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!

Quoted from gemweaver

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

watch those inks....

When reading some of these replies PaulaM do you ever think to yourself 'Why do i bother'  

Quoted from HJD

When reading some of these replies PaulaM do you ever think to yourself 'Why do i bother'  

Frequently !

Quoted from gemweaver

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

That would be the "green" option

*Just need a rabbit now

Quoted from richard.garvie

That would be the "green" option

*Just need a rabbit now

You can have mine. Was given to me as a present, cant say im too fond of it.

Fancy a politician doing his bit for the environment!   Although the rabit doesn't actually seem to mind sleeping on "Become debt free with an IVA" leaflet!!

Quoted from gemweaver

You can have mine. Was given to me as a present, cant say im too fond of it.

Fancy a politician doing his bit for the environment!   Although the rabit doesn't actually seem to mind sleeping on "Become debt free with an IVA" leaflet!!

Guys ! I was "bigging" you both up earlier for having a sensible debate...... now you have turned my post into a rabbit care forum - PLEASE !

Quoted from PaulaM

Guys ! I was "bigging" you both up earlier for having a sensible debate...... now you have turned my post into a rabbit care forum - PLEASE !

Apologies Paula!

It's important to remember that advertising can have negative effects as well as positive.

Quoted from user23.3

It's important to remember that advertising can have negative effects as well as positive.

...... which is precisely why I posted the question in the first place.

Quoted from PaulaM

...... which is precisely why I posted the question in the first place.

Of course, and why not, it's certainly a good, if fairly unscientific method of gauging public opinion for this sort of thing.

Quoted from gemweaver

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 would have said that 1 in 9 was a very high score rate. Face to face, Chugger??

Paula, have you done much more leafleting since?

Quoted from PaulaM

As you are aware, trade in Bartholomew Street has been slow. I decided to distribute some promotional leaflets in town.

Whether or not it's been successful from a trade point of view, at least you are trying different things to promote your business. Many independent retailers don't bother with any kind of marketing at all, so it's no wonder that business can be slow. I know that the roadworks situation has been forced onto the retailers in that end of town, so to take positive steps to improve trade despite that, rather than simply putting up with it and complaining is impressive indeed.

Quoted from massifheed

Whether or not it's been successful from a trade point of view, at least you are trying different things to promote your business. Many independent retailers don't bother with any kind of marketing at all, so it's no wonder that business can be slow. I know that the roadworks situation has been forced onto the retailers in that end of town, so to take positive steps to improve trade despite that, rather than simply putting up with it and complaining is impressive indeed.

At last a sensible person - THANK YOU !  

Quoted from richard.garvie

That would be the "green" option

*Just need a rabbit now

Quoted from gemweaver

You can have mine. Was given to me as a present, cant say im too fond of it.

Fancy a politician doing his bit for the environment!   Although the rabit doesn't actually seem to mind sleeping on "Become debt free with an IVA" leaflet!!

I think Richard was talking of the kind kept in hutches - were you??

Quoted from Nobby

I think Richard was talking of the kind kept in hutches - were you??

Mmmmm I think thats a different website all together  

Richard, yes I will do some more leafleting, I promise not to trash any cars, but can't be held responsble for idiots that litter....... I don't go to Walkers HQ when I find a crisp packet in the street afterall !

Quoted from PaulaM

At last a sensible person - THANK YOU !  

Why aren't the other points of view sensible?

Best of luck Paula. Would your fellow traders not combine and do a little flyer for your part of the town centre?

Quoted from user23.3

Why aren't the other points of view sensible?

What from Rabbit lovers and men with car fixations ??  

Why not combine the two...?

Quoted from Threepwood

Why not combine the two...?

Fantastic !!

Quoted from PaulaM

Mmmmm I think thats a different website all together  

I think that's the only type of "pet shop" left in the town.  

Now where's those spare batteries.......

... Honestly!!!  

I'm far too inocent for all of this talk...  

I sat in my Wife’s car Saturday outside homebase at the retail park, only to see an young lady pull up in front of us walk round to her passenger side door and pull a leaflet out from her window wiper, then just slung it straight on the floor, I was totally shocked there was a bin just 5 foot away, how lazy and ignorant people can be.

