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How Consistency and Simple Promotions Helped Linda Gurnert Build a $1,000/Week Business Without Ads

I’m excited to introduce you to a total rock star, Linda Gernert, founder of Cropalatte, a DIY scrapbooking and card-making store. She’s been running her online  business for 15 years, and she’s managed to turn it into a $1,000 per week operation—without ads (!!!). I know a lot of you want to figure out how to scale your business consistently, so I think you’re going to love hearing Linda’s story. 

Solving the Problem: Why People Don’t Finish What They Start

One of the things that really set Linda up for success was her ability to recognize her customers’ real problems. It wasn’t just that people wanted to buy scrapbooking supplies—they wanted to complete their projects. We all know how easy it is to start a project, but finishing it? Easier said than done.

Linda tapped into that. She started offering DIY kits that helped people finish their projects quickly and easily. By giving her customers a clear path to success, she was solving a much bigger problem than just selling supplies. 

$5 Fridays: How Linda’s Simple Promotion Created Weekly Income

Here’s where things get interesting. Linda came up with the brilliant idea of “$5 Fridays”. Every Friday, she’d sell kits for just $5. It was a way to clear out inventory, but it turned into a consistent income stream.

And get this—it wasn’t just the $5 kits that were flying off the shelves. People were coming for the $5 deals but adding more products to their carts, which boosted her average order value.

That’s the power of a well-timed, simple promotion. It created a sense of urgency and gave her customers something to look forward to every week.

Time or Money: The Trade-Off Every Business Owner Faces

One of the most valuable lessons Linda shared is the trade-off between time and money when growing a business. Linda’s success wasn’t built on spending big budgets on ads—it was built on investing time.

 “It’s either time or money. If you don’t want to spend the money on ads, you have to put in the time to build relationships and show up consistently.”

For Linda, this meant dedicating time each week to create, promote, and track her $5 Friday sales. While others might have chosen to spend money on ads to generate traffic, Linda chose to focus on showing up for her customers every week, offering value, and building trust. That consistency paid off, leading to $1,000 per week in sales—all without paid advertising.

The takeaway? If you’re not ready to spend money on ads, be prepared to invest your time. Consistency, customer engagement, and building long-term relationships are just as powerful as paid traffic. It’s all about deciding where to focus your resources—either way, you can grow your business if you’re willing to make the investment.

“The key with $5 Fridays is consistency. If you’re not going to be consistent, it’s not worth doing.”

Tracking the Numbers: How Metrics Fueled Linda’s Growth

What really helped Linda scale her $5 Friday promotion was her focus on tracking her results. She didn’t just guess what was working—she tracked every sale, monitored her average order value, and kept an eye on customer behavior. With her son’s help, she discovered that 28.5% of her total sales for the year came from her $5 Friday promotions—adding up to over $31,500!

This is such an important point—knowing your numbers gives you clarity and helps you double down on what works. It’s not just about throwing things at the wall to see what sticks; it’s about refining your strategy based on real data.

Rinse and Repeat: Why a Simple System Is Key to Growth

Linda’s $5 Friday promotions weren’t just a lucky break—they were the result of a repeatable system. She blocked out time each week to plan and prepare her kits, ensuring she was always ready to go. “I batch my work so that I’m not scrambling at the last minute,” she explained.

By creating a system that worked, Linda was able to consistently execute her promotions without feeling overwhelmed. And the best part? It freed up time for her to focus on other areas of the business, knowing that $5 Friday was running like clockwork.

“I have a system now, so I don’t have to think about what I’m going to do each week. I block my time, plan ahead, and it just runs.”

No Secrets, Just Success: How Linda’s Generosity Led to Community Wins

One of the things I love most about Linda is that she doesn’t keep her wins to herself—she shares them with others. After seeing how successful her $5 Friday strategy was, she told the Inner Circle all about it, and another business owner used it to drive her own success. “It’s not about keeping secrets. If it works, I want to share it,” Linda said.

This mindset of abundance and community over competition is so powerful. By helping others succeed, she’s creating a ripple effect of growth, and that’s something we can all take inspiration from.

Follow Linda’s Lead

The biggest takeaway from Linda’s story is about consistency. Showing up every week with a simple, well-timed promotion can drive serious results. But beyond that, it’s about listening to your customers, solving their problems, and creating a system that works.

Linda didn’t overcomplicate things. She found a strategy that worked, she tracked her progress, and she repeated it. And now? She’s running a thriving business, making $1,000 per week without ads, and sharing her success with others.

Ready to Boost Your Sales? Start Your Own Weekly Promotion

Try launching your own version of $5 Friday. Create a simple promotion, track your results, and be consistent. If you’re ready to scale your business, start with a system that works.

Want some help getting started? Download our free weekly sales tracker and join the Inner Circle to access exclusive training and templates to help you create your own scalable promotion. Let’s grow together!

RELATED LINKS:

Find Crop-A-Latte HERE: https://cropalatte.com/

Or on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/CropALatte

www.instagram.com/cropalattetogo

Episode 62: Massive Growth Organically? Yes You Can

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/massive-growth-organically-yes-you-can-episode-62/

Episode 145: How To Get Reliable Sales Every Day

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/how-to-get-reliable-sales-every-day-episode-145/

Episode 146: Double Sales Without Spending More

https://thesocialsalesgirls.com/double-sales-without-spending-more-episode-146/

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