Raising awareness and boosting business.....

Posted by Sarah on 28/09/10 13:00

There is nothing like getting involved with a good cause to give you a boost. You know what it’s like when trade is a bit slow and you need something to raise the spirits, get more people in your shop and somehow get some free advertising!

Two eFlorist shops did exactly that. Taking the challenge put to them, they put their heart and souls into not only raising money for Macmillan, but managed to promote their shops to both old and new customers..........

I went to see how they got on last Friday and was very impressed with the hard work they had put in.

Lin from Earlybird florists, near Bracknell, has been planning her coffee morning since early summer. Handing out leaflets, free advertising in the local press and lots and lots of help from willing helpers on the day, cumulated when last Friday the Mayor and Mayoress of Bracknell officially came to draw the raffle. With prizes and donations generously given from a weekend break, meal at the Indian restaurant and a £75.00 cheque from her local Co-op funeral director, Lin managed to raise a staggering £1010.00!

Lin said “The one thing we are noticing is how it has helped our client base and the help that we have been offered has been staggering. We have had people coming into the shop simply to give donations.

Everybody enjoyed the day and it’s been a joy to do, so much so that we’re onto the Christmas fund raiser, prostrate cancer, which is the Mayor of Bracknell’s chosen charity this year.”

Louise, manager at Jean’s at Riverside in Guildford has had a similar experience. The staffs here were impressively dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland and had dressed their window as the Mad Hatters Tea Party! They had put a lot of thought and effort into the whole day.

When I arrived the shop was full of customers taking part in the event and generously donating to the charity. With new owners since February the Macmillan Coffee Morning was an ideal opportunity to get their name known. With free advertising in the Surrey Advertiser and wonderful raffle prizes ranging from a haircut at Tony and Guy to a round of golf at the local golf club, Louise and her staff had worked very hard with leaflet drops. Taking advantage of the local radios free bulletin board also helped with exposure.

It is ideas like this that will help your business. Any business, whether new or established, needs to constantly promote new ideas – and it does not have to cost you a fortune with extensive advertising. This is an excellent example of subtle promotion. So get thinking.... Christmas is on its way – what can you do now to promote your shop?

Well done girls - even bad weather didn't dampen the day! To sum it up in Lins own words, “It’s made us all feel so good.”

Topics: General News