I started selling personalized products like this in 1992, and now 17 years later, I have attempted to put in writing what I have learned about this wonderful business created by Ken Kirkpatrick Software . . . more specifically, First Name Software & Poetry Software.

Contained in the Learning Center is not only the personal knowledge I received from both retailing and wholesaling this product, but also the knowledge that I have acquired in listening to the hundreds of stories and methods that our customers have shared with us. This is very valuable information from the "school of hard knocks", and if taken seriously, will save you months of time and catapult your sales to their maximum level.

Back to 1992 . . . First, consider yourself very lucky to have found the best and the most affordable professional  money making software on the planet. The first type of personalized gift software I purchased cost over $4000.00 dollars (that's right, I said $4000.00). For that investment, I received a floppy disk containing the first name software, a few key chains and about 100 sheets of paper.

There was no training course, no learning center and zero customer support. Basically, I purchased this first name software and was on my own. If I wanted to expand my business and operate at two different locations, it would have cost me an additional $4000.000 for each system I opened. 

The actual first name software that I used back then was terrible and very difficult to operate. Not only was it high priced, but it also ran only on a Macintosh and it would only print to a specific high end laser printer. This meant that I would have to buy a Macintosh computer and an expensive printer every time I wanted to expand my business.Macs were  more expensive back then.So, add the cost of this expensive computer and the expensive printer to the expensive software and you should start to feel extremely lucky !

Back in those times, the product selection available was not nearly as vast as it is today. I operated with a total of 6 art backgrounds and one style of key chain, a mug and a stein . . . that was it ! 

The happy ending to this story is that because this business is so unique,I was able to earn my investment back in about 2 months of part time work. It wasn't long after this that I learned about Ken Kirkpatrick's First Name Software and boy was I in shock. Here was a great piece of software available to me now for only $199.00 ??? You can imagine how I felt . . . "Ripped off" ! 

Well, I also felt pretty good because now if I wanted to expand my
business,it would only cost me an additional $199.00 vs. an additional $4000.00.I think by now you get my point. You already have a great advantage over those of us that pioneered this business at such a high price.You are now well over $3801.00 dollars ahead of the game !

Soon it was off to market. I started in a local flea market. I had no idea what I was doing. I had to learn to make products on my own, learn to make templates, how to set pricing, how to properly display the items. You name it, I had to learn from scratch. My first customer stopped and asked how much ? I didn't know. I quickly just picked a price out of my head and said $8.00(for one art background). Needless to say, I made the sale.I soon found out that my pricing structure was all wrong.

Over the course of the next few years I sold these personalized products in over 20 flea markets, craft shows and festivals, malls, fund raisers and the internet.I learned that no matter where I went, there was always an audience for this type of product. That's the best news of all. Since people come into (and leave) this world everyday, this market is one that stands the test of time.

There are only a few simple guidelines to follow in this business, and
if you adhere to them you will prosper. The main thing to keep in mind
is that you do not need to reinvent the wheel. Keep it simple and follow
the path that others before you have walked and your destination will
be success !

Good luck from all of us at All About Names Inc.

Sincerely,
Tom Baney