Health Fair Marketing
I tried some old school marketing this week. I set up a table at a local Seniors Health Fair. The Health Fair is organized by the Alabama Institute For the Deaf and Blind- Senior Services Division. The location moves to different locations and counties in the area and has been ongoing since around 2008. There were about 40 tables set up with information from a variety of local businesses. Most cater to the elderly but there were others as well. There were many of the local Hospice care facilities and retirement homes as well as drug stores, health insurance, Tupperware, makeup, Lions club, some local organizations and a Coin Laundry.
I was promoting the services at my attended store with a focus on comforter cleaning with our Drop Off Service. I had a variety of handouts including koozies, rulers with magnifiers built in, price lists, information about comforter cleaning and some maps to the store.
Also on the table was the miniature washing machine, a bag of finished clothes, and some vend soap to show the products we use in the store.
One thing I found out pretty quick was that you better keep an eye on anything you don’t want to be stuffed in a bag. I had to move the vend soap to the back of the table and it was still a target.
At one point during the proceedings, they made an announcement that the Tupperware was not free and asked if it could be returned.
The only cost to the vendors was a door prize so there were lots to go around.
The featured speaker of the day was Jeh Jeh Pruitt a local news and sports reporter for MyFoxAL, Fox 6. @JehJehP. He was a little late due to a scheduling, (or lack of scheduling) error but dropped everything and made the hour plus drive to make the event.
I had read a bit of his bio on the news website but did not realize that he grew up in that area and went to the local schools and college. I’m sure that helped him find the meeting location easily. Even though he was put on stage within a few seconds of walking in the door he did a great job of presenting his message of helping each other and how most businesses are actually based on helping others.
He also mentioned the foundation he runs with his wife, The Dannon Project.” It was established to help persons in transition, especially those with addictions on the road to recovery, unemployed, underemployed, at-risk youth and adults, both male and female and specifically non-violent offenders reentering society. “
Although I only met him briefly after the event, for someone that was willing to clear a chunk out of his day, drive over an hour, deliver an address to the crowd and stay around for pictures he still brought the energy and excitement that we see every day.
This article started with a message about marketing and promotion and as much as it evolved some of the basics still apply. You represent your business, or non-profit, in your daily activities.
Sure you can hand out koozies and rulers and pens but when they get pulled out of the bag to be looked at later how will they remember you?
If you have any comments please post them below.
