Marketing attached to Halloween Candy!

[JanaDee]

No different than the "Disney's Frozen Cheeseballs" one of my co-workers.....a former Castmember......is handing out.

My 13 year old and her friends got those tonight and it was the one thing they were most excited about in their bags!

Well, those and the full size packs of Crayola markers a neighbor gave out to the older kids.

 

[lauradis]

Now, now people.

The op could have the same nick or name as that person and not be them.

OP seriously why are you marketing to children, parents don't read this stuff, we throw it away.

 

[Mkrop]

I'm not sure I have ever seen the word Genius, used so many times in one thread before...

loves the word genius...needed to google mensa

 

[tvguy]

parents don't read this stuff, we throw it away.

Take a marketing class, most people DO read this stuff, or they wouldn't waste the time and money giving it out.
We have become a nation of iPhone using, Organic food eating, Hybrid driving, ED pill popping citizens all because of marketing.

 

[wilkeliza]

Take a marketing class, most people DO read this stuff, or they wouldn't waste the time and money giving it out. We have become a nation of iPhone using, Organic food eating, Hybrid driving, ED pill popping citizens all because of marketing.

Just having someone read something doesn't mean it is good marketing. You have to look at the coat versus profit ratio. So if you spend 500 on marketing you should see an uptick with in 30 days of about 5 times that so 2500 for this case. If you don't get the 5 times then it is a fail.

 

[MOpGrad2013]

Just found the thread so it's been a few days.

I agree it would be a surprise to find the business card. Not sure if I would have chosen to use the services--am I in the need of them?

We did receive a few candies with handouts to local churches last night (Halloween). And at the community trick or treat gathering, all the booths were sponsored by local business (large corporations and household run). The booths were decorated with their business information and business cards, as well as some had sign ups for giveaways.

So, I guess the OP's neighbor didn't do anything much different than the community program. I did think about the safety of her home now that her name and phone number were given out, but since I don't check the treat bag until we get home, I wouldn't know which house it was.

I did wonder though, what the OP felt about helping. Because by making it a thread, it definitely allows us to to get all stirred up.


ETA: And now that I have read the entire thread...yep, I should have just closed the computer when I was still on page 1. Something is stinking of rotten fish.

 

[lauradis]

Take a marketing class, most people DO read this stuff, or they wouldn't waste the time and money giving it out.
We have become a nation of iPhone using, Organic food eating, Hybrid driving, ED pill popping citizens all because of marketing.

well I'm guilty of the iphone using, but the rest is just not my cup of tea.

I have taken several marketing classes, fully informed on how marketing works and what most sheep people will go for.

I would say most halloween candy ads are only good for a lol if read.

 

[Ceila]

Take a marketing class, most people DO read this stuff, or they wouldn't waste the time and money giving it out.
We have become a nation of iPhone using, Organic food eating, Hybrid driving, ED pill popping citizens all because of marketing.

Took marketing, thanks. Just becuase *some* marketing plans are effective does not mean that *all* marketing plans will work.

 

[superme80]

I am in the minority, but I would not mind at all. If I had a yard large enough I would use her business. I would rather my child get candy and a business card than a tooth brush and coupon for a reduced dental cleaning.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

Take a marketing class, most people DO read this stuff, or they wouldn't waste the time and money giving it out. We have become a nation of iPhone using, Organic food eating, Hybrid driving, ED pill popping citizens all because of marketing.

As I said earlier, I have a business degree with a marketing concentration and I disagree with you. There are some fabulous marketing campaigns that utilize handouts, this one does not. You have to know your market. At another event, this may have been "genius", but not on Halloween. As parents, during the candy sorting process, we are not going to take the time to look at, nor figure out where to store, a business card. Like others said, a coupon probably would have been better, for those who do read them.

I took the kids TOT downtown at the merchants yesterday afternoon. I watched as stores handed out fliers and they went straight into the trash. Not every one, but enough that I have to believe it was a waste of money.

And even to your point, yes we are an electronics nation, so nobody is going to keep the business card. They'll google bounce house companies and go from there!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Take a marketing class, most people DO read this stuff, or they wouldn't waste the time and money giving it out.
We have become a nation of iPhone using, Organic food eating, Hybrid driving, ED pill popping citizens all because of marketing.

