Jason Otte, franchise owner of Instant Imprints in Charlotte, NC, and Greenville, SC, has grown a business where 65% of all orders are repeat business, his top 20 customers every single one came through networking, and one email to his chamber of commerce list produced 40 appointment requests in under an hour.
In this episode of the Network Build Grow Podcast, Jason breaks down exactly how he did it and what most small business owners are leaving on the table by treating networking as optional.
IN THIS EPISODE:
→ The real reason Jason's business runs at 65% repeat orders, and what That number does for your revenue predictability every single month.
→ How one relationship becomes two: when a loyal customer changes companies, they bring Jason with them, and he keeps the old account too
→ The chiropractor story that perfectly explains the difference between more marketing and smarter marketing.
→ Only 20% of any group's members actually show up to events, here's the strategy Jason uses to reach the other 80%
→ The "14 large customers" rule: once you know your break-even number, your entire networking strategy becomes sharper and more intentional
→ Why the person in front of you at a networking event doesn't have to be your next client — they just need to know someone who is.
→ Do your friends, family, and neighbors actually know what you do? The most overlooked referral network sitting right next to you.
→ The mindset shift that only came when Jason opened his second location: stop working in the business so you can actually grow it.
→ Why networking can never be done passively and how to treat it with the same intention you'd give a paid marketing campaign.
ABOUT JASON OTTE:
Jason is the franchise owner of Instant Imprints, with locations in Charlotte, NC, and Greenville, SC, and a third Charlotte location is currently in the works. Instant Imprints produces branded apparel, promotional products, signage, vehicle graphics, laser engraving, custom awards, and virtually anything that carries a logo. Before entrepreneurship, Jason worked in banking and industrial analytics, and he brought that strategic, data-driven thinking directly into how he networks, qualifies opportunities, and builds customer relationships.
🌐 Find Jason: Instant Imprints – Charlotte, NC & Greenville, SC
ABOUT THE NETWORK BUILD GROW PODCAST:
Hosted by Melissa Taylor, the Network Build Grow Podcast is where business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals come to learn real strategies for building relationships, growing their circle of influence, and turning their network into their most powerful business asset.
New episodes every week.
🌐 Join the community: networkbuildgrow.com
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