I took it upon myself with a fractured vertebra, to get my wife to pick it up and struggled over and put it in the bin.

Are people not proud of their town anymore?  

Quoted from richard.garvie

I'm far too inocent for all of this talk...  

We believe you ...  

Quoted from Terry Richardson

I sat in my Wife’s car Saturday outside homebase at the retail park, only to see an young lady pull up in front of us walk round to her passenger side door and pull a leaflet out from her window wiper, then just slung it straight on the floor, I was totally shocked there was a bin just 5 foot away, how lazy and ignorant people can be.

I took it upon myself with a fractured vertebra, to get my wife to pick it up and struggled over and put it in the bin.

Are people not proud of their town anymore?  

How young is 'young lady' Terry? Youth today!! Tut tut tut!  

Quoted from gemweaver

We believe you ...  

Honest m'Lady...  

Quoted from gemweaver

How young is 'young lady' Terry? Youth today!! Tut tut tut!  

She look around 17-19 years old..

Quoted from Terry Richardson

I sat in my Wife’s car Saturday outside homebase at the retail park, only to see an young lady pull up in front of us walk round to her passenger side door and pull a leaflet out from her window wiper, then just slung it straight on the floor, I was totally shocked there was a bin just 5 foot away, how lazy and ignorant people can be.

I took it upon myself with a fractured vertebra, to get my wife to pick it up and struggled over and put it in the bin.

Are people not proud of their town anymore?  

But who is guilty of littering? The young lady or the person who dumped "their rubbish" under her windscreen wiper?

I'm not making an excuse for her - but fine those who litter our cars!!

One course of action if anyone objects to this litter being put under their windscreen wipers could be they pop it in a envelope and send it back to whoever put it there, no stamp attached.

Bit of an over-reaction to me.  Just fold it up and put it in the bin when one goes by one would be my idea.

I've heard of much worse. People returning junk mail secured to a brick with elastic bands, not to threaten the junker but so that the return postage costs much more.

Quoted from user23.3

I've heard of much worse. People returning junk mail secured to a brick with elastic bands, not to threaten the junker but so that the return postage costs much more.

If everybody did that the Post Office would suffer as the recipients are, as far as I know, at liberty to not accept either the brick or the unpaid postage. I think Greenham Common has the right idea.

...or even better: put it in the re-cycling when you get home.

Quoted from Greenham Common

Bit of an over-reaction to me.  Just fold it up and put it in the bin when one goes by one would be my idea.

Mmmmmmm it's not tricky is it !  

Quoted from PaulaM

Mmmmmmm it's not tricky is it !  

No it's not tricky - stop those doing it in the first place - or put up posters on their shop windows and see if they like it!!

Quoted from Nobby

No it's not tricky - stop those doing it in the first place - or put up posters on their shop windows and see if they like it!!

Watch it, you're beginning to sound like User.

Quoted from Greenham Common

...or even better: put it in the re-cycling when you get home.

Prevention is better than cure though.

Quoted from user23.3

I've heard of much worse. People returning junk mail secured to a brick with elastic bands, not to threaten the junker but so that the return postage costs much more.

I have just received an A4 envelope packed with junk inviting me to advertise my business on a website.  It is photocopied, with spelling mistakes, and little or no punctuation.  The cost is from £35 up to £455. The junk mail "offender" is WEST BERKS COUNCIL. Is this what my business rates are being spent on ?  Pass me a brick User 23 !  

Quoted from PaulaM

I have just received an A4 envelope packed with junk inviting me to advertise my business on a website.  It is photocopied, with spelling mistakes, and little or no punctuation.  The cost is from £35 up to £455. The junk mail "offender" is WEST BERKS COUNCIL. Is this what my business rates are being spent on ?  Pass me a brick User 23 !  

Interesting, do tell us more!  Which website are they promoting - their own?!?!?!  All examples of spelling mistakes and inappropriate punctuation will also be much appreciated by everyone here!