Marketing attached to Halloween Candy!

[CoachTomer]

I just spent the morning with my neighbor attaching her business card to all of the Halloween Candy as she wants to tell all of the people about her business. Another neighbor walked by us as we were sitting enjoying a gorgeous fall day and asked what we were doing.

She told us what a bad idea it was and that she would not be bringing her kids by her house and would be telling "ALL her friends to not stop either." We were like whatever, she markets her business to families and I agree this is a perfect captive audience opportunity!

What do you think?

 

[kmb584]

I'd be a bit surprised to find a business card in my daughter's trick-or-treat bag.

 

[SirDuff]

I'd find it tacky. I'd be unlikely to use the services of someone who did it.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

That's kind of lame.

 

[JanaDee]

I just spent the morning with my neighbor attaching her business card to all of the Halloween Candy as she wants to tell all of the people about her business. Another neighbor walked by us as we were sitting enjoying a gorgeous fall day and asked what we were doing.

She told us what a bad idea it was and that she would not be bringing her kids by her house and would be telling "ALL her friends to not stop either." We were like whatever, she markets her business to families and I agree this is a perfect captive audience opportunity!

What do you think?

Tacky and it'd go right in the garbage.

 

[CoachTomer]

Tacky and it'd go right in the garbage.

I am curious why tacky? I believe you fish where the fish are. For her, all the candy she bought for Halloween is now a legitimate marketing expense.

 

[alievans719]

That's definitely not the best way to grab attention; it does seem a little desperate and in poor taste. It's essentially using these kids to get to their parents, and seems just not right at all.

 

[JanaDee]

I am curious why tacky? I believe you fish where the fish are. For her, all the candy she bought for Halloween is now a legitimate marketing expense.

Are her customers going to be toddlers, elementary age kids and tweens?

"Legitimate marketing expense"? Really?

 

[CoachTomer]

That's definitely not the best way to grab attention; it does seem a little desperate and in poor taste. It's essentially using these kids to get to their parents, and seems just not right at all.

And this is different from what halloween costume companies and even Disney do on a daily business how?

 

[CoachTomer]

Are her customers going to be toddlers, elementary age kids and tweens?

Families and the best way to the parents is through their kids! There are 250-500 kids that come through our neighborhood. With this being on a Friday night and gorgeous weather expected, it should be one of the biggest in a long time. Parents truck their kids in and they all ride on trailers! We hand out beer to the adults and hot cocoa to anyone who asks as we sit at the end of the driveway.

"Legitimate marketing expense"? Really?

Absolutely! She is advertising. A legitimate expense in the eyes of the IRS!

 

[SirDuff]

And this is different from what halloween costume companies and even Disney do on a daily business how?

Because those are business and the people going to them are customers, knowing that they are entering a business transaction.

Not people thinking that they are going to their next door neighbour for a treat.

 

[Julylady]

I would put it in the same category as Telemarketing phone calls. I would find it extremely annoying and would NOT purchase her services. If she wants to market to her neighbors she should send them a flyer through the mail or invite them to a home party or use some other standard method. Don't use an innocent kids tradition to "market" yourself.

 

[JanaDee]

Families and the best way to the parents is through their kids!

Absolutely! She is advertising. A legitimate expense in the eyes of the IRS!

Not through my kids. Like I said, it would go right in the garbage and I'd make sure we never patronized her business.

If that is a risk she's willing to take, then good for her.

Oh and expensing Halloween candy is about the cheapest tactic I've heard. Good grief. I'm guessing that is the only reason she's attaching advertising ~ so she doesn't haven't to pay for the candy.

So she's cheap and tacky. Not a good combo.

 

[lsyorke]

Very tacky....I would never use her services.

 

[CoachTomer]

I would put it in the same category as Telemarketing phone calls. I would find it extremely annoying and would NOT purchase her services. If she wants to market to her neighbors she should send them a flyer through the mail or invite them to a home party or use some other standard method. Don't use an innocent kids tradition to "market" yourself.

Well I think it was brilliant and more than happy to help her get the word out that she runs a business and is here to serve her neighbors. All she needs is one sale to pay for it.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Families and the best way to the parents is through their kids! There are 250-500 kids that come through our neighborhood. With this being on a Friday night and gorgeous weather expected, it should be one of the biggest in a long time. Parents truck their kids in and they all ride on trailers! We hand out beer to the adults and hot cocoa to anyone who asks as we sit at the end of the driveway.

I dont think its a bad idea at all! I wouldnt toss it in the trash if I found it in my kids bag. I dont see anything wrong with what she's doing.

Good luck to your neighbour.

 

[TAX GUY]

Absolutely! She is advertising. A legitimate expense in the eyes of the IRS!

The business cards are advertising, and the candy is only a vehicle to get it out there. In the grand scheme of things, $15-$20 of candy will have no impact, from a tax stand point.


You might also want to either be prepared for ALL the comments and take them for what they're worth. I see you're new around here. Be ready to get blasted.

My opinion about the cards and the candy? It would also get tossed into the trash if it was in my sons loot bag. Do as you wish, but I would be realistic as to how many new customers you'd actually get with this method.

What IS the line of business, if I can ask?

 

[Jedana]

I'd find it tacky. I'd be unlikely to use the services of someone who did it.

This. I'd trash the card.

 

[CoachTomer]

The business cards are advertising, and the candy is only a vehicle to get it out there. In the grand scheme of things, $15-$20 of candy will have no impact, from a tax stand point.

Since I was just at the store, I know she spent close to $2500 on candy as she is giving out a variety of full sized bars.

 

[TAX GUY]

Since I was just at the store, I know she spent close to $2500 on candy as she is giving out a variety of full sized bars.

Good thing she isn't my client. $2500 worth of candy?

What is the business?