It's not too late to have a "pumpkin giveaway". Do you have a farm area? Would you like to be better known in your community, your office area, or your service area? You pick the place, and then start to have some fun.

Send out a notice to your farm area, your community, your office area, or your service area. Tell them you're going to have the "Great Pumpkin Giveaway". Here's the catch. It's limited to children. Indicate on your mailing that each child will get one pumpkin. When they come to get their pumpkin, get the family name, address, telephone, and email address. The children will need to "decorate" their pumpkin. McDonald's certificates will be given out for the best decorated pumpkin. Make sure you have several categories. The more McDonald's certificates you can give out, the more motivation for the kids to bring back their pumpkins.

"How do the pumpkins come back to me?" you ask. At the same time you give the child a pumpkin, also give the parent(s) a postcard telling them that if they bring back the pumpkin, you'll exchange the pumpkin for a pumpkin pie. Make the bring-back date near the end of the first week in November (one to two weeks later). That will give you enough time to make arrangements with a grocery store or a local bakery to place an order for the pies.

Place a "news release" in your local paper telling them what you're going to do. Get your Broker to allow you to display the "decorated" pumpkins either inside the office or at the front of the office. Ask the local paper if they would send a photographer to take pictures. If they won't, then you take the pictures and submit them to the paper.

When both events are over, send out a mailing to everyone who participated. Thank them for helping you make the event a success. Tell them you are looking forward to doing more "fun" events with them and their children. And, of course, the last paragraph in the letter will certainly say, "if you have any questions concerning real estate, or if you know of anyone thinking of buying or selling, please don't hesitate to call me."

Will this cost you some money? Of course, it will. The pumpkins don't have to be big ones; perhaps you can contact a farmer and make a deal to buy his small pumpkins for 50 cents or $1.00. The pumpkin pies don't have to be big either; perhaps your local grocery store will cut the price or donate them if you're willing to give them publicity in the event.

Hokey idea - yes!
Thinking outside the box - maybe!
But it's better than doing nothing to generate business!

See you next week!
Ronnie REALTOR^®

Back to Ronnie REALTOR^® Archive >>