At 51 years of age i find myself in a new city, kind of an unknown after leaving a city where I had loads of friends. I moved for family reasons and the prospect of returning in the near future doesn't look good. So, I decided to reach out through the Internet to see who's out there. So, can you be my friend? Also check out my web page: www.poetbob.com . /////
In 1994, as a poet I had an idea. Probably not a new idea, but it was new to me. There was one of my poems that I knew had some depth to it and I knew it was as good as “Foot Prints In The Sand.” What sparked this idea was when I walked through a new store called “Kinko’s.” On their walls they displayed some decorative paper. I envisioned my poem printed upon some of that paper. So, I typed it up and then had it transferred on to one of those decorative prints. Next, I walked out on the street just a few feet away from the shop and ask a man if he would like to read my poem. He said, “Sure.” I handed him a copy. He read it. Then I said, “You can have that copy for $1.00.” He just reached into his pocket and pulled out a $1.00, and gave it to me. I started that afternoon with 5 copies on decorative paper. 2½ months later I had grossed $1,000.00 in just the sale of that one poem. And that was just one-on-one direct sales. I knew that I had something. I got busy working with other poems I had written as well. In about two years, not only had I saturated my local market, but also my efforts sparked other poets in my area to do the same. So, my local market played out so to speak. I knew that if I could somehow enlarge my market, I could do well just publishing and selling my writing. Another poet from Natchitoches, Louisiana heard about my business of selling my poetic works and sent me a letter enquiring of me as to how I do it. She also asked me if I could handle hers. Below is a copy of the text of the letter I sent her in return in September of 1997.///////
First of all, Bob’s Poetry shop is, at present, merely a business name in which I conduct business using my poetry as the basis of a product line. I’ve created most of my product line through using the equipment and the materials housed at places like Office Depot, Kinko’s, etc…; and utilize the services of the same. For large orders I utilize the services of a local print shop.
It all started with one poem entitled, “Two Buds,” which I developed into a decorative frame-able print. Then I went door-to-door commercially selling copies of just this one print. After 2½ months, I had sold over 1,000 prints of that poem, one print at a time. That market test was a huge success; so I started developing more poems into the same type of product, and found that they also began to sell. Then I found I could sell laminated prints of the same. Now, I’ve published a book, and my newest product line is calendars and bookmarks.
Right now, I’ve been operating a licensed business with virtually no overhead (no building, no machine maintenance, no electric bill, etc…) for the last year. I’ve actually been selling this product line for more than four years now. Don’t get me wrong. I do have plans to build a shop that would house two computers, a laminator, a binder, and sufficient storage space to operate a publication and distribution business. At present though, the physical shop is merely a dream, a goal that I’m reaching for. Right now it is just a part time business; because I also work a full time job at KFC here in Alexandria.
So far, my most profitable method of distribution has been direct sales; although I do have some books in stores such as Books-A-Million, white Steeple books and Music, King’s Emporium, and the Baptist Book store. I am also planning on using the Internet as well. I’ve tried distributing the poetry of two other writers in the past; but I’ve found that the biggest problem I have is tracking. I am currently not set up to tract sales sufficiently to produce or sell another author’s work. As soon as I am set up, I plan to do just that.
About 50% to 75% of my writing is inspirational or Bible-based material. With this letter I will enclose a couple of my most noted pieces. I have written tongue twisters, romantic prose, nursery rhymes, Sunday School songs, and just for fun poems. I’ve been writing poetry for 27 years; and have probably lost literally thousands of pieces over the years; because I didn’t really didn’t understand the gift that I had. Now that I have seen my work touch people’s lives, I’m dedicated to the cause of publishing my work, hence the creation of Bob’s Poetry Shop.
I want to thank you for your interest in Bob’s Poetry Shop, and I’m open to further communication with you, even meeting you, should you so desire. Perhaps as fellow poets we can share some interesting inspirational moments. I will look forward to hearing from you again soon. If you have access to email, my email address is bps80@hotmail.com .///////
Since this letter, I’ve changed the name to Bob’s Poetic Ministries, and the new email address is poetbob2004@yahoo.com . And the book referred to in the letter is a poetry book entitled, “Let This Light So Shine,” which is also presently sold out. And recently, I moved from Louisiana to Tennessee.
In the meantime, I’ve written another book entitled “The Focused Fast,” and placed it first of all at a few local bookstores, then finally made it available online at www.lulu.com/Poetbob . While the book was in the local artist section of Books-A-Million in my area, it achieved best-seller status among the local authors. But then Books-A-Million decided to change their purchasing policy and began requiring all local authors to have an ISBN and a bar code. In the short time that it was there I sold out of my first print of this new book. Then I decided to reformat the book and try to sell it as a correspondence course. I sold about 50 more, not through mail order, but as whole binders of the complete course. So, next I reformatted again, and sold it as a half size book (5½ X 8½). So, far I’ve probably sold about 250 copies, including the newest CD version. Being that it is now online, I just assumed it would fly. But I now know, without the proper knowledge of how to promote the book, it won’t sell there either. This book is too important (not just for me, but for the masses that could be changed by its message) to just quit and give up. I’ve got to find a way to get the word out to people that will not only buy the book but also read it and absorb its message. Once in a while a book comes along that has the power to change lives. And, believe me, this is one of those books. I’ve seen it work in people’s lives already. One of the ladies that I ask to proof read the book told me that each paragraph she read sent her to her knees weeping. She had to pray through each paragraph. Now, I know that it won’t affect everyone like that; but I’m sure there are others that will be affected just that way.
A specail friend/
Is one who's close;/
One tht will always/
Be your choice;/
Because they care/
enough to share/
Your burdens and pains/
With you in prayer./
They'll see you through/
To the bitter end;/
Tor they are/
Your specail friend./
/
A special friend/
Is one who'll cling/
When times are tough/
And life doth bring/
Times of trouble/
And times of woe;/
For that he is/
Your special Joe./
/
A special friend/
Is one who'll be/
The one who'll help/
You to get free/
From your worries/
And your pains/
Although they have/
Nothing to gain./
/
A special friend/
Is one who'll give/
Of his time/
To help you live/
Through times of trouble/
Giving you hope/
For he's there/
To help you cope./
/
This Poem Is By Me, Poet: Bob E. McGlothlin
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