New advertising idea! - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

pcplumber · 08-21-2009, 12:02 AM

Actually, this is something I have been thinking about for many years.

Next week, I am going to look for a location in a neighborhood where I can give away free hotdogs, soda, chips, coffee mugs, calendars, ink pens, helium balloons, and literature. We may even get one or two arcade rides that will be free for small children.

As we draw in a crowd, we will hand out literature explaining the free services we will be providing in their neighborhood for the next week. We will set appointments at the booth. For those who don't set an appointment, we will warn them that our canvassers will be knocking on their doors to bother them.

We will deliver 5,000 brochures 1 day before the show and 5,000 brochures on the day we have the showday. Each brochure will have a coupon that will give free hotdogs, soda, water, mugs, etc. We will use our 10 inch by 6 foot Acrylic tube filled with candy to help draw a crowd.

This campaign will cost about $2,000 to $3,000. One good job will leave me with a profit and we will build a very good presence and branding effect that will be long-term. I may do this two times a year in each neighborhood.

Everybody love a good free hotdog.

Celtic · 08-21-2009, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcplumber

For those who don't set an appointment, we will warn them that our canvassers will be knocking on their doors to bother them.

.... we will build a very good presence and branding effect that will be long-term.

Everybody love a good free hotdog.

I hope your canvasser does too....he might find a meaty missle in his onion ring.

What kind of a plan is this?
Telling people if they don't set an appointment some douche bag salesman is going to be banging on my door.
Sounds like terrorism to me......harassment at the least.

Good luck with that positive image and branding ~ you're gonna need it.

**Ed the Roofer** · 08-21-2009, 12:50 AM

I like it, as usual from you Leonard.

Psycholgically, as with your canvassing style, you are giving something away to them for free first.....

Then, you are going to be providing a door stop off at each of the neigbors homes and give away some more free goodies, or if they want, a lesson on how to use the testing equipment or tablets, etc...

They should be beholding to you.

Pump up the Family Atmosphere aspect and it can almost turn into a neigborhood Block Party, courtesy of BestLine Plumbing.

Their attitudes will not look upon your sevice guest reps as an intrusion, since after all, they will be emotionally in debt to you for providing a method of getting something for the kids and parents to do together.

How much does one of those transportable Rock Climbing Walls cost to rent for the day?

A plastic ball blow up tent?

How about for some cheaply obtained game DVD's for the teen-agers under their parents wing still?

And as a treasured gift from BestLine Plumbing, the opportunity for the husband and wife or entire family to get a family photograph together?

Hmmmm, you know, now that I typed that one out loud for me to read, you could also prevail upon the family emotional appeal and provide one day, set by appointments, for family photos to be professionally shot and created for them.

What the heck would a college photography student charge to be able to set up and print out an entire days worth of family or children photos?

You gift, compliments of Our Family, here at BestLine Plumbing Directly To Your Family, With Our Sincere Compliments And No Charge.

You are certainly a creative and wacky dude Leonard, but your ideas spark my own creative thinking process.

Ed

pcplumber · 08-21-2009, 02:00 AM

Those are some great ideas and they reinforce my desire to follow through. Hopefully, within the next 2 weeks.

curiouscanuck · 08-21-2009, 02:34 AM

PC Plumber,

You know, I have never had a canvassor into my house ever, or for that matter listen to one's speil... But, if he served me and my kids a free hotdog I would feel obligated to hear him out and take the business card.

Doesn't seem to me as though it's worded as a threat, all you're saying is we will be canvassing your neighborhood and want to create some goodwill before hand. I don't think it's manipulative in a bad way, as you're making the effort to give something for free without any expectation (just desire) for a chance to sell. Not a whole lot different in my mind than sponsoring a kids sports team.

Very creative and I look forward to reading how it works out for you.

Matt

Pro Builder · 08-21-2009, 05:17 AM

Please do let us know how it goes! It sounds reasonable enough. A PR campaign that might not reap instant rewards, but benefit you in the long run, I think.

Home Services · 08-21-2009, 06:39 AM

I think your idea is brilliant!

Showing your companies "face" in the neighborhood before canvassing, should lend more credibility to your door knockers.

When we telemarket, we mail postcards first & then call 2 days later. We have tried with and without the mailer - mailing first works better by far.

Please post the results of your hot dog day - I'm sure we will all be curious regarding the results.

Also - I like the idea of telling people that your canvassers will be at their door to "bother" them at a future date. I don't think the guy from NJ realizes that this "tongue in cheek" statement should be a good way to bring down the prospects guard. Good Luck...

handyhands · 08-21-2009, 10:03 AM

Everybody love a good free hotdog.[/quote]

Of course, providing there's no veins.

