list.
>
>Mary Ellen Gabias
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>Behalf Of Half-Blind Press
>Sent: December 12, 2011 8:57 PM
>To: nabentre at nfbnet.org
>Subject: [nabentre] Introduction
>
>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/>
>
> <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Half-Blind-Press-LLC/190262545535%23> Follow
>Us on Facebook
>
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>nabentre mailing list
>nabentre at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>nabentre:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabentre_nfbnet.org/gabias%40telus.net
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 3
>Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:46:05 -0600
>From: Brad Duns? <lists at braddunsemusic.com>
>To: info at halfblindpress.com, NFBnet NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing List
> <nabentre at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [nabentre] Introduction
>Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20111213061612.05431fc0 at braddunsemusic.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed
>
>Robert,
>Pleased to meet you and congrats on making lemonade out of those lemons you
>encountered in life. You have done a wise thing getting into the blind/low
>vision stores such as MaxiAids and ILA.
>
>Since you asked? Here are my thoughts.
>
>You are dealing with a very niche group that:
>
>A. Are low vision, not totally blind.
>B. Are still using stationary along with, or instead of, electronic
>communications.
>
>So my thought pattern goes as this?
>
>Who fits this group? Perhaps the places you've already marketed to yes. I
>think you can continue finding similar stores such as Blind Mice Mall, NFB's
>store, and other blind related web sites and publications such as Braille
>Monitor, ACB's magazine,to see about advertising not only in their product
>line but perhaps work out some method of getting an ad spot out front on the
>main page or such where appropriate. You could do this by swapping web ads
>on each of your sites.
>
>Who I think might more fit your buying group are the elderly. A large group
>of the blind is due to macular degeneration and diabetes, and they are also
>the group more likely to use stationary as oppose to, or in conjunction
>with, electronic means such as email, texting, Skype and other
>communications. So you might target:
>
>? Assisted living facilities
>? Senior centers
>? Senior publications
>? Community Outreach organizations
>? Low vision facilities/centers
>? Diabetic publications
>? Dialysis facilities
>? And any other place you can think of that might deal with that group of
>people.
>
>You could try to get some sort of free spot in AARP's magazine, diabetic
>publications, or other similar publications? Brainstorm how and where you
>can get free publicity?
>Maybe you could offer:
>
>? An Interview of how you came to wanting to help their clients? your
>customers ?A magazine article profiling your company as an informational
>piece ? A news release if you have a news splash for an event you are
>holding ? Start a blog yourself or guest blog on other?s site ? Offer an
>informational spot such as a quick tip on independent living, scam
>awareness, or other helpful living or social tips ? Offer a discount to
>people giving you the content for the above ? Offer to physically come in
>and talk about certain related independent living issues (obviously a local
>thing unless other arrangements could be made) ? Offer or sponsor a memoir
>writing class (they do these in assisted living and elderly housing to
>counter Alzheimer?s Disease) ? Provide free samples to the above
>
>If you do not write yourself, you can have written material such as
>articles, blogs, new releases, interviews, etc. ghost written for you by
>someone such as myself or another person.
>
>With some brainstorming, internet research, and maybe contacting sources in
>your local area to ask them for input as well; you could probably find a
>host of ideas.
>
>Seems to me there would be many senior centers and other points of interest
>across the country since we are entering in an aging baby boomer era. It is
>just finding an efficient and effective way to let either them, or their
>relatives and caretakers, know you are around.
>
>I think targeting both the print market and electronic market would be wise
>as you'll find customers in both.
>
>I do think however, that there will be less a need in the future as more
>and more people become reliant on electronic devices. My parents who are in
>their mid-70's have no iDevices and are scared of a computer; a DVD player
>is the extent of their technological adventure. My mother-in-law however at
>63-years of age, has an iPad and iPod, computer and such. So we live in a
>unique transitional time I think.
>
>Hope that is of some help to get the marketing muse going.
>
>
>Brad Duns?
>
>"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way...
>If you don't, you'll find an excuse." --Unknown
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 4
>Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:59:45 -0600
>From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
>To: info at halfblindpress.com, NFBnet NAB Entrepreneurs Mailing List
> <nabentre at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [nabentre] Introduction
>Message-ID: <4EE78481.10004 at visi.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
>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/>
> >
> > <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Half-Blind-Press-LLC/190262545535%23>
> > Follow Us on Facebook
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>nabentre mailing list
>nabentre at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabentre_nfbnet.org
>
>
>End of nabentre Digest, Vol 65, Issue 3
>***************************************
>
>
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Brad Dunsé
"Find out what you do best, make it your job...
And never work another day in your life." --Capt'n Frank
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