Marketing attached to Halloween Candy!

[Bluestars]

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?

I see you are new here. Welcome to the Dis.

 

[mefordis]

is "waiting"

OK, now, can we see the TOTAL at the bottom of the receipt.... and with any luck it'll have the date on it too

The popcorn means waiting to watch people pile on the op.

OP, given the nature of the business, and the fact she is handing out king size candy, I think it's okay that she attaches her business cards.

Actually, what would have been better is a coupon for the bouncy house rental, rather than the business card.

 

[SirDuff]

Depending on the business I think it could be a good idea. And I think all the moral outrage about "using" children is rather comical. How many of you who object to this also object to the commercials and show sponsorships that your kids are inundated with every time they turn on the TV? The ads on popular kids' websites? The exit-through-the-gift-shop design at Disney World? Marketing to and through kids is an accepted and proven tactic in our society.

I wouldn't do it because our business has nothing to do with kids. But for something like the bounce house business the OP mentioned? Yeah, that's probably a good way to get the word out.

I don't have moral outrage, I just find it tacky. The difference, to me, between this and your other examples is that, in the other example, I knew what I signed up for (i.e. I know that there will be commercials on TV and I know that there will be gift shop bombardment at WDW). In trick-or-treating, on the other hand, I don't go out expecting that I'll run into advertising.

Again, that is for me. Totally understand that others might not view it the same way (though there appears to be enough people who do, that I think it is a risky marketing move).

 

[Mkrop]

We actually had this happen a few years ago. It was a children's business, I want to say a toy business. We thought it was incredibly tacky and it went right into the recycle bin. I would not use your friend's business.

 

[Katy Belle]

My kid got a pampered chef pamphlet a with a business card attached last year. Seemed strange to me.

 

[Meriweather]

My kids are adults now, but we used to get an occasional business card attached to treats years ago....usually real estate agents.
Didn't bother me then, doesn't now. You don't like it, just toss it.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

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?

That would depend upon how much candy is attached.

 

[Mel522]

The ones we did are
http://www.amazon.com/Hersheys-Symphony-Milk-Chocolate-6-8-Ounce/dp/B007FGINVU

I think go big or go home. I loved getting giant candy bars when I used to trick or treat. I wish her well!

Those are $2 at Walmart. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Hershey-s-Symphony-Creamy-Milk-Chocolate-6.8-Oz/10452235 even if you managed to find 500 in store, that's $1000, not $2500.

 

[denisenh]

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.

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

That is very hospitable of you! It is really no wonder that parents truck their kids in. Have a nice Halloween!

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

Almost as bad as my friend's mom's wake. Someone put a business card IN THE CASKET during the wake. Tacky!!!!!

I would hate seeing advertising in my kids ToT bag. I am sick of seeing advertising on every single thing lately.

MJ

Seriously? If so, that is beyond tacky, it is just awful and bizarre!

On a related note, was the business card by chance for a new bounce house business?

 

[tina.tina]

Seriously? If so, that is beyond tacky, it is just awful and bizarre!

On a related note, was the business card by chance for a new bounce house business?

I can't help it. This made me laugh.

I wouldn't have a problem with bounce house advertisements in our Halloween candy. It's much better than the horrific religious pamphlets I got as a kid. A lady in our neighborhood does piano lessons and attaches a coupon for a free lesson to the [shall we say "less expensive"] candy she hands out. At all of our local parades, businesses hand out candy with advertisements attached. At the Farmer's Market ToT last week, DD got a full sized candy bar from a candidate in a local election with "Vote for..." label attached.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Almost as bad as my friend's mom's wake. Someone put a business card IN THE CASKET during the wake. Tacky!!!!!

Were they hoping the deceased would call them?




I can't say I've see this done with trick-or-treating, but we see it a lot with handout candy/stuff at all the local parades in town. Wouldn't bother me, but the card would get trashed as I just don't need any more junk in the house.

 

[Skywalker]

All she needs is one sale to pay for it.

I just find that fascinating, that just one bouncy house birthday party rental is over $2500.

But seriously (unlike this poster) a couple of years ago we did get someone do this in our neighbourhood. I thought it was tacky, I rolled my eyes and threw it out, feeling slightly annoyed that someone would be so shameless. I don't want your advertising and if I do look at it, it only tells me who I should not give my business too. Way too intrusive.

 

[SLP958]

I am quite surprised so many are offended by this.

I don't think I would have given it a second thought unless it was for some kind of service not suitable for children to know about.

Kind of like when the dentist gives you a toothbrush with his name on it to me.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

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?

Trick or Treating is not a marketing campaign. Marketing materials would be tossed into the trash.

Only exception would be if a mall or shopping center were hosting an event.

I am betting she is writing the candy off as a business expense and it just reeks of desperation.

I am surprised you are surprised.

 

[CoachTomer]

I am quite surprised so many are offended by this.

I don't think I would have given it a second thought unless it was for some kind of service not suitable for children to know about.

Kind of like when the dentist gives you a toothbrush with his name on it to me.

