wwFor a featured Father's Day promotion, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers was on the hunt for the grossest grill in a contest that rewarded the most pitiful barbecue pit with a brand new stainless-steel outdoor grill worth $5,000. Along with the grand-prize grill, one Dad in each state would receive a gift card valued at $200 as well as a $50 Red Robin gift card.
This 'search for the worst' isn't the first of its kind -- plenty of companies are taking advantage of promoting their "best" products by replacing their contestants' "worst".
Office supply companies reward the messiest desk, clothing stores redress the worst wardrobes, and a most cluttered closest can earn your messy room a much-needed makeover.
Think about worst products or services YOUR company can replace by running a contest like this. Just about any item you can think of can be imprinted and branded with your promotional message, and the whole contest can be run and rewarded for just a couple hundred dollars (depending upon your choice of the grand prize.)
The whole point of the promotion is to unearth prospects with a distinctive and immediate need for a new version of the product or service that your company provides. A well-planned contest can also net you a ton a local and national publicity, as well as all those valuable pieces of contact information from the entrants -- your future customers.
Great post Don,
Of course, let's not forget about the greatest contest of all the Duck Brand - Best Duct Tape Prom Attire Contest. http://www.ducktapeclub.com/contests/prom/entries.asp
John
Posted by: John Jantsch | June 20, 2005 at 12:20 PM
I think Duct Tape is the new baking soda.
They've been working on ways to reinvent how the product is perceived and used. (http://www.ducttapefashion.com)
I think they need to find more uses for "at work" -- duct tape desk accessories: staplers, tape dispensers, document holders, mouse pad, etc.
Posted by: Don The Idea Guy | June 20, 2005 at 05:30 PM