Stuff that turkey

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a big believer in proactively contacting prospects long before an event. Now is the time to start talking to prospects about Thanksgiving. In the past this meant contacting grocers but the market has greatly expanded in the past few years. The number of people who dine out on Thanksgiving or who have their dinner catered has grown in the last decade. With most women working outside the home they do not have the time or the desire to make a big meal. By talking to prospects early you will help them plan their promotions and preempt your competition. We are approximately 2 1/2 months out from Turkey Day but you will want to start promoting these events several weeks before the holiday. Starting now gives you a jump start on this revenue opportunity. Don't forget to reach out to appliance dealers, beer distributors and party stores as well.

Keep Smiling, Keep Selling.

Thanks Jim Busch

Selling Shopping Centers

Many malls and large strip centers do group advertising. Some centers assess each merchant an advertising fee based on the square footage of their store. This money is used to pay for advertising which promotes the center and the merchants. To tap into this budget you need to identify who places the advertising. Some large centers actually have a marketing manager, some centers are handled by the general manager and many have a committee of store owners. You need to visit the stores and ask who handles the marketing for the center. If the advertising is handled by a group, try to attend their meeting. Often one merchant is the unofficial "leader of the pack" and has a strong influence over the group. Try to identify and sell this merchant and the others will fall into line.

Keep Smiling, Keep Selling.

Thanks Jim Busch

Happy Halloween

Halloween is just two months away. Halloween used to be a children's holiday but the grown-ups have taken it away for themselves. Halloween is the #2 adult party event just after New Years Eve (Taking the #2 spot away from St.Patrick's Day). Now is the time to get in front of party and costume store owners. You should also contact the bars and clubs in your area to talk about their plans for the holiday. Don't forget to talk to municipalities about community events, parades, costume contests etc. If you start working these accounts now, you'll beat the competition to the punch and get a head start on this lucrative business.

Keep Smiling, Keep Selling!

Thanks Jim Busch