Marketing attached to Halloween Candy!

[pixar mark]

As far as setting up a bounce house in front of her home. Way too much liability for that sort of thing.

So let me get this straight...your friend's whole business is predicated on the fact that people will rent a bounce house and put it in their own yard and let dozens of other people's kids jump around on it. But your friend is unwilling to use her own product because it is either unsafe or subjects the user to liability? If it's such a dangerous thing for your friend to demonstrate, I'm baffled why anyone will want to pay her hundreds of dollars to rent it.

I have an MBA degree, so I know a little about marketing. It's not that the candy thing is so offensive, although some will see it that way. But a business card attached to a candy bar is a terrible way to market this service. A business card tells you nothing and most will see it as obtrusive trash. If I were handing anything out, it would be a coupon for $10 off the next rental. People will keep coupons, but they will trash a business card. A coupon makes the person feel like they got a reward, not a advertisement. It will also encourage rentals. Having the bounce house out in the yard will show people what the product is and get the kids excited...maybe even tell the parents they want one for their birthday party. So what I'm saying is, while I agree that your friend needs to market the product, and she has the audience, she is far from genius in her strategy. It will be hundreds of dollars wasted.

 

[lizabu]

So let me get this straight...your friend's whole business is predicated on the fact that people will rent a bounce house and put it in their own yard and let dozens of other people's kids jump around on it. But your friend is unwilling to use her own product because it is either unsafe or subjects the user to liability? If it's such a dangerous thing for your friend to demonstrate, I'm baffled why anyone will want to pay her hundreds of dollars to rent it.

I have an MBA degree, so I know a little about marketing. It's not that the candy thing is so offensive, although some will see it that way. But a business card attached to a candy bar is a terrible way to market this service. A business card tells you nothing and most will see it as obtrusive trash. If I were handing anything out, it would be a coupon for $10 off the next rental. People will keep coupons, but they will trash a business card. A coupon makes the person feel like they got a reward, not a advertisement. It will also encourage rentals. Having the bounce house out in the yard will show people what the product is and get the kids excited...maybe even tell the parents they want one for their birthday party. So what I'm saying is, while I agree that your friend needs to market the product, and she has the audience, she is far from genius in her strategy. It will be hundreds of dollars wasted.

This is great advice. If your "friend" is such a "genius" she'd listen to some of these smart people.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Nope no lie. A mistake in my math and understanding. These are the size we are working with.

http://www.amazon.com/Hersheys-Symphony-Milk-Chocolate-6-8-Ounce/dp/B007FGINVU

Anyway I think it is a great idea, but I do think it highly tacky and rude to post s popcorn pic.

Back to original topic.

Well, seeing that 12-packs of various giant Hershey bars can be purchased on Amazon for between $20 and $30, she spent far too much money.

eta: and the standard full-size bars are $16.68 for 36.

 

[SirDuff]

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.

Even provided a link to those huge bars.

 

[sam_gordon]

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.

But you were ADAMANT the candy bars were 6.8 oz, even went as far as to show a link of how large the bars were. You posted a picture of a PARTIAL receipt then got upset when that didn't prove your case. Your math now doesn't match. 500 cards * the amount on the receipt = $2500? That means the receipt was $5? Or did you multiply the 500 cards times the cost of each individual bag of candy? That's a pretty big error... ESPECIALLY since you took a picture of the receipt.

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.

Or maybe we wanted to see what a $5 candy bar looked liked.

As far as setting up a bounce house in front of her home. Way too much liability for that sort of thing.

There's something wrong with this statement. If there's "WAY" too much liability, how is she able to be in business? How would she ever set up for someone else's party? Worst case scenario have anyone participating sign a waiver. This makes no sense.

 

[lauradis]

We get them every year mostly they are throw in the trash unread.

Right along with all defective candy, stuff my child thinks of as gross candy religious track of any kind.

My favorite business ad is the Dentist that lives around the corner. He attaches his card to the front of a treat bag fulled with candy or full size candy bar. I asked him why he keep doing the ad then, he said he writes the candy off his taxes (duh) , but my favorite part was his silly ness of "well some one has to fix their teeth after and all that candy and it makes me some money" Great guy, nice sense of humor too.

 

[ellone]

It will be hundreds of dollars wasted.

Also if this is the first year of the business and she doesn't turn a profit (but does try to deduct this) she will most likely end up with an IRS audit.

 

[msjprincess]

But you were ADAMANT the candy bars were 6.8 oz, even went as far as to show a link of how large the bars were. You posted a picture of a PARTIAL receipt then got upset when that didn't prove your case. Your math now doesn't match. 500 cards * the amount on the receipt = $2500? That means the receipt was $5? Or did you multiply the 500 cards times the cost of each individual bag of candy? That's a pretty big error... ESPECIALLY since you took a picture of the receipt.

Or maybe we wanted to see what a $5 candy bar looked liked.


There's something wrong with this statement. If there's "WAY" too much liability, how is she able to be in business? How would she ever set up for someone else's party? Worst case scenario have anyone participating sign a waiver. This makes no sense.

And I still don't understand why he would be in possession of the neighbor's receipt. Especially since she's planning on claiming it as a business.

The liability thing really cracks me up.

