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alright heres my new idea im gonna have a give away at my shop for my flamed fiberglass box with the Eclipse 15" titainum sub (if you havent seen it yet i can add a link). well i was thinking that i should just have a box to throw their names in then i was thinking i just dont want 10,000 people coming into my store never to buy anything to sign up for it and get it so i was thinking in order to sign up for they would have to buy something or have bought something here before in order to sign up for it(something over 50 bucks or so). then ill probaly have another box giving away a set of coaxs or something that everyone can sign up for. think that will work to help bring people in.

Sure, this could help bring people in if you advertise it right. You could try and do a commercial on TV or Radio. That usually gets people to come in. Atleast make some flyers and what not to hand out to people.

First, in most states this is considered gambling and is illegal. second, its plain and simple a BAD idea. The idea of a giveaway is get people in your store. even if they are your target customer. you will get an opportunity to sell to them, something you might not have gotten if they hadn't come in to enter your contest. I have managed 2 audio stores, and I currently work for a manufacturer designing products. I have lots of experience with this subject. I have run many contests, giveaway, and in general built up the car audio department to a level the town had never seen. don't run off your potential customers by adding a restriction to your giveaway. some of my biggest customers came from people no one thought would ever buy. example: a 55-60 year old woman comes in asking about stereos. most people would have ignored her or limp-dicked her around and run her off to bother someone else. In reality she was a buyer for a builder who was renovating 2 dormitories for 2 different colleges here in Oklahoma. they were adding some features no other school really has: a complete theater (with stadium seating, motorized drapes and screen, the works) and listening rooms in the lounges, complete with HDTV big screen. total bill? $60,000. I made over a commison of over 10,000 from one sale. most shops would have passed on even helping her. This is not an exageration either, they were for Rogers college and another that has slipped my mind (they recently changed names) All of this came from a recomendation by a friend of her sons. Never discount anybody, you never know who they are gonig to be. If you have anyquestions, just le me know I can help you with this stuff. there a lot of freebies you can get like press releases on the contest winner in the paper, manuafacturers and reps will help with paying for contests, etc. email me and I can help you out.

Like buick said, beware of legal issues. A giveaway is a good tool. I understand what your saying also. You dont want to give it away to someone who has never bought a thing off you and possibly never will.

Its all part of business. IMHO take the risk of it. If you can afford it pair it up with an amp and free install. That would be a grand prize...

Do the hot dogs and a few other door prizes, give aways and discount merchandise during the show ONLY. Maybe it will draw people in.

I HIGHLY sugguest getting with the SBDA people... THey will help you in every step of this journey... for FREE

ya ill have to wait a little bit before i could give away a prize like that, ill have it open for everyone too so i dont discurrage people away too. ill probaly have a grand opening thing with hot dogs and other stuff and the give aways and what not. ill go through the SBDA web site and read up on it and call them and get help from them too.

example: a 55-60 year old woman comes in asking about stereos. most people would have ignored her or limp-dicked her around and run her off to bother someone else.

*cough* alma gates *cough*

You beat me too it. I was just going to say this is considered gambling in alot of states.

71buickfreak wrote:First, in most states this is considered gambling and is illegal. second, its plain and simple a BAD idea. The idea of a giveaway is get people in your store. even if they are your target customer. you will get an opportunity to sell to them, something you might not have gotten if they hadn't come in to enter your contest. I have managed 2 audio stores, and I currently work for a manufacturer designing products. I have lots of experience with this subject. I have run many contests, giveaway, and in general built up the car audio department to a level the town had never seen. don't run off your potential customers by adding a restriction to your giveaway. some of my biggest customers came from people no one thought would ever buy. example: a 55-60 year old woman comes in asking about stereos. most people would have ignored her or limp-dicked her around and run her off to bother someone else. In reality she was a buyer for a builder who was renovating 2 dormitories for 2 different colleges here in Oklahoma. they were adding some features no other school really has: a complete theater (with stadium seating, motorized drapes and screen, the works) and listening rooms in the lounges, complete with HDTV big screen. total bill? $60,000. I made over a commison of over 10,000 from one sale. most shops would have passed on even helping her. This is not an exageration either, they were for Rogers college and another that has slipped my mind (they recently changed names) All of this came from a recomendation by a friend of her sons. Never discount anybody, you never know who they are gonig to be. If you have anyquestions, just le me know I can help you with this stuff. there a lot of freebies you can get like press releases on the contest winner in the paper, manuafacturers and reps will help with paying for contests, etc. email me and I can help you out.

Also with any kind of drawings/prizes/business raffles you probably need a legal disclaimer.

Sorta like the Publishers Clearinghouse deals.

Cant beat the free help from them people either. I just wish I would of known about them and other local business "starter" packages/help that I know about now.

hint hint hint :)

PS, I was going to mention all of the legal issues, and marketing tactics to you, but I just limp-dicked around and foisted you off on 71buick instead.

:tongue009

Charge 10 bucks to throw your name in the pot and call it a raffle, then it's not gambling :) You'll make some cash out of it anyway. My cousin used to work at a bank and he raffled off his car for $20 a ticket, over 1000 people put their names in and the car was only worth $10,000, so he was a happy man after all was said and done :) Helps that people are generous after they cash a paycheck.