Special summer sale promotion idea

[Pompal 09.]

Hey there,

Let me run my idea by you.

First a little background.

Every year, for like 50+ years in my town, they have a sale in June in the downtown area. It is called "Crazy Day." It is a day that most downtown retailers bring out the stuff that hasnt sold well and slash prices. It atracts a big crowd. Because the customers come in and buy the regular priced stuff too.

Last year, I set up my massage chair and did chair massage in a local shop owned by a friend, I didnt make a killing.... but I did bring in a twice a month client ever since, so it was worth it for me. I am not the only one doing it tho. There is a a salon on the next block that also did chair massage, right on th side walk charging $5 for 10 minutes. I was charging $10 for 12 minutes.

This year, I want to do something different.... and in keeping with the name of the sale, a little crazy.... so here is my idea.

Dogs barkin'?
This is the place to park 'em!
Peppermint foot refresher massage
only $15 for 15 minutes PLUS!!!
You will also recieve a FREE pound of hot dogs!!
Today Only!!

I have a container of baby wipes I scented with peppermint oil and a lotion I scented as well. I would bring in the recliner and foot stool I have in my office for the clients to sit on and put their feet up while I do my thing. I would have a cooler with ice in it keeping the hot dogs cool. Actually... they are weiners from a well known butcher shop. But... with the reference to Dogs barking, I called them hot dogs. Plus... I dont want the word weiner any where near the word massage. Know what I mean?? lol

I was originally thinking of charging $12 for the treatment. The weiners will cost me about $4 a pound.... so it works out. Plus, I think the gimmik would bring me in extra people wanting in on the deal. I would start out with 10 pounds. If I get low, I can give my mom a call and she can run out their and get me more. If it doesnt work out, well, I tried and my family knows what they will be eating for a while. :twisted:

Now, what do you think of the idea?? I know it is original... maybe a little crazy... but will it work??

 

[solsolbi]

This sounds really cute. I'd just leave the hotdogs out of it...what you're offering is attractive enough to reel me in all by itself!

 

[Mar]

I too agree with leaving the hot dogs out. It sounds divine without them!

If I were shopping and saw your promotion I think "oh man.....just what I need" and then I'd think "well, I'd better save that till last thing so I don't have to carry around a lb. of hot dogs while I do more shopping"

It's a cute idea, but I don't think it would work very well for real.

Just my 2cents,
Angie

 

[ZoomN]

I dunno, I like the weiner erhmm, hot dog idea. It is definately going to get people's attention & if you think that it fits in with the 'Crazy Day' theme, go for it. People love free stuff, and if nothing else, it could be a great conversation starter/ice breaker!

I also love the foot massage idea - a nice change of pace from chair massage, esp. if the folks down the street are also setting up.

Good Luck!

heather

 

[Devolution]

I think then a crazy free thing that isn't perishable would be a better add-on. I'd be like the other poster, thinking, "Sounds great but I'll put this off for much later beacause I don't want to lug meat around while I shop, much less on a summer day" t004

CHOCOLATE goes nice with peppermint...and it's sure to be eaten up right away, if it's small enough.

 

[Tshilidzi]

Hey Christine, I have reservations about trying to store the food as well.
Worried about the liability issue involved should the hot dogs spoil in your cooler...
I'm wondering if you could get some "gift certificates" good for the amount of the hot dogs from the company which you would then be able to hand out to your clients when they were in the chair getting worked on.

 

[Cheesebrady]

I for one LURVE the weiner idea. Free unrelated gifts with purchase always crack me up and make me think the person offering the gift is creative and fun, and I want to do business with them because who knows what they'll come up with next?

Also, being the well-brought-up daughter of a Wisconsin gentleman, I am delighted to see you distinguishing btw weiners and hot dogs in your post. Out here on the left coast people would look at me like I had 2 heads if I said such a thing!

Oh just a thought - you're getting the weiners inexpensively, right?

 

[DeeeeJay]

I could ask for a coupon... but I am not sure if this particular sausage company does that.... I suppose they would give me gift certificates for $4.00 (a pound is $3.99) they wouldnt have to get the weiners then... they could get anything, but the meat market is about 12 miles away from the city which has crazy days. There isnt a meat market in this city any longer, hasnt been for a long time.

If I dont give away something, I would only charge $12 for the 15 minute session.

I was considering sending post cards to my client list to let them know I will be there.... but the real reson I am there is to attract new clients... so I think I may just save my stamps. Of course, my friend who owns the store would love that, the last time I did paraffin hand dips there I sent out pc's to my clients and about 10 of them showed up. Most of them bought something from him as well.

No, the weiners aren't cheap, but by bringing the price up to $15 instead of $12, I am pretty much covered.

I could do chocolate, but that is prone to melt unless they wolf it down right away.

I could also do a drawing.... I had great success with my dinner and a movie for two that I did for mother's day. Instead of raising the price to $15, I could charge $13 or $14.... and give everyone a chance to win a gift certificate to the meat market... say a certificate for $20. That will buy a lot of weiners.


I get compliments all the time about the way I market my business. Part of me wants to keep people wondering what I will do next.

Christine

 

[crln]

I think the certificate is a great compromise. No health worries for you and you still can tie it in, as you want to do.

I know chocolate can melt, but nobody ever got sick from eating it!

 

[Uh-Oh!]

Christine,
How about teaming up with the Manitowoc [Lakeshore] Humane Society? Perhaps just putting up a sign and a "donation jar"... so your clients can help some other "Hot Dogs?"
Maybe they can use it for some "cool" toys and activities to keep the dogs happy during the hot summer months to come. :wink:

 

[Jitter]

wonderful idea

I love the idea, but like others I'm not sure about the hot dogs. How about keeping with the peppermint idea and handing out mini-tins of Altoids? Where did you get the peppermint wipes? I frequently do reflexology at health fairs and use wipes for the feet, these would be a great change of pace.

I think Maestra had a good idea with the tip jar for giving something back to the dogs.

Dale

 

[V. town lee]

Mini tins of altoids just dont say wow to me. I want people to walk by, see the sign and stop and think about it.

Now the Humane Society.... that is a good idea!! What kind of a cut would I give them?? Charge $15 and give them $5 of it?? That I could go for. I have a client who is on the board of directors of the local humane society... I could talk to her about it. She would just love this idea!!


Dogs barkin'?
This is the place to park 'em!
$15 for a 15 minute pepppermint
foot massage.
Help your feet and help the
Humane Society