HELP! ideas to expand customer base?

[Chelsea]

My stepdad is part of a business called "salad master" selling special cooking equipment however, he is struggling to expand his customer base, does anyone have any ideas on things he could do to attract more customers to his business, it would be greatly appreciated!!

[Celine]

Demo's at cooking shows and farmers markets ect
E-marketing this is any advert online and it is cheap also he could have his advert specifically on a cooking website to reach his target audience
Flyers through peoples doors!
Has he got a business card he could hand them out to people in the local area
Also if he worked his local customer base up eventually more people would become customers through word of mouth
Good luck

[Doug]

What's 'remarkable' about his equipment? What story is he giving the potential customers to take home with them that would help them remember that he's the one to buy from? He needs to have a USP- unique selling proposition. Otherwise, he's just another guy who sells cooking stuff.
Get him a pink chef's hat and have him go around demonstrating how great his equipment is. Trust me, people will remember and talk. Get online and give people whatever information he can get together related to his wares. Build those communities one person at a time.
I wish him success!
- Doug @ skibility

[robert m]

Can he sell more to existing customers? That's is easier than finding new customers.

If he needs new customers then do some analysis of current customers, where do they come from, what are they like, how do they hear about you, how do they contact you?

From that you can build a template of ideal customers (or segments or target markets in marketing speak) and target them e.g. find them and sell to them.

One suggestion as well is ask every new customer for new customers . e.g. if its a restaurant ask them "you know your market realty well who else do you think would be interested in this?"