All in all, I like it,...Creating goodwill goes a long way.

I'll as well be eager to hear some results!

Celtic · 08-21-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcplumber

For those who don't set an appointment, we will warn them that our canvassers will be knocking on their doors to bother them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by curiouscanuck

Doesn't seem to me as though it's worded as a threat, all you're saying is we will be canvassing your neighborhood and want to create some goodwill before hand.

It doesn't really matter how it's worded...only what is actually said.
Saying to a prospect:
I'm warning, if you don't set an appointment now - I'll come ring your bell.
IS a threat.

I'd suggest the OP tone down the language...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Home Services

Also - I like the idea of telling people that your canvassers will be at their door to "bother" them at a future date. I don't think the guy from NJ realizes that this "tongue in cheek" statement should be a good way to bring down the prospects guard. Good Luck...

..."tongue in cheek" or not, it's a poorly thought out script...hopefully it's execution will be show more thought .

Plumber_Bill · 08-21-2009, 03:32 PM

[quote=pcplumber;750520]
<snip> neighborhood where I can give away free hotdogs, soda, chips, coffee mugs, calendars, ink pens, helium balloons, and literature. We may even get one or two arcade rides that will be free for small children.
<snip>

Just wondering how do you handel the excessive liabilty EG: Rides for small children. Must you get a rider on your policy to cover the exposure for those couple of days. Even with a outside vendor supplying the food and rides. I would think you would still have some risk as the principal of the event.

Publisher1 · 08-21-2009, 05:36 PM

This is an intriguing idea to turn the "bad" of canvassing into some good.

However, you still have the problem (as do all canvassers) that you are knocking on many doors that don't want, nor need, your services, and are intruding into their private space and lives.

Hotdogs will wind branding points, canvassing loses them in my opinion.

Pro Builder · 08-22-2009, 12:40 AM

[quote=Plumber_Bill;750814]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pcplumber

<snip> neighborhood where I can give away free hotdogs, soda, chips, coffee mugs, calendars, ink pens, helium balloons, and literature. We may even get one or two arcade rides that will be free for small children.
<snip>

Just wondering how do you handel the excessive liabilty EG: Rides for small children. Must you get a rider on your policy to cover the exposure for those couple of days. Even with a outside vendor supplying the food and rides. I would think you would still have some risk as the principal of the event.

Bounce house is what I was thinking of. The bounce place that you rent it from has a person on duty to take liability. Its all included in the price.

Pro Builder · 08-22-2009, 12:41 AM

BTW, your signature isn't insuating that your services are merely "par" is it?

enforcer · 08-22-2009, 08:06 AM

this seems expensive,is it not?

J F · 08-22-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

I hope your canvasser does too....he might find a meaty missle in his onion ring.

J F · 08-22-2009, 08:51 AM

To pcplumber, make sure to take lots of pictures if you can. It will be interesting to hear how this pans out, always good to hear different/interesting marketing ideas.

Hammer_Nail · 08-22-2009, 12:02 PM

What service are you promoting?

W-Tinc · 08-22-2009, 03:14 PM

This sounds like a great idea..but I just don't think people are that friendly.

Where I live my feeling is people would not want their kids eating your hot dogs

.

Have things changed alot in the last 20 years? People seem more protective and much less friendly to outsiders, less likely to join in or even stop out of curiosity for something like this.

Maybe its just me..would alot of you stop for something like this that popped up randomly somewhere around your neighborhood?

Maybe combine this idea with some of the cheaper shows in your area, craft/car/etc..

Century Man · 08-23-2009, 08:13 AM

Len- you know your community better than any of us on this forum. Great idea to have a corner carnival to stimulate some interest.
My community has 5 or 6 events a year and I always try to be the guy cooking the hot dogs. It's funny when I miss an event and run into a neighbor that complains how the hot dogs tasted because someone else was cooking them.

Home Services · 08-24-2009, 06:16 AM

Len,

This will be an easy event to "draw" people to. All you need to do is have some things to draw the kids... parents will follow...McDonalds & Disney realized this concept light years before anyone else did. That is why they are both #1 in their respective fields.

All you will need to do is have a "bounce house" & BE SURE to have a LOT of helium filled balloons with your companies name & number on them to give to the kids as they leave (or arrive). The parents will eat your hot dogs while their kids play...you get the idea.

Also, the longer you can keep the kids there, the longer time you have you have to talk to their parents. I would suggest that you have a "young & cute" girl there (wearing on of your companies shirts) doing face painting... for free, of course. The key is going to be your ability to attract the neigborhood kids. Good luck.