Staple guns come in all shapes and sizes. A light duty staple gun is perfect for occasional tasks around the home or work site. Small electric staple guns have a number of uses but are more powerful than standard staple guns. There are even pneumatic staple guns that work with the aid of compressed air. Understanding these differences can help you determine how to market your products for each type of customer from the homemaker to the home contractor.
Knowing which consumers are interested in each of your staple guns is only the beginning. You should know how each consumer plans to use their staple gun. Is it a contractor that needs to run staples through shingles? Is it Susie or Stan homemaker just stapling a cable cord to the wall for their new TV or using an upholstery staple gun to fix a dining room chair? Ask these questions for each gun you're marketing:
1. Does the use of this gun require specialized training?
2. Can this staple gun be operated one-handed?
3. How durable is the staple gun?
4. What size staples does it take?
5. Is it too overpowered for the people you're marketing it to?
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Ensure that your staple guns are in the right location
Placing staple guns in the correct department is important in helping your customers find the right staple gun for their needs. The last thing you want is a customer purchasing a gun that is too bulky or powerful for the project as this can lead to damage.
I recommend: Place smaller model staple guns such as those sold by
Arrow in the craft department or in the light hardware section of your store. Since many people use these types of staple guns in their homes and for craft projects this is a great location. Place industrial staple guns like those provided from
Salco near similar tools so that contractors can easily locate them.
Market staples and other needed supplies near staple guns
Different staple guns require different sized staples. Some staple guns, such as an air staple gun require air compressors to work correctly while an electric staple gun may require an extension cord to get the job done. Cross market products to ensure customers get all supplies in one trip.
I recommend: Distributors such as
Builder Depot can provide you with different types of staple guns from the small to the large and help you determine who they are right for.
Tool Barn can also provide your business with a wide variety of staple guns and staples.
Sell on the strengths of your staple guns
Always make sure that you highlight the best features of each staple gun. For example, is the light duty staple gun easy to handle; is it light enough to be used by people with arthritis? Are your heavy duty staple guns durable?
I recommend: Use descriptive language such as, "Feather light," and, "easy to handle" for light duty and electric staple guns such as those from
Stanley. For a heavy duty staple gun, consider, "Tough as nails," and, "Built to last" for products from vendors such as
Paslode. This will entice your customer to purchase YOUR staple guns, rather than driving down the street to the next store.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Consider having an employee work with the different guns and provide product demonstrations to customers during busy weekends. Customers will stop by and check out these demonstrations and maybe even try to use the staple gun themselves.
The official source of Staple Guns is the Staple Guns page at Business.com
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