As you are aware, trade in Bartholomew Street has been slow. I decided to distribute some promotional leaflets in town. I handed them out in the street to passers by and also put them on windscreens in the Kennet Centre Car Park. This provoked two trains of thought;

1) 2 new customers came into the shop and mentioned the leaflet and bought something  
2) An irrate gentleman took the time to come in, and shout at my staff because he didn't want that rubbish

I would be interested to know the forums view on this form of marketing ?

I was led to believe that putting them on windshields is illegal? But I certainly support any efforts made by local business to raise awareness of their business by handing out leaflets. It shows initiative and maybe other retailers could do the same.

Ditto. For the two people who turn up at your shop there will be 50 (?) who don't and have just thrown the advertising leaflet on the ground causing litter problems.  Leaves you open to accusations of 'criminal damage' if there was to be a problem with someone's windscreen wipers after you had put the flyers on their car...  The 'No Win No Fee lawyers will be chasing you....

Quoted from richard.garvie

I was led to believe that putting them on windshields is illegal? But I certainly support any efforts made by local business to raise awareness of their business by handing out leaflets. It shows initiative and maybe other retailers could do the same.

No, it's not illegal, but I could be charged with criminal damage if I damaged their wipers.

Personally I would choose not to shop at somewhere that littered my vehicle in such a manner even if I'd shopped there before.

If the leaflet contained information that was useful, then no problem.  If it didn't, then it wouldn't bother me, except if it happened everyday.

Quoted from Greenham Common

If the leaflet contained information that was useful, then no problem.

So what if the leaflet advertised the services of a windscreen wiper repair service?

Quoted from PaulaM

2 new customers came into the shop and mentioned the leaflet and bought something

If the profit from those two more than covered the cost of the leaflets, then you've had a result.



Threep.

From past experience if you put flyers under windscreens then you are potentially creating a nuisance and a litter problem.
If this is proved the you can be prosecuted by the local authority.

Quoted from user23.3

Personally I would choose not to shop at somewhere that littered my vehicle in such a manner even if I'd shopped there before.

What about all the shops that litter your doormat/letterbox every day ..... and then there is all the junk e-mail ..... if you look at it like that you would never shop anywhere ?

Quoted from PaulaM

What about all the shops that litter your doormat/letterbox every day ..... and then there is all the junk e-mail ..... if you look at it like that you would never shop anywhere ?

Junk email I stick back in a letterbox marked return to sender, leaflets in the recycling which isn't too much of a problem.

It's the fact that the flyer on my windscreen has actually created a problem for me, how do I dispose of the piece of paper someone has littered my windscreen with, that I resent. To me it's the same as if someone left a crisp packet or empty ciggie carton underneath my wipers, the only difference is I know who did it.

On this occasion I agree with User - I avoid places that stick flyers on my car.

If you stick with flyering in the street, people have the option to take one from you. Don't be put off, I think what you are doing is brilliant. All local business should try ideas to boost their trade, especially when faced with additional challenges like the businesses on Bartholomew Street have.

I personally hate mass corpoarate mail shots and propaganda, waste of time and money. There was a survey done with the Mail Online not too long ago and the results were quite interesting. From the leaflets shoved through peoples doors only 1 in 9 were likely make use of the information provided on the flyer, whereas in a face to face, more personable environment the numbers raised to 4 in 9 people. So stick with it!

I agree, anything in the letterbox goes straight in the bin.

... Or shredded and put in the rabbit hutch!