Kevin Harrington // marketing // blog

Posts Tagged ‘sales’

This is a rather compelling argument from those people at TippingPointLabs: $270 per customer, or $52,000 … which would you prefer?

Converting people from conventional approaches and traditional media can be a challenge. But if your business is built around developing relationships read the full article here.

Sometimes staff and team incentives have a negative impact…

“Kevin Harrington, research and development director at Sodexo Pass – the company behind SayShopping vouchers and SayMotivation Pass – looks to the future of vouchers and gift cards.” – Sales Promotion.

Read the full feature.

Originally printed in Sales Promotion magazine September 2008 issue.

Marks & Spencer sales figures

You don’t always need to spend thousands on research to find out what is going on in some markets. Simply keeping your eyes open and aimed in the right direction can deliver great results.

George Wimpey sales office

Yes, it is true, George Wimpey house sales could be a lot quicker if they sent details to potential customers.

I’ve been trying to get some simple details from George Wimpey since January and it is now 9 March. I’ve sent more than 4 emails as well.

More details on this story will be here soon.

And here, posted on 6 April 2008, is an update. After posting the three paragraphs above, the business development director for George Wimpey emailed me. In fact he emailed within an hour of posting. I guess he uses Google Alerts to monitor internet mentions of his business. He seemed a nice guy and very genuine. It still took another couple of weeks before any details arrived.

It is interesting how a sincere reply/apology does go a long way to recovering a situation.

Anyway, for those that have asked me, I’m not about to buy one of these houses. They look fine but they are not for me. One reason is garden size. But there are other reasons as well.

Sales all over the place

Perhaps it’s just me, but I find the idea of banks running January sales a bit offensive. I’m not too sure why. I think it’s the naive idea I have that banks offer competitive terms at all times.

HSBC and NatWest are both advertising a ‘sale’ for their services this month. Are we expected to suddenly decide to borrow some money? And if we miss the sale opportunities are the prices reverting to normal?

These nagging thoughts made me look at the HSBC sale offer. Low and behold another one of my pet hates – deal with us and we’ll give money to charity.

The HSBC website and adverts proudly exclaim, “Every time you take us up on one of our Sale or other special offers, we will donate £2 to WWF to support the HSBC Rainforest Preservation Project in Brazil. Each donation will protect a whole acre of rainforest. So, as well as saving money