 

[njpyro]

Growing up, there were two houses in the neighborhood that gave out advertisements. One was a religious pamphlet and the other a business card. We would remove the card/pamphlet from the candy by the time we got to the end of the driveway and put it in the persons mailbox. This tradition started when we were very young and my dad did it for us. The other people on the street trick or treating would see us and then do it themselves. We would joke that they gave us the same card year after year.

 

[TAX GUY]

As I suspected. You clearly asked "what do you think", and we told you. You didn't get the replies you were looking for. You are now only replying to those that are siding with you. Good decision or bad, it doesn't matter. You asked, we told. Take it or leave it, I don't care either way.

I think I'll give out popcorn for Halloween this year...

 

[ronandannette]

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.

This. My kid would gobble up the chocolate bar and likely toss the card away without me ever seeing it. No biggie. I do agree with Pixar Mark though that the whole exercise is probably wasted - a coupon would have been a much better idea. OP - if you're not doing anything this afternoon maybe it's not too late to add one!

Also, you mentioned a trade show booth at one point - that's a bad idea too. You'd get much better exposure by volunteering services at a community fair or church picnic - with the proper liability insurance in place of course!

 

[CoachTomer]

As I suspected, some people would be for it and some would be against it. Then the name callers, the popcorn smiley posters and other alleged specialties would try to pick apart the validity of the story.

I know we have received business cards in my daughter's basket before, so we decided to try it. For those who cannot understand the liability factor, I won't bother to explain it to them. For those claiming to be tax experts or holding an MBA, as another person said, unless you post proof, take it for what it worth.

Happy Halloween everyone. I think my friend is a marketing genius (no one has an idea what is on her card) and I wish her all the best. We need more entrepreneurs in this country.

 

[TAX GUY]

As I suspected, some people would be for it and some would be against it. Then the name callers, the popcorn smiley posters and other alleged specialties would try to pick apart the validity of the story.

I know we have received business cards in my daughter's basket before, so we decided to try it. For those who cannot understand the liability factor, I won't bother to explain it to them. For those claiming to be tax experts or holding an MBA, as another person said, unless you post proof, take it for what it worth.

Happy Halloween everyone. I think my friend is a marketing genius (no one has an idea what is on her card) and I wish her all the best. We need more entrepreneurs in this country.

Like water on a ducks back..... let it roll off!


While it may not be the best marketing idea (IMO), if she likes the idea and tries it, so what. I hope she does well pursuing her dreams of owing and operating her own business. She'll never have to ask herself, "what if..."

 

[Geoff_M]

Hey, they aren't alone. Apparently a number of anti-vaccine loons think that this is a good idea too!

 

[FigmentFinder]

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.

They are out of stock. Maybe the OP bought all of them.

 

[Pembo]

Coach, Please come back and tell us how many customers you, I mean your "friend" gets from the "marketing genius".

My question is why "your friend" gave you a picture of her receipt from Walmart?

And fwiw, I wouldn't have to toss the business card in the trash bc my kids would do it! And personally I would be offended if you offered me a beer as I was trick or treating.

Coach, for a brand new poster, you sure know how to

 

[pixar mark]

For those claiming to be tax experts or holding an MBA, as another person said, unless you post proof, take it for what it worth.

That's fine if you are skeptical of anonymous internet posters' credentials. I don't need you to believe anything I say. I think my advice is solid whether or not you believe I have a degree. I offered it as sincere advice to help, but at this point it's obvious that you don't want help, only reassurance that you and your friend had a genius idea. Sorry I can't offer that.

By the way, I won't be posting a picture of my MBA degree, my BS in Mechanical Engineering, my minor in Mathematics, or my Mensa membership card. Your skepticism will lose me no sleep tonight.

 

[CoachTomer]

Coach, Please come back and tell us how many customers you, I mean your "friend" gets from the "marketing genius".

Don't get why friend is in quotes.

My question is why "your friend" gave you a picture of her receipt from Walmart?

She didn't give me a picture. I went outside and asked her to see it since I was asked for it and snapped a photo. Still don't get why friend in in quotes.

And personally I would be offended if you offered me a beer as I was trick or treating.

Oh well. Many around here are takers...it is a big tradition and many of our neighbors do it.

 

[sam_gordon]

Coach, Please come back and tell us how many customers you, I mean your "friend" gets from the "marketing genius".

My question is why "your friend" gave you a picture of her receipt from Walmart?

And fwiw, I wouldn't have to toss the business card in the trash bc my kids would do it! And personally I would be offended if you offered me a beer as I was trick or treating.

Coach, for a brand new poster, you sure know how to

Regarding the bolded, why?

 

[Missy1961]

I do find it interesting the threads that Halloween now generates. A few years ago, there was a thread about someone running out of candy and giving rocks. Then there were a few threads about adults drinking while taking the kids out trick-or-treating. Then there was a thread about a person who admired a neighbor for handing out homemade goodies. (if I remember correctly, that person also helped the neighbor make the goodies or maybe it was package them). Then there was the person who was against any community trick-or-treating any day other than Oct. 31st.

So I guess since we can't talk politics or religion anymore, Halloween is our go-to for interesting threads. No, I just realized what is - stores being open on Thanksgiving.