Isn’t sad to think how far the once mighty retailer Kmart has fallen? Don’t you agree?The good news is, whenever a business (large or small) experiences some serious hemorrhaging of money! Guess what? They tend to get flexible (in both) their thinking and approaches.And that could potentially be of benefit to any particular marketing services, they may seek to employ.
Mind you, it’s not that Kmart’s once (formidable) marketing team is actually short on any sort of creative sales ideas. It’s just that because they are literally surrounded by so many non creative thinkers, that they just stand married to doing things the same old (stale) way and that’s what’s been the biggest contributor to their eventual downfall.
Strictly for laughs! Let’s take a look at a hypothetical example of how a few (non techie) creative sales ideas might help put Kmart’s balance back on track. Not overnight mind you, but still in all, they will most definitely help increase their long term profits.
How Three Non Techie Creative Sales Idea Can Work for Any Business!
(Including A Bohemia Like Kmart!)
First off, one of the really simple ways that Kmart (or any other savvy retailer for that matter) could dramatically increase their daily and weekly foot traffic, is by fueling their customers never ending desire for getting the most bang for their buck!
1.)For ex; one of the really simple strategies that Kmart could implement right away is to reward, (ethically bribe) their best customers with the ability to participate in the daily and weekly raffles. Say what? Here’s the way this first incredibly simple raffle marketing strategy would work.
First of all, in order to raise the overall average amount spent by their customers, Kmart will create two types of raffles. Every customer that spends over $100 dollars at a time, (or X amount of money), because they will need to inexpensively price test, to discover which amount consistently produces the greatest customer participation.
But whatever the actually amount spent that Kmart ultimately decides on, the customers that qualify, they will automatically get a special 90 day 20 or X% off any purchases, VIP -time sensitive- discount coupon card.Or extremely time sensitive app.
(Every time they participate in any type of raffle. Meaning- every runner up will automatically receive this incentive type based bonus.)
Constantly Give Your Most Loyal Customers Or Clients Valid Reasons To Keep Spending Their Hard Earned Money With You!
And they automatically get to participate in daily and weekly raffles. They just present their laminated card, (or use their app), as proof they belong to this exclusive club!
For ex; once a week (just depending on the season of the year.) Kmart VIP customers get to enter a special weekly raffle where they spend $100 dollars for a chance to win a $500 dollar barbecue grill and a $100 dollar gift certificate to a local grocery store.
That way they can enjoy some of those nice juicy steaks, burgers, wings and ice cold sodas! (Or whatever they like ice cold!)
And their daily raffles will allow their VIP members to spend just $50 or X amount of dollars for a chance to win $250 dollars worth of either) local grocery store coupons or $250 dollars worth of gas cards! Their choice!
2.) Next, Kmart agrees to donate 20 or X% of their daily and weekly raffles gross receipts to local charities. In exchange for the local charities tweeting and mentioning Kmart’s daily and weekly events on their FB fan pages.And other social media sites in general.
And mentioning Kmart’s events in their monthly newsletter. And each time the charities go on local radio or local TV. If the charity plugs (mentions) Kmart’s events, they receive 20 or X% of the raffle gross profits.
Creative Sales Ideas Don’t Have To Be Complicated!
3.) And finally… Kmart could advertise/market their annual used book drive event. Every Kmart customer that donates at least three hard cover or paper back books in (relatively) good shape. Kmart’s customers will receive an extremely limited special 60 day time sensitive (laminated,) 20 or X% off discount coupon.
And Kmart donates the used books to local libraries and or local charities. And the charities and or libraries get to sell the used books (for whatever price they want,) and keep 100% of the profits!
Provided, they include a one page flyer directing the buyers to Kmart’s WordPress blog, so these potential customers can get their special 20 or X% off for the next six month’s VIP discount coupons!
Strategically Using Discounts And Other Extremely Limited Benefits Is An Extremely Profitable Ethical Bribe!
Kmart builds their mobile marketing and or opt in email list etc. They help out the local community and build a long term repeat customer base to boot!
That’s pretty much win/win? Is it not? That’s just some of what they, (or any other profit seeking retailer) could seriously consider doing, if they were to really embrace some creative sales ideas. Don’t you agree?
Please list at least two simple spin off concepts (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!
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Is this another way of saying, “Think outside the box”? Because that’s what you’ve done here! These are great creative ideas for any brick and mortar business, and it will be interesting to see what others come up with as applications to online businesses.
Willena Flewelling recently posted…Believe You Can 100 Day Challenge
Excellent Willena!
And thank you for your extremely kind words!
Let’s just see how much thinking outside the box they can do!
