Consumer and Trade- oriented Sales Promotions

Consumer oriented sales promotions are actually inducements offered by manufacturers to consumers. These may include price discounts, retail coupons, double coupons, rebates and special displays.The example I found was for a rebate, but if people are like I am, I buy the product, get the rebate, and forget to send it in only to realize the rebate has expired and have lost out on what had beeen a good deal.

The second consumer promotion involves a more favorable item- a FREE coupon for a product. This way people are able to try the product and not invest any monies to see if they really like the item. If they don't no moneies have been spent but if they find the product favorable and would like to get more, they already know what it item can do or in this case taste like and a loyal customer has been born.

Trade oriented sales promotions are inducements offered by manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers. These include off -invoice discounts, merchandise allowances, bonus packs and samples. The one example I found was at Menards where they had in-store demonstration offering coupons if you bought the product that day. The demonstrations were conducted by a representative from the manufacturer.

The last promontion item I found was for a co-operative advertising between Menards and Ford Motors, giving away a 2010 Ford Fusion just for registering in-store, no purchase reguired. Both of these items are effective each in their own way- the coupon offer gets the customer to buy the product now and receive a substantial price reduction, instant gradtfication. Whereas the car give-away might entice more people, it is chance and not a sure thing. It gets the people in the door to get them to buy "stuff" and a "chance " to possible win a big ticket item, in this case a car,FREE. Both are good use of a trade promotion.

The "register to WIN" poster was placed on the front entrance window of Menards for all to see as they entered the store, the sign-up place was in the back of the store- this way one has to travel thru the store, hopefully gathering items you need anyway,sly marketing strategy.