Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Sales Promotion shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Sales Promotion offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Sales Promotion at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Sales Promotion? Wrong! If the Sales Promotion is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Sales Promotion then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Sales Promotion? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Sales Promotion and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Sales Promotion wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Sales Promotion then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Sales Promotion site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Sales Promotion, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Sales Promotion, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
Sales promotion is one of the four aspects of promotional mix. (The other three parts of the promotional mix are advertising, sales, and
publicity/
public relations.) Media and non-media marketing communications are employed for a pre-determined, limited time to increase consumer demand, stimulate market demand or improve product availability. Examples include:
Sales promotions can be directed at either the
customer, sales staff, or
distribution (business) channel members (such as retailer). Sales promotions targeted at the consumer are called
consumer sales promotions. Sales promotions targeted at retailers and wholesalers are called
trade sales promotions. Some sale promotions, particularly ones with unusual methods, are considered
gimmicks by many.
Consumer sales promotion techniques
- Price deal: A temporary reduction in the price, such as happy hour
- Loyalty rewards program: Consumers collect points, miles, or credits for purchases and redeem them for rewards. Two famous examples are Pepsi Stuff and AAdvantage.
- Cents-off deal: Offers a brand at a lower price. Price reduction may be a percentage marked on the package.
- Price-pack deal: The packaging offers a consumer a certain percentage more of the product for the same price (for example, 25 percent extra).
- Coupons: coupons have become a standard mechanism for sales promotions.
- Loss leader: the price of a popular product is temporarily reduced in order to stimulate other profitable sales
- Free-standing insert (FSI): A coupon booklet is inserted into the local newspaper for delivery.
- On-shelf couponing: Coupons are present at the shelf where the product is available.
- Checkout dispensers: On checkout the customer is given a coupon based on products purchased.
- On-line couponing: Coupons are available on line. Consumers print them out and take them to the store.
- Mobile couponing: Coupons are available on a mobile phone. Consumers show the offer on a mobile phone to a salesperson for redemption.
- Online interactive promotion game: Consumers play an interactive game associated with the promoted product. See an example of the Interactive Internet Ad for tomato ketchup.
- rebate (marketing): Consumers are offered money back if the receipt and barcode are mailed to the producer.
- Contests/sweepstakes/games: The consumer is automatically entered into the event by purchasing the product.
- Point-of-sale displays:
- Aisle interrupter: A sign the juts into the aisle from the shelf.
- Dangler: A sign that sways when a consumer walks by it.
- Dump bin: A bin full of products dumped inside.
- Glorifier: A small stage that elevates a product above other products.
- Wobbler: A sign that jiggles.
- Lipstick Board: A board on which messages are written in crayon.
- Necker: A coupon placed on the 'neck' of a bottle.
- YES unit: "your extra salesperson" is a pull-out fact sheet.
Trade sales promotion techniques
- Trade allowances: short term incentive offered to induce a retailer to stock up on a product.
- Dealer loader: An incentive given to induce a retailer to purchase and display a product.
- Trade contest: A contest to reward retailers that sell the most product.
- Point-of-purchase displays: Extra sales tools given to retailers to boost sales.
- Training programs: dealer employees are trained in selling the product.
- Push money: also known as "spiffs". An extra commission paid to retail employees to push products.
Trade discounts (also called functional discounts): These are payments to distribution channel members for performing some function .
Political issues
Sales promotions have traditionally been heavily regulated in many advanced industrial nations, with the notable exception of the United States. For example, UK formerly operated under a resale price maintenance regime in which manufacturers could legally dictate the minimum resale price for virtually all goods; this practice was abolished in 1964.Stuart Mitchell, "Resale price maintenance and the character of resistance in the conservative party: 1949-64,"
Canadian Journal of History 40, no. 2 (August 2005): 259-289.
Most European countries also have controls on the scheduling and permissible types of sales promotions.
