Great Marketing Moves

[tvguy]

Which do you think are the most brilliant?

My vote goes to Denny's Super Bowl free Grand Slam giveaway.

2 million folks took advantage, getting a meal that sells for about $6 for free. What did this end up costing Denny's? They made money on it. Seems that a Grand Slam costs them 77 cents to make. All you got free was the meal, you had to buy a beverage if you wanted one. If you did, the profit on the beverage was more than 77 cents, and they MADE money on you.
Second pick:
The birthday Grand Slam giveaway......you can get one for free every year on your birthday.

 

[KristaTX]

Off the top of my head, and with restaurants in mind, I'll say The Happy Meal. Great-but-simple name, decent product, excellent targets (children and parents). People even call non-McDonald's kids' meals Happy Meals. And those meals helped give birth to such crazes as Beanie Babies. And those Beanie Babies brought more people into McDonald's. Marketing brilliance.

 

[tvguy]

Off the top of my head, and with restaurants in mind, I'll say The Happy Meal. Great-but-simple name, decent product, excellent targets (children and parents). People even call non-McDonald's kids' meals Happy Meals. And those meals helped give birth to such crazes as Beanie Babies. And those Beanie Babies brought more people into McDonald's. Marketing brilliance.

I also think happy meals were the first fast food meals to offer fruit as a healthy alternative to fries. Although one of my health crazy co-workers put it "when I go to McDonalds I have already decided I don't want healthy"!

 

[golfgal]

Which do you think are the most brilliant?

My vote goes to Denny's Super Bowl free Grand Slam giveaway.

2 million folks took advantage, getting a meal that sells for about $6 for free. What did this end up costing Denny's? They made money on it. Seems that a Grand Slam costs them 77 cents to make. All you got free was the meal, you had to buy a beverage if you wanted one. If you did, the profit on the beverage was more than 77 cents, and they MADE money on you.
Second pick:
The birthday Grand Slam giveaway......you can get one for free every year on your birthday.

They still lost money on the deal because there is no way their employee costs and overhead are covered in that 77 cents--their outlay for the food is probably only that.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Brilliant? I would have a hard time coming up with something I felt quite exceptional.

I would have to say that getting in free on your birthday. With very few exceptions such as my SIL who is a twin and they went without anyone else...

Many folks would only get their one day while the rest of the party had to buy a ticket.

For frequent visitors--that would mean returning on a SO or
family member's birthday so they can get their free day.

No idea if it is brilliant or not.

Also--GAD was pretty good from a community/volunteer perspective. It did have some glitches that upset people--but it got hoards out to volunteer.

I can't think of any other non-Disney promotions that strike me in that way. Krispy kreme has free donut day and we had a local Ben and Jerry's that had a free scoop day and I am sure their are others. I'm not sure how that gets people to be repeat customers.


Chik Fil A cow day is another one. Dress like a cow, get a free meal. We have done that 2 years in a row and never buy extra on that visit. We do patronize them at other times though. So I figure freebie day is just profit sharing.

 

[tvguy]

Brilliant? I would have a hard time coming up with something I felt quite exceptional.

I would have to say that getting in free on your birthday. With very few exceptions such as my SIL who is a twin and they went without anyone else...

Many folks would only get their one day while the rest of the party had to buy a ticket.

For frequent visitors--that would mean returning on a SO or
family member's birthday so they can get their free day.

No idea if it is brilliant or not.

Also--GAD was pretty good from a community/volunteer perspective. It did have some glitches that upset people--but it got hoards out to volunteer.

I can't think of any other non-Disney promotions that strike me in that way. Krispy kreme has free donut day and we had a local Ben and Jerry's that had a free scoop day and I am sure their are others. I'm not sure how that gets people to be repeat customers.


Chik Fil A cow day is another one. Dress like a cow, get a free meal. We have done that 2 years in a row and never buy extra on that visit. We do patronize them at other times though. So I figure freebie day is just profit sharing.

We only have one Chk Fil A here. I'd go there more often, but it always seems the day I think about going is Sunday, when they're closed!