A Lesson in Creative Marketing.
Some would say that the secret to marketing success for one-person business owners is to be creative. And I agree. In fact, with the addition of creativity, almost anything can be sold at a profit. Please consider the following story.
A few years ago, a one-person business owner fulfilled his lifetime dream of purchasing a small farm. After moving in, he decided that he wanted to buy a donkey. He did some research and discovered that he could expect to pay about $100.00 for a donkey. He asked around and found a farmer selling a donkey who was located about 5 miles down the road from our guy's farm. He visited the farmer, paid $100.00 and the farmer said he would deliver the donkey the very next afternoon.
The next day the farmer arrived and said: "I have some bad news. When I put your donkey on my truck back at my farm he was OK. But on the trip over here, the donkey died".
Our guy said: "Just give back my $100.00".
The farmer said: I don't have it. Yesterday, after you paid me I used it to pay some bills".
Our guy said: "Well, let's go out and take the donkey of the truck. He's mine".
The farmer asked: "What are you going to do with a dead donkey"?
Our guy (being creative) said: "I'm going to raffle him off ... sell tickets on him".
The farmer said: "You can't sell tickets on a dead donkey"!
Our guy replied: "Just watch me".
They went outside, dragged the donkey off the truck and the farmer left.
About six weeks later the farmer decided to drop in to ask how our guy did selling tickets on a dead donkey. Our guy said he sold 500 tickets at $2.00 each and generated $1,000.00 in ticket sales.
The farmer asked: "What did the ticket buyers say when you told them the donkey was dead"?
Our guy replied: "I didn't tell them. I told ONLY the winner. And when it was time to award the prize I told him that I was sorry the donkey had died but being the nice guy that I am, I would give him $200.00 (enough to buy two donkeys). He went away happy and I ended up with $800.00 ... enough money to buy eight donkeys.
Yes, with a little creativity almost anything can be sold. What marketing ideas does this story give you?