Germany is notorious for having the most strict regulations. Famous examples include the car wash that was barred from giving free car washes to regular customers and a baker who could not give a free cloth bag to customers who bought more than 10 rolls.Anonymous, "Handcuffs on the high street,"
The Economist 355,
See also
References
category:Promotion and marketing communications
Sales promotion is one of the four aspects of
promotional mix. (The other three parts of the promotional mix are advertising, sales, and publicity/
public relations.) Media and non-media marketing communications are employed for a pre-determined, limited time to increase consumer demand, stimulate market demand or improve product availability. Examples include:
- contest
- point of purchase displays
- rebate (marketing)
- free travel, such as free flights
Sales promotions can be directed at either the customer, sales staff, or distribution (business) channel members (such as retailer). Sales promotions targeted at the consumer are called
consumer sales promotions. Sales promotions targeted at retailers and
wholesalers are called
trade sales promotions. Some sale promotions, particularly ones with unusual methods, are considered gimmicks by many.
Consumer sales promotion techniques
- Price deal: A temporary reduction in the price, such as happy hour
- Loyalty rewards program: Consumers collect points, miles, or credits for purchases and redeem them for rewards. Two famous examples are Pepsi Stuff and AAdvantage.
- Cents-off deal: Offers a brand at a lower price. Price reduction may be a percentage marked on the package.
- Price-pack deal: The packaging offers a consumer a certain percentage more of the product for the same price (for example, 25 percent extra).
- Coupons: coupons have become a standard mechanism for sales promotions.
- Loss leader: the price of a popular product is temporarily reduced in order to stimulate other profitable sales
- Free-standing insert (FSI): A coupon booklet is inserted into the local newspaper for delivery.
- On-shelf couponing: Coupons are present at the shelf where the product is available.
- Checkout dispensers: On checkout the customer is given a coupon based on products purchased.
- On-line couponing: Coupons are available on line. Consumers print them out and take them to the store.
- Mobile couponing: Coupons are available on a mobile phone. Consumers show the offer on a mobile phone to a salesperson for redemption.
- Online interactive promotion game: Consumers play an interactive game associated with the promoted product. See an example of the Interactive Internet Ad for tomato ketchup.
- rebate (marketing): Consumers are offered money back if the receipt and barcode are mailed to the producer.
- Contests/sweepstakes/games: The consumer is automatically entered into the event by purchasing the product.
- Point-of-sale displays:
- Aisle interrupter: A sign the juts into the aisle from the shelf.
- Dangler: A sign that sways when a consumer walks by it.
- Dump bin: A bin full of products dumped inside.
- Glorifier: A small stage that elevates a product above other products.
- Wobbler: A sign that jiggles.
- Lipstick Board: A board on which messages are written in crayon.
- Necker: A coupon placed on the 'neck' of a bottle.
- YES unit: "your extra salesperson" is a pull-out fact sheet.
Trade sales promotion techniques
- Trade allowances: short term incentive offered to induce a retailer to stock up on a product.
- Dealer loader: An incentive given to induce a retailer to purchase and display a product.
- Trade contest: A contest to reward retailers that sell the most product.
- Point-of-purchase displays: Extra sales tools given to retailers to boost sales.
- Training programs: dealer employees are trained in selling the product.
- Push money: also known as "spiffs". An extra commission paid to retail employees to push products.
Trade discounts (also called functional discounts): These are payments to distribution channel members for performing some function .
Political issues
Sales promotions have traditionally been heavily regulated in many advanced industrial nations, with the notable exception of the
United States. For example,
UK formerly operated under a resale price maintenance regime in which manufacturers could legally dictate the minimum resale price for virtually all goods; this practice was abolished in 1964.Stuart Mitchell, "Resale price maintenance and the character of resistance in the conservative party: 1949-64,"
Canadian Journal of History 40, no. 2 (August 2005): 259-289.
Most European countries also have controls on the scheduling and permissible types of sales promotions. Germany is notorious for having the most strict regulations. Famous examples include the car wash that was barred from giving free car washes to regular customers and a baker who could not give a free cloth bag to customers who bought more than 10 rolls.Anonymous, "Handcuffs on the high street,"
The Economist 355,
See also
References
category:Promotion and marketing communications
