[Welcome back to the Damn, I Wish I’d Thought of That! newsletter. This is text of the great issue all of our email subscribers just received. Sign yourself up using the handy form on the right.] The cost of your stuff is often an overlooked opportunity for starting word of mouth — and this isn’t about deep […]
Newsletter #926: The “How Much Are You Charging” Issue
February 28, 2013
Black Friday is Bullcrap
November 23, 2012
Folks, why the hell are you participating in Black Friday? Consumers: You are being manipulated and taken advantage of. You don’t need this stress. Shop early or buy online. Don’t let businesses screw with you. Businesses: Yes, fourth-quarter sales are important. But playing the Black Friday game just locks you into a fight for […]
How to get people fighting to buy your old junk
September 17, 2012
REI is a genius retailer in so many ways. But my all-time favorite is their semi-annual Garage Sale. You have to be a member to get in. They stack up all the returned stuff that is broken, slightly used, missing a piece, or is otherwise unsellable. They add little notes like, “you could get a […]
Do the right thing, because it’s the right thing
July 13, 2012
Amazon was testing two different price points for the same offer. Some customers noticed that they weren’t getting the best deal. So, Amazon gave everyone the best price, even though most people never noticed. This is an interesting case because it’s OK for a company to test different prices and offers. Each customer got exactly […]
A good deed gets rewarded
June 19, 2012
Lee Price and the folks at Tattoo Manufacturing get a ton of requests for freebies from nonprofit groups that want free temporary tattoos for their fundraisers. Lee can’t give them all free products — but a generous discount is rewarded with fantastic word of mouth. Look at how one 50%-off discount resulted in happy customers […]
Would you let a customer walk away for 40 cents?
December 2, 2011
Of course not. So copy this simple example and honor your competitor’s coupons. A coupon holder is ready to buy, and you don’t want to lose them over a small discount. Especially if it’s one of your regulars who is being tempted by the competition. Most of the time, your economics are the same as […]
A rose by any other name … might be a more successful sales pitch
October 7, 2011
Saks is offering a free gift card based on how much you spend. Sounds great, and I bet people are talking about it. But when you think about it, it’s just a 5%-15% discount. How you phrase an offer makes all the difference in how people respond. Free money sounds exciting. But a discount is […]
Maybe you don’t need a complicated fancy branding campaign
June 29, 2011
Maybe you just need one awesome reason for customers to drop by. Great example: this $2 shirt special from Old Navy.
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