Exactly! Many girls will be walking around tomorrow in Elsa costumes marketed to them by Disney. Frozen, Once Upon a Time, costumes, etc. is all an attempt to part more parents from their money by appealing to their kids.

I made a math mistake, I do that quite often. I took the box of 500 cards we attached and multiplied that times the amount on her receipt for the candy. We did the six packs, the large ones, all over the place. She has been buying them from Amazon and Walmart for a month. I made the math mistake of figuring it on one item on the receipt not that that item had six bars in them.

The popcorn smiley, the name calling, frankly the lengths that people go to to try prove a lie are just sad really. Going to look up SKU numbers? Gosh some people think they are some time of investigator trying only to make someone look bad! No one on here has to prove anything, the more I thought about this today after taking a pic of her receipt and posting it, the more I thought gosh how silly that I even need to prove such a thing to someone.

Thanks for those who gave opinions without attacking. There are some that feel that it is tacky and there are others that don't see a problem with it. She needs to advertise her business, some may never call, some me take the time to complain, but just one sale will make it worth it to her from just the repeats and referrals that will be sure to follow. This is called branding and marketing...not sales. She needs to let people know she is alive and she has a perfect audience for this!

As far as setting up a bounce house in front of her home. Way too much liability for that sort of thing. I do know my daughter knows which houses give out the full sized and giant candy bears year after year. This will make her noticed. And I also know we get tons of kids in our neighborhood and with a clear, cool Friday, we will get even more! Most neighbors sit at the end of their driveway and it is quite social.

I wish her great success and was happy to help her out. Too bad I cannot eat any of the candy as she got some things I really LOVE!

 

[mmouse37]

Seriously? If so, that is beyond tacky, it is just awful and bizarre!

On a related note, was the business card by chance for a new bounce house business?

Seriously. Terrible but it happened. As soon as it was discovered he was tossed out of the wake. Don't know what the business was or if they ever spoke to him again (I wouldn't).

I guess he figured a ton of people would be walking up to the casket and would be a good way to advertise. No boundries or common sense.

MJ

 

[CoachTomer]

Trick or Treating is not a marketing campaign.

Halloween absolutely IS a marketing campaign! As for marketing on Halloween, let's not kid ourselves, the whole thing is a huge marketing event - just ask any parent who spent the better part of their time finding and paying for those cute little trademarked superhero or princess costumes.

I am betting she is writing the candy off as a business expense and it just reeks of desperation.

I know she is writing the candy off as a marketing expense for her business and to me it reeks of genius! As I said before, you fish for clients were the fish are! At worst, the cards get tossed in the rubbish bin, at best, she makes a sale and builds awareness of her business!

 

[msjprincess]

Exactly! Many girls will be walking around tomorrow in Elsa costumes marketed to them by Disney. Frozen, Once Upon a Time, costumes, etc. is all an attempt to part more parents from their money by appealing to their kids.

I made a math mistake, I do that quite often. I took the box of 500 cards we attached and multiplied that times the amount on her receipt for the candy. We did the six packs, the large ones, all over the place. She has been buying them from Amazon and Walmart for a month. I made the math mistake of figuring it on one item on the receipt not that that item had six bars in them.

The popcorn smiley, the name calling, frankly the lengths that people go to to try prove a lie are just sad really. Going to look up SKU numbers? Gosh some people think they are some time of investigator trying only to make someone look bad! No one on here has to prove anything, the more I thought about this today after taking a pic of her receipt and posting it, the more I thought gosh how silly that I even need to prove such a thing to someone.

Thanks for those who gave opinions without attacking. There are some that feel that it is tacky and there are others that don't see a problem with it. She needs to advertise her business, some may never call, some me take the time to complain, but just one sale will make it worth it to her from just the repeats and referrals that will be sure to follow. This is called branding and marketing...not sales. She needs to let people know she is alive and she has a perfect audience for this!

As far as setting up a bounce house in front of her home. Way too much liability for that sort of thing. I do know my daughter knows which houses give out the full sized and giant candy bears year after year. This will make her noticed. And I also know we get tons of kids in our neighborhood and with a clear, cool Friday, we will get even more! Most neighbors sit at the end of their driveway and it is quite social.

I wish her great success and was happy to help her out. Too bad I cannot eat any of the candy as she got some things I really LOVE!

Oh come one. You specifically said they were huge 6oz bars, not 1.5oz full size bars. That's not a math mistake. Try and keep your stories straight.

 

[POOHsie]

Halloween absolutely IS a marketing campaign! As for marketing on Halloween, let's not kid ourselves, the whole thing is a huge marketing event - just ask any parent who spent the better part of their time finding and paying for those cute little trademarked superhero or princess costumes.

I know she is writing the candy off as a marketing expense for her business and to me it reeks of genius! As I said before, you fish for clients were the fish are! At worst, the cards get tossed in the rubbish bin, at best, she makes a sale and builds awareness of her business!

Parents buy their kids costumes so they can dress-up like their fantasy heroes and have a few hours of innocent fun with neighbors and classmates. Your friend's commercial intrusion with a candy enticement just plain reeks.