But how much convert to sales. And do they recommend spending $4+ Per potential customer? It seems awful expensive on the rate of return. You want to profit from the effort. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how many read it if they don't act on it.

 

[OZMom]

so nobody is going to keep the business card. They'll google bounce house companies and go from there!

This. People will just google it when they need it because you only have a need for something like that on a special occasion and for most people that can be months later. Most people will not be like "Oh yes, let me dig up that business card that was attached to the snickers on Halloween" in June or July.

When we've rented a bounce house in the past, it's always been from the same company. What got his name out and made us immediately think of him when we needed it is he offered community events, a pizza night, open bounce with free coffee and juice or he'll do movie nights etc. Something where we SAW the bounce house and my kids were like "OMG Mom it's a spider man bounce house" and then HAD to have it for birthday party.

Kids don't care about a piece of paper attached to their candy, and no one is going to hold onto it "just in case". You have to make an impression on people if you expect them to remember you 6 months from now when they are planning their kid's party.

 

[tvguy]

Just having someone read something doesn't mean it is good marketing. You have to look at the coat versus profit ratio. So if you spend 500 on marketing you should see an uptick with in 30 days of about 5 times that so 2500 for this case. If you don't get the 5 times then it is a fail.

OP didn't specify the business, or how many pieces of candy (and business cards) were handed out so there is no way to know the cost and potential return. My FB friends report zero to 500 kids coming to their door last night, I had 17.

I guess we could speculate. Office Depot charges $9.99 for 100 business cards. So if OP's friend had a 100 kids come to the door, she spent probably $15 on candy and another $10 on business cards.
Let's say OP's friend is a real estate agent and gets one new client because of the cards, and that friend buys a house at the average sales price of $313,200. The commission on the sale would be $18.792. Assuming the buyer has their own agent, the net commission to the sellers agent would be $9,396. Now, I realize most agents work for a company and only get about 10% of the commission, so OP's friend might only wee $939.60...but that isn't a bad return on a $10 investment.

Or if the OP's friend ran a quick lube store and got one new customer who spent $38 for an oil change. Granted the profit margin on that oil change probably only nets the OWNER $15 but that is still a new customer that you made money on, and who may become a regular customer.

The classic marketing case is of course Coke or Pepsi. The soda, bottle and transportation on a 2 liter bottle works out to about 10 cents. Everything else is marketing and profit. That's why store brand soda can be profitable at 69 cents, and Coke and Pepsi cost $1.49.

 

[NHdisneylover]

OP didn't specify the business, or how many pieces of candy (and business cards) were handed out so there is no way to know the cost and potential return. My FB friends report zero to 500 kids coming to their door last night, I had 17.

I guess we could speculate. Office Depot charges $9.99 for 100 business cards. So if OP's friend had a 100 kids come to the door, she spent probably $15 on candy and another $10 on business cards.
Let's say OP's friend is a real estate agent and gets one new client because of the cards, and that friend buys a house at the average sales price of $313,200. The commission on the sale would be $18.792. Assuming the buyer has their own agent, the net commission to the sellers agent would be $9,396. Now, I realize most agents work for a company and only get about 10% of the commission, so OP's friend might only wee $939.60...but that isn't a bad return on a $10 investment.

Or if the OP's friend ran a quick lube store and got one new customer who spent $38 for an oil change. Granted the profit margin on that oil change probably only nets the OWNER $15 but that is still a new customer that you made money on, and who may become a regular customer.

The classic marketing case is of course Coke or Pepsi. The soda, bottle and transportation on a 2 liter bottle works out to about 10 cents. Everything else is marketing and profit. That's why store brand soda can be profitable at 69 cents, and Coke and Pepsi cost $1.49.

Did you read the thread? OP covers all of that multiple times (with lots off odd discrepancies on what the candy was and how much it cost )

We were definitely told, repeatedly, that it is a bounce house rental company and that there were 500 business cards attached to candy to hand out.

