I just love Mother's Day. We have a tradition in my house that every year my kids help me plant my annuals on this special day. Gardens surround my house, and I have quite a few planters on my deck, so this is no easy task. But, year after year, my kids help me with no complaint, which is really the most amazing part. And at the end of the day, the place looks just great.

As I mentioned in my post from last Thursday, holidays give businesses the opportunity to have fun and be creative. Yes, spending may be down a bit, but people are still going to buy gifts for their Mommies. Flowers will still be the most popular gift; card sales will still be strong; and restaurants still expect the day to be the busiest of the year. What consumers will probably be buying less of this year are gifts for women who aren't their mother -- like for aunts, godmothers, and family friends.

Four out of five Americans are still going to celebrate the holiday, so think outside of the box about how your company can put its unique stamp on Mother's Day. Will your store give out roses to women? Will your restaurant have live music?

Let us know what your business is doing to lend some ideas for consumers on this special day. And to all you Moms out there ... have a great day!

June Bisel
Partner, BBG&G Advertising and Public Relations
BusinessCardContacts.com
845-695-1880

Labels: holiday shopping, holiday spending, innovative thinking, marketing opportunities, mother's day

I try, in my blogs, to give businesses ideas and information they can use in promoting their product/service in order to successfully navigate through the current economic times. And I truly believe that with insight and innovative thinking, the best of us will come out of this stronger than we went in.

If you're a regular reader of my blogs, or if you keep track of the industries who are benefiting from this recession, you already know that the fast food restaurants are doing well. One reason, of course, is that they offer value. The other reason is that they continue to use innovative thinking and smart strategies to secure as much of their market as possible. And, they don't miss out on ANY opportunities to market themselves.

Taco Del Mar, Cinnabon, MaggieMoo, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, TGI Friday and Papa John's are some examples of fast food restaurants who capitalized on tax day. Free tacos with coupons generated via online registration; free Classic Bites, again with online registration; buy one get one free promotions; "tax relief dinner certificates"; McCafe customized postage stamps ... these are just some of the innovative promotions that were in place yesterday as so many Americans scrambled to get their taxes done in time. And when you think about it, who has time to cook dinner? Fast food is the perfect combo with Tax Day.

I'm wondering how many local businesses thought to capitalize on this. I know my local pizzeria didn't, because I was there. But perhaps next year they will.

If your company ran a special promotion for Tax Day, please share it with us. And, don't forget... Earth Day is coming up, Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July... it just never ends. Be creative, have fun! Think about your customer and what you can offer them that will make their life easier, more fulfilling, a little happier... and, don't forget, coupons are very big right now. People just love them. And if you can collect information for your database while offering your customers a discount, then all the better!

June Bisel
Partner, BBG&G Advertising and Public Relations
BusinessCardContacts.com
smartstrategies@bbggadv.com

Labels: coupons, innovative thinking, smart strategies, special promotions, tax day promotions