Auntie Kate The Resale Expert

Yes, I know that you’ve heard that statement too many times.

Most often voiced by consignors or suppliers who want you to accept the moth-eaten Villager wool suit from 1979, or non-profit volunteer pricers who insist the beribboned goose cookie jar is worth at least $15…. but.

some things are classics.

Take the fishbowl, for example.

Or rather, the fishbowl technique of involving your clientele in your business.

It’s a classic because it works.

You know what I’m talking about. You’ve seen it in restaurants, on deli counters, maybe even at your dry cleaner’s.

Put your business card in the bowl, and every week we draw a winner for a free lunch!

Do you do this in your shop? You could have a weekly or monthly drawing for a store “Shopping Spree” of whatever amount you think will motivate your clientele. It’s a great way to involve and delight your customers, to encourage frequent visits and to build your mailing list at the same time. Go one step further, though, to set your customer service above the dreaded “Sea of Sameness”, and supply “blank business cards”… really, just appropriately-sized card stock entry forms… for those of your customers who don’t carry business cards with them.

Announce your weekly or monthly winner on your blog or Facebook Page, after a day or two’s teaser messages such as Dropped your card in our fish bowl this week? Come in by Friday… we’ll choose the Big Winner on Saturday at 11.

Make the drawing more WOM-worthy by telling them, if you like, that if the winner is actually in the store at drawing time, they get their prize doubled. Another worthy thought: let everyone know that all entries, all year long, will be in a Grand Prize Drawing on Thanksgiving weekend.

Need 10 Simple Low- or No-Cost Ways to make $10,000 more a year? Get it here, Pretty Darn Quick.

Do you have an ongoing fish bowl drawing?