Parade Ideas

[Laney]

We've been in two Christmas parades in our town. The first one we had very little notice on, so we had two palm trees with a hammock between them on the bed of my husband's pickup truck. We hung lotion packettes from the trees as decorations and had all the tropical stuff...pails, sunglasses, panama hat etc. It really looked good.
The second one we actually made a float since we had more time, on a donated trailer. Lots of fringe around it, and a huge teddy bear on one end that lit up. Since the parade was night time it looked really great. On the other end of the float we had a Christmas tree with lotion packettes and lights. Lots of gifts underneath. What we threw was beads......we ordered them and EVERYONE was yelling for us to throw them beads. No one else in the parade did marti gras style as they all threw candy. It was a hit both years.

[MATT A]

Call Grip get some buddy passes made and pass them out. The idea is to get new people in the door. The other items are nice to use or hang around the house but you want clients coming in the door trying out your salon and using your units.

[GARCAT]

We were in the July 4th parade and it was great fun. We uesed my son's pickup truck and put Banner's on each side and tied party rafia (Orientaltrading.com has everything) which is only 12 inches wide with flowers on it all around the bottom of the truck (Natural Ravia 24 ft x 12" $17.95 each - used 4) - just stuck it on with clear packing type and foled the edges - came off great later. We stuck a couple of palm trees from our salon on the truck - put an Aloha (cheap cardboard) sign on the front. Taped tiki torches on each corner (not lit of course) We had a swinging sidewalk sign we stood up on a box covered with a a green blanket to hide it. Our sign had a Free Tan invite on it - just mention the parade, plus our month EFT price for our Turbo Beds. Worked great - got a good response. We gave away "leis" (Oriental trading 100 for $3.50 - purchased about 2,000 - $70) Also tosed tiny tootsie rolls type candy) But we walked next to the truck and hand stuff out - it was more personal. Total cost was about $300 and we had a great time and got some business out of it. GOOD LUCK.

[mikeytan]

Thanks, what about doing the plastic tumbler cups and putting our logo and info on one side and the date of our customer appreciation week on the other. Advertise something like free tan week or $1 tans.

[GARCAT]

I personally don't like free tan weeks - your paying customers might not like having to wait for a bed they are paying for while newbies come in to tan. Offer the One Free Tan and maybe purchase one get one more free or tan with a buddy and share the one get one free tan. I have pretty good luck with the "Buy One Free Share with a Friend Tan". $1 a tan won't even pay for the wear and tear on the bulbs. You could offer your customers some free time on any package they purchase that week or 15% or 20% off on any package. Also, maybe a $ credit with each package towards lotion with the credit being more the bigger the package. I'm having a big Open House in Sept. and on anyone signing up for the yearly membership that Day Only will get A free month added, and up to 2 months Freeze Option, plus two 25% off coupons for lotions or whatever in my store and a free logo t-shirt. Just keep thinking FREE, FREE, FREE, DISCOUNTS, DISCOUNTS, DISCOUNTS - PEOPLE LOVE A DEAL - but try and think of things that won't hurt your pocket book much - we are still about making money.

	Superior UV

[Beach Club Tans]

Every time I open this post I'm afraid I'll see it's a *** pride parade...