Retail Marketing Tip
Tip #414 - "Independent" Promotions
(6/25/10)
Dear Tip of the Weeker,
It's hard to believe, but the 4th of July is right around the corner. If you've been reading our Tips for awhile, you already know that we believe every holiday is an opportunity to get people into your store.
There's still time to plan a special Independence Day event to make the most of the holiday weekend, and it doesn't mean you have to put your merchandise on sale.
Promotions and special events are the fireworks in your retail marketing plan. They add excitement and keep your store fun and interesting.
When many retailers think of promotions, they automatically think of putting goods on sale. Even though this is one very successful type of promotion, many promotion ideas can be "independent" of putting merchandise on sale.
There are lots of great promotions that get their impact from fun and added value rather than cash savings.
Doing promotions on a limited budget can be challenging. However, if you are prepared to put in a little old fashioned elbow grease, you can dream up some really great promotions that don’t cost a fortune.
Here are a few tips for keeping your costs down and your sales up.
- Have a drawing or a contest and ask your vendors to donate prizes, food, help, or anything else you need.
- Barter with other merchants to get prizes, services, and mailing lists.
- Partner with neighboring businesses for a downtown 4th of July barbecue.
- Send out press releases to get free publicity.
- Stuff every bag with your event flier.
- Put signs about the event in your store this weekend.
- Send personalized email invitations or post cards to VIPs.
- Use a sticker to put your upcoming event on your customers' register receipts.
- Write an article about the promotion for your email newsletter.
- Put details about your event on the home page of your website.
- Post your event on Facebook.
- Create a window display highlighting your special event.
- Ask your customers to tell a friend about the upcoming event.
- Mention the promotion on your answering machine message.
- Finally, for cryin' out loud, if your town has a parade going by your store or some other downtown festivity, BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!
Have someone on foot in the parade or walking up and down the street handing out fliers and invite people to your store that day for a hot dog (grill out back so they have to go through your store to get them), a cup of ice-cold lemonade, or a free mini-flag.
Get creative! Use your noodle! There are lots of ways to have fun on a budget.
