The Detroit SOUP event made me rethink my whole pitch

I went to the Detroit SOUP dinner over in Southwest last month, you know the one where you pay a few bucks for soup and vote on a local project. I was there to talk about my small print shop, thinking I'd just hand out cards. But listening to people explain their ideas in just a few minutes for a chance at the funding, it hit me. My usual spiel about 'quality printing' was boring. The winner was this guy who just said 'I want to teach kids in my neighborhood how to fix bikes, and I need a trailer to do it.' Simple, clear, and you knew exactly what he needed. I went home and cut my business intro down from 2 minutes to 30 seconds, focusing on helping local shops get flyers done fast instead of my equipment list. Has anyone else had a moment at a local event that totally changed how you talk about what you do?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly.daniel4d ago

Yeah, that reminds me of a craft fair I did. I used to list all my candle scents, but now I just say they're for making your place smell like a bakery. Way better.

david7394d ago

That's a smart shift, but I'd be careful about the bakery line if you have scents that aren't food smells. Someone buying a pine forest or clean linen candle might feel misled. It works great for vanilla or cinnamon, but maybe say "cozy scents" instead to cover all your bases. That way you keep it simple without accidentally promising the wrong vibe.