12 tips for effective pre-Christmas business communications. And a partridge in a pear tree!

Let’s be thankful we’ve made it this far through the year, although some people believe the world will end on 23rd September. Assuming we get through the latest apocalyptic prophesy, businesses should be looking at how to best communicate with their customers, now ... before it's too late!

Here are some tips to ensure as stress-free a time as possible for you in the run-up to the festive season:

1.       Publish your opening hours on your website, social media and wherever else is appropriate, well in advance
2.       Ensure you give an emergency contact name and number if appropriate
3.       Remind customers about special offers or seasonal services
4.       Give special offers to existing customers as a thank you for their loyalty
5.       Do seasonal competitions to increase your database for New Year promotions
6.       Offer free delivery before Christmas if appropriate
7.       If you have a small business and giving anything free is difficult, give something extra by way of great service or a very small free gift to make people feel good (like a coffee and mince pie if they’re coming into your shop) – or team up with another company and do something together to share the cost
8.       If you have a food, clothing or other appropriate business, give some left-over products to a local charity
9.      Take on seasonal staff – you might need extra help to cope with the extra business 
10.      Product returns usually increase after Christmas; make sure your customers and your staff know your policy so everything runs seamlessly (especially if you've taken on seasonal staff or part-timers)
11.      Make sure you train new staff as well as refreshing the skills of existing ones who might be under pressure if you get really busy, and explain your seasonal offers to your team so everyone is up to speed
12.     Reward your team with a bonus to say thanks for working hard – if times are tough financially, you’ll be amazed how much a kind word, a smile and a few extra hours off can help!

I'm off to buy some Easter eggs now. I believe they're already on sale in M&S!

He’s behind you! Oh no he’s not. Well, he could be …

And before I start, no messages with comments about using ‘he’ instead of ‘she’. No slurs intended. It was simply the first thing that came to mind. Nothing to do with feminism. I’m normally a meritocrat but in this case, it was first typed, first kept.

OK, moving on … what’s the PR and marketing slant of this post?

The panto connotation in the title relates to The Amazing Adventures of Pinocchio being produced by my wonderful clients, JW Productions. No, it’s not me although the initials are the same. 

JW Productions have been bringing traditional theatre pantomime back to the Brighton & Hove area for the last five years. They specialise in superbly acted productions all year round aimed mainly at the children and family community audience, as well as producing some wonderful thrillers, drama and avant-garde stuff. It’s a small, local, independent company which receives no funding.

The thrust of PR is to influence, educate, communicate and persuade. Marketing is all about finding a niche in the market and selling something profitably.

I have therefore educated and communicated about this year’s panto production, Pinocchio, which will be at The Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts on the University of Sussex Campus at Falmer from 20^th December 2017 to 6^th January 2018.

And now I’d like to persuade you to consider how you can be involved. Casting is already well under way but if you really wanted to, I guess I can arrange an audition! But what I really mean is: how your business could be involved from a PR and marketing perspective.

Here’s how … get your company’s name behind Pinocchio and these will be the benefits:

Raised brand awareness

Put your brand literally in the spotlight. You’ll get positive PR, credibility and expose your brand to all those people going to the shows who could buy your products or services.

Emotional connection

People often spend with their heart. Seeing your brand connected to a Christmas panto shows you care enough to get involved at the community level so it becomes instantly more appealing.

Media Exposure

We’re hoping for lots of coverage from our media partners in the area (print, online, TV and radio) so it’ll be extra positive exposure for your brand too.

We’re working on collaborating with a number of iconic companies and venues in the city with some exciting promotional events using Pinocchio and his chums.

Merchandising

You can have your promotional materials at the event to promote what you do, and give-aways will ensure an additional shelf life for branded items. You could, for example, test the market with a product before investing in a larger marketing campaign or simply use the exercise to get your logo ‘out there’ with an existing target audience.

Marketing

Through the panto website and extensive print and online advertising, social media messaging and, of course, word of mouth.

Use the event as a corporate hospitality opportunity, or to reward your staff. Have it as an end or extension to a conference or your own event.

The Charity Champion package is particularly useful for a large-scale CSR push, and photo potential galore, particularly if you end up on stage in costume!

Here are more details:

Pinocchio Package - £7.5k

Headline Sponsor (3 required)

You get:

Logo on all print media (30k flyers and 1k posters)

Full page advert in the souvenir programme

200 tickets

10 mentions on each of their social media platforms

6 VIP tickets to press night and the post-show reception with the cast

Foyer presence

2 mentions in the MailChimp mailer (database of 8k)

Geppetto Package - £6.5k

Sponsor (5 packages available)

You get:

Logo on all print media

Half-page advert in souvenir programme

50 tickets

5 mentions on each of our social media platforms Foyer presence

4 VIP tickets to press night and the post show reception with cast

Figaro Package - £6.5k – Charity Champion

(2 packages available)

You buy a WHOLE performance (320 seats) and get:

Full page advert in souvenir programme

10 mentions on each of their social media platforms

2 mentions in the Mail Chimp (8k)

Foyer presence on the night of the performance

A pre- or post-show reception can be arranged for your guests

Jiminy Cricket - £2.5k

Ambassador (10 packages available)

Would suit smaller businesses looking to gain local recognition

Quarter-page advert in souvenir programme

25 tickets

3 mentions on each of our social media platforms

2 VIP tickets to press night and the post-show reception with the cast

If you’re interested – and I do hope you are – please contact me on jill@chimeracomms.co.uk or on 01903 812275.

I’m all ears. Or should that be nose? Well, it is Pinocchio!