Because like you,I too am very curious to see exactly what others come up with
and more importantly, how they will go about implementing those creative ideas as well!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing thoughts and as always thanks for your continuous support!
Both are much appreciated!
Hi Mark
Interesting ideas, and thanks for the tip about using a recognizable name in your headline. Neat 🙂
It’s funny how small businesses (one-person bands) can sometimes actually come up with more creative ideas than big companies. The latter are probably by stifled by too many meetings and opinions!
Joy
Joy Healey recently posted…Fake Bloggers Named
You’re welcome Joy!
And yes you’re absolutely right about how (like i or not) as small business owner and or service providers/entrepreneurs/solo-preneurs etc.
We just don’t have the luxury of in flexibility! We’ve go to maximize every potential marketing opportunity, because we can’t simply
throw tons of cash at traditional advertising mediums! Right?
The big boys & girls on the other hand, they could care less about strategically (or creatively) leveraging their marketing dollars or brand clout etc!
They simply write checks!LOL! So we’ve got to seize the moment, when and wherever they lack creativity.
Thanks for stopping by and for sharing your extremely valuable input Joy!
Your efforts are definitely appreciated!
I always enjoy your informative articles Mark but I admit I was drawn to this one because of the Kmart reference.
We do have a Kmart on our little rock – in fact Kmart and Costco share the same parking lot and just up the road is Walmart – cozy. The thing is for quite awhile we were all expecting Kmart to close because they’d lost so much business to the other 2 giants. Then a funny thing happened, a subtle shift began and more and more people (including moi) began heading to Kmart rather than the other 2 guys. This had nothing to do with Kmart’s efforts and everything to do with the poor management of the other 2 businesses, especially Walmart. Empty shelves, poor service, etc.
I expect that at some point new management will come in and kick some elemu (Hawaiian style butt) but Kmart has a golden opportunity right now to keep this business they lucked into and just because we all like to root for the under dog I would just love to see them pull it off.
I think any one of your ideas would be great, but Friends of the Library is a big deal here so I especially like the book drive!
Marquita Herald recently posted…The #1 Obstacle to Effective Problem Solving
That’s an awesome story Marquita!
Thanks so much for sharing it! And thank you for confirming my marketing intuition,about
using a major (power) name of influence in my main headline!LOL!
You know, it’s like when your main power headline says something like 3 things “Donald Trump” or “Oprah” can teach about X!
We tend to associate celebrity with knowledge and skill etc! Right? Anyway..
You won’t believe the karma in your comment! One of the other com-mentors, asked if I could clarify
strategy # three, as the dots weren’t fully connected for him. (And perhaps others as well!LOL!)
And I agreed to do so, so I’m in the process of writing it currently. I just came over to the comments
section to quickly double check the spelling of his name and to reference his web address in the article!
It’s that to cool or what! Now I read your awesome comment and your mention of the real life situation currently unfolding
on the island and (once again) the marketing light bulb is going off!LOL!
I realize that I can do a third in the series and use your angle of the vital importance of mismanagement and how that can
seriously affect the bottom line of any business, including a power house like Walmart and Costco!
Is this too awesome or what! Thanks Marquita! As always for your creative (honest) and always energetic input and for
your continuous support! Both are much appreciated!
BTW, I really loved your last post! And the best with your upcoming launch and your 100 day challenge!
Good ideas there, Mark. I’m pondering how I can best use them in my business.
Thanks for sharing.
Alan
Alan Jenkin recently posted…Increase Website Traffic and Gain Customers – Part 4
Awesome Alan!
And knowing you’rte creative mind, whatever you come up with,
it’s sure to be a winner plus!
And if you would be so kind to blog about it, that would totally awesome man!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts and for your continuous support!
Both are much appreciated!
Hi Mark,
Really good points… 🙂
I have seen many retailers are going to for the Charity donation options, but never had a idea why? Now after reading your post it is clear to me…
But I had some difficulties in understanding the 3rd point…
Would you care to explain it more in details?
Regards…
Karmakar recently posted…CommentLuv Review: 10 solutions in 1 Blog Commenting Tool
Excellent and Thanks for your honesty Sangbaran!
Maybe I need to do a part two and really explore the 3rd point even further!
Yes, as you mentioned, it’s been my experience as well, that not enough otherwise
extremely savvy retailers are not effectively utilizing the charity approach from a marketing angle.
Let’s face it, reputable charities are well connected throughout our local and in some cases,
national communities.
They’ve got tons of contacts up and down the business community food chain!
Meaning- by effectively networking with one can lead to contacts, with people of major influence!
I may just need to do a part two in order to really elaborate! Thanks Sangbaran! Also, thanks for your continuous support!
It’s much appreciated!