Marketing Strategy in the Slow Season with No Money

Bronze Star · 10-16-2001, 08:21 AM

(How's that for a "Subject" John?)

Okay folks... as I talk to salon owners who have no money this time of year for marketing, what can you do to still get your name out there? Especially those of you who are waiting for that new 2002 phonebook to come out!

Trade your service (tanning, hair, nails) for advertising space. I love Melissa's idea for bathroom stall doors. Especially in area's with a lot of Taverns, bars, nightclubs, etc. Meet with the owner, have a professional proposal drawn up and recommend putting nicely printed signs (you can do them on your computer) on the inside of the stall door. Offer so many free tans or a tanning and nails package to the owner, owner's wife, daughter, husband, significant other... They might not have the cash to want to tan or have their nails done right now. But it's a beauty of an exchange. Get ads on placemats, in windows (include a tear off coupon) or any place else you can think of. How much fun it would be be to run a promotion that says "$1 First Time Tan for anyone who says they say this ad in McGregor's Pub bathroom!"

tangirl · 10-16-2001, 09:01 AM

Make your own flyers on a computer. Have copies made at Kinko's (about $50). Distribute these in neighborhoods, nail salons, beauty salons, etc. Low cost, high output.

BooBop · 10-16-2001, 09:51 PM

one of the local pizza plus stores approached me with this deal. if a customer purchases pizza and brings me the reciept they get a a % off a tanning session. if i sell a session they take a reciept to the pizza plus and get free bread sticks... i don't have to do any advertising and the pizza place is taking flyiers and advertising in their hands. we will see how this works.

Tamar · 10-17-2001, 01:13 AM

Don't forget Smoothie shops and gyms, bridal shops and travel agencies, day care centers, and apartment complexes. And your competitor's parking lot if you're really hungry.

Bronze Star · 10-17-2001, 08:29 AM

Another clever way to get your name out there is through sponsorship and donation. You sometimes have to be clever about this. Ever see the cars that the Homecoming Queen ride in during a parade? How many of you have an old vette or a souped up snazzy classic truck? Put a salon banner on that and offer to drive her in a parade (or her runners up).

How about Adopting a section of road in your township. Then you can also let your tanners know that you and your staff keep that clean. Do you belong to the chamber? When is the last time you participated in a chamber event. What about the local municipal park? Notify the paper that your salon (and maybe incorporate a few other businesses, the car dealership, the hardware store) will be cleaning the park this Saturday. Anyone who comes to help will get a coupon for a free tan (dealer gives out car washes, the hardware store whatever). Get your staff involved... let them know you can't pay them for their volunteer work, but reward them in other ways. Give them lotions, an upgrade tan, buy them a pizza dinner... whatever!!

Bronze Star · 10-17-2001, 08:31 AM

Charity auction, silent auction for fund raising coming up for a ladies event, booster club, benefit for a family in need?? How about putting together a tanning or spa package that includes your new Private Label line... a left over tee that didn't sell, Winkese and tanning package. This donating a package for a cause can come in handy for almost any type of fund raising venue. Be creative with it... but I would stipulate a "take no less than" dollar amount when donating. (not for you, but for minimum auction)

Forever Tan · 10-17-2001, 09:29 AM

I sponsor a pee wee football team, it really doesn't cost that much because the kids do a lot of their own fundraising, plus my name is on their bright yellow jerseys and in the programs.

BOBER96 · 10-17-2001, 10:22 AM

We do a lot for silent auctions, fundraisers, etc. Costs very little but gets your name on their programs, ads and everywhere they have a flier about their fundraiser!

Forever Tan · 10-17-2001, 10:33 AM

While we are on this subject I just got a call from a woman who is doing a tricky tray auction (I think it's like a chinese auction) she wanted to know if I would be willing to donate something so I said yes. She said my name will be in their program as well as there newspaper ad because it will list all of the places participating.. now how;s that for free advertising..

