Teachers make up a significant consumer group in society. As such, most companies target them because they also have huge spending power. Since the school budgets are not always sufficient, most teachers end up using their finances on educational products.
If your company supplies educational materials, you’re at an advantage of making huge sales. However, to win your teachers’ trust and loyalty, you must understand the key elements of the education market. Below are things you should do to sell your educational products successfully.
Understand the School Calendar and Curriculum Requirements
Succeeding in selling educational products requires proper timing. If you miss out on the ideal time for advertising, selling, or introducing new products, you will have to wait an entire year or even lose the sale. You have to be aggressive in evaluating the market for you to have an advantage over your competitors. Planning your dates shouldn’t be hard because the fiscal year for most states is from 1st July to 30th June, while that of the Federal government is from 1st October to 30th September.
Also, you need to understand the curriculum requirements of the schools where your target teachers are based. When you understand a school curriculum, you can identify the essentials that teachers need. It will not only give you a competitive advantage but will also boost your confidence when presenting your supplies to potential customers. If, for instance, you sell technological products, work hard to identify the schools that have a technological infrastructure.
Offer Customized Products
A company offering customized educational products is likely to sell more. If your company can develop customized offers for teachers, you can then deliver them in stores. Ensure that you verify the teachers’ eligibility digitally so that only teachers get those offers. This will give your company a better chance against your competitors because most teachers will likely stick to your brand.
Also, the strategy will help you gather teachers’ data, which you could use to lure and engage them in retention programs. Giving customized offers to teachers will strengthen your relationship with them because they feel you value them. If you target schools that have freshly minted college graduates as their teachers, you should ensure they enjoy your personalized offers even if they work in low-profile communities.
Plan on Giving Teachers Discounts
Apart from working hard for their paychecks, teachers also sacrifice a lot to shop for their classrooms. A company giving teachers discounts on educational supplies is likely to win their loyalty. Ensure you advertise your products aggressively and such that your followers learn about your discounts. It is a brilliant way of getting your respondents to market your brand as they inform their colleagues about your discounts.
To remain relevant, it’s advisable that you make your discounts worthwhile; let them not appear like a trap to get teachers to your circle. The same should happen with your blog when sharing random messages. Instead of making your pieces product-oriented, also share tips on helping teachers cope with their busy schedules. It shows you care about their well-being and not just pushing sales.
Above all else, you should cultivate good customer relationships, but this is not without grasping the Pre K-12 education market. Also, consider having online platforms that push your brand, as it promotes your company’s transparency and growth. Once you actualize these steps, you will sell educational supplies successfully.