 

[sam_gordon]

Did you read the thread? OP covers all of that multiple times (with lots off odd discrepancies on what the candy was and how much it cost )

We were definitely told, repeatedly, that it is a bounce house rental company and that there were 500 business cards attached to candy to hand out.

And that they spent ~$425 between the candy and cards, to say nothing about the time attaching the cards. According to the OP, "one sale" could pay for everything, but that's only assuming the single sale brings in referrals.

I don't have a marketing degree and never even took a class on it, but how long are you supposed to wait on a return to consider a marketing plan a success or a failure?

Also, if they "prepped" 500 pieces of candy, what if they only handed out 100? Trick or treat here is two hours long. 120 minutes. Lets say you average 1 kid every thirty seconds (seems like a lot, but okay). You're still only at 240 kids.

 

[wilkeliza]

OP didn't specify the business, or how many pieces of candy (and business cards) were handed out so there is no way to know the cost and potential return. My FB friends report zero to 500 kids coming to their door last night, I had 17. I guess we could speculate. Office Depot charges $9.99 for 100 business cards. So if OP's friend had a 100 kids come to the door, she spent probably $15 on candy and another $10 on business cards. Let's say OP's friend is a real estate agent and gets one new client because of the cards, and that friend buys a house at the average sales price of $313,200. The commission on the sale would be $18.792. Assuming the buyer has their own agent, the net commission to the sellers agent would be $9,396. Now, I realize most agents work for a company and only get about 10% of the commission, so OP's friend might only wee $939.60...but that isn't a bad return on a $10 investment. Or if the OP's friend ran a quick lube store and got one new customer who spent $38 for an oil change. Granted the profit margin on that oil change probably only nets the OWNER $15 but that is still a new customer that you made money on, and who may become a regular customer. The classic marketing case is of course Coke or Pepsi. The soda, bottle and transportation on a 2 liter bottle works out to about 10 cents. Everything else is marketing and profit. That's why store brand soda can be profitable at 69 cents, and Coke and Pepsi cost $1.49.

If you read all the thread you will know it is a bounce house company and they made 500 of these candy bar business card combos. Still good marketing is 5 times the marketing budget no matter the business.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

OP didn't specify the business, or how many pieces of candy (and business cards) were handed out so there is no way to know the cost and potential return. My FB friends report zero to 500 kids coming to their door last night, I had 17. I guess we could speculate. Office Depot charges $9.99 for 100 business cards. So if OP's friend had a 100 kids come to the door, she spent probably $15 on candy and another $10 on business cards. Let's say OP's friend is a real estate agent and gets one new client because of the cards, and that friend buys a house at the average sales price of $313,200. The commission on the sale would be $18.792. Assuming the buyer has their own agent, the net commission to the sellers agent would be $9,396. Now, I realize most agents work for a company and only get about 10% of the commission, so OP's friend might only wee $939.60...but that isn't a bad return on a $10 investment. Or if the OP's friend ran a quick lube store and got one new customer who spent $38 for an oil change. Granted the profit margin on that oil change probably only nets the OWNER $15 but that is still a new customer that you made money on, and who may become a regular customer. The classic marketing case is of course Coke or Pepsi. The soda, bottle and transportation on a 2 liter bottle works out to about 10 cents. Everything else is marketing and profit. That's why store brand soda can be profitable at 69 cents, and Coke and Pepsi cost $1.49.

Others have covered it, but maybe you should have read the thread before trying to school the rest of us. After first claiming $2500 spent on candy, she finally conceded it was closer to $425 between the cost of candy & business cards. In either case, unlikely to see that kind of return from this one "investment".

 

[BrerRabbit66]

Very tacky idea and poor marketing strategy. IMO

 

[Forum Jumper]

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 would be ok with it. Either I can use the business or not. Either I keep the card or don't.

 

[tvguy]

If you read all the thread you will know it is a bounce house company and they made 500 of these candy bar business card combos. Still good marketing is 5 times the marketing budget no matter the business.

Sorry I missed the bounce house part, forgive me.
Still sound marketing in my book. About $50 in business cards, one rental you would not have had otherwise, and you're money ahead, assuming they rent for about $150 like they do here. 2 rentals would meet your test.