I guess now I have to go make a gift basket, because they are coming today to pick it up

Brandy1 · 05-27-2007, 12:28 PM

05-27-2007, 12:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
Brandy1 I love Derf!! Join Date: Nov 17 2004 Posts: 8,015 Rep Power: 36	Re: Marketing Strategy in the Slow Season with No Money bump __________________

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10-16-2001, 08:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bronze Star Join Date: Apr 11 2001 Posts: 2,732 Rep Power: 8	(How's that for a "Subject" John?) Okay folks... as I talk to salon owners who have no money this time of year for marketing, what can you do to still get your name out there? Especially those of you who are waiting for that new 2002 phonebook to come out! Trade your service (tanning, hair, nails) for advertising space. I love Melissa's idea for bathroom stall doors. Especially in area's with a lot of Taverns, bars, nightclubs, etc. Meet with the owner, have a professional proposal drawn up and recommend putting nicely printed signs (you can do them on your computer) on the inside of the stall door. Offer so many free tans or a tanning and nails package to the owner, owner's wife, daughter, husband, significant other... They might not have the cash to want to tan or have their nails done right now. But it's a beauty of an exchange. Get ads on placemats, in windows (include a tear off coupon) or any place else you can think of. How much fun it would be be to run a promotion that says "$1 First Time Tan for anyone who says they say this ad in McGregor's Pub bathroom!"

10-16-2001, 09:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
tangirl Join Date: Jul 6 2001 Posts: 2,184 Rep Power: 8	Make your own flyers on a computer. Have copies made at Kinko's (about $50). Distribute these in neighborhoods, nail salons, beauty salons, etc. Low cost, high output.

10-16-2001, 09:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
BooBop I love Derf!! Join Date: Apr 5 2001 Posts: 9,487 Rep Power: 13	one of the local pizza plus stores approached me with this deal. if a customer purchases pizza and brings me the reciept they get a a % off a tanning session. if i sell a session they take a reciept to the pizza plus and get free bread sticks... i don't have to do any advertising and the pizza place is taking flyiers and advertising in their hands. we will see how this works.

10-17-2001, 01:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tamar Join Date: Aug 15 2001 Posts: 2,240 Rep Power: 7	Don't forget Smoothie shops and gyms, bridal shops and travel agencies, day care centers, and apartment complexes. And your competitor's parking lot if you're really hungry.

10-17-2001, 08:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
Bronze Star Join Date: Apr 11 2001 Posts: 2,732 Rep Power: 8	Another clever way to get your name out there is through sponsorship and donation. You sometimes have to be clever about this. Ever see the cars that the Homecoming Queen ride in during a parade? How many of you have an old vette or a souped up snazzy classic truck? Put a salon banner on that and offer to drive her in a parade (or her runners up). How about Adopting a section of road in your township. Then you can also let your tanners know that you and your staff keep that clean. Do you belong to the chamber? When is the last time you participated in a chamber event. What about the local municipal park? Notify the paper that your salon (and maybe incorporate a few other businesses, the car dealership, the hardware store) will be cleaning the park this Saturday. Anyone who comes to help will get a coupon for a free tan (dealer gives out car washes, the hardware store whatever). Get your staff involved... let them know you can't pay them for their volunteer work, but reward them in other ways. Give them lotions, an upgrade tan, buy them a pizza dinner... whatever!!

10-17-2001, 08:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
Bronze Star Join Date: Apr 11 2001 Posts: 2,732 Rep Power: 8	Charity auction, silent auction for fund raising coming up for a ladies event, booster club, benefit for a family in need?? How about putting together a tanning or spa package that includes your new Private Label line... a left over tee that didn't sell, Winkese and tanning package. This donating a package for a cause can come in handy for almost any type of fund raising venue. Be creative with it... but I would stipulate a "take no less than" dollar amount when donating. (not for you, but for minimum auction)

10-17-2001, 09:29 AM	#7 (permalink)
Forever Tan Join Date: Mar 6 2001 Posts: 981 Rep Power: 8	I sponsor a pee wee football team, it really doesn't cost that much because the kids do a lot of their own fundraising, plus my name is on their bright yellow jerseys and in the programs.

10-17-2001, 10:22 AM	#8 (permalink)
BOBER96 Join Date: Oct 17 2000 Posts: 1,009 Rep Power: 8	We do a lot for silent auctions, fundraisers, etc. Costs very little but gets your name on their programs, ads and everywhere they have a flier about their fundraiser!

10-17-2001, 10:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
Forever Tan Join Date: Mar 6 2001 Posts: 981 Rep Power: 8	While we are on this subject I just got a call from a woman who is doing a tricky tray auction (I think it's like a chinese auction) she wanted to know if I would be willing to donate something so I said yes. She said my name will be in their program as well as there newspaper ad because it will list all of the places participating.. now how;s that for free advertising.. I guess now I have to go make a gift basket, because they are coming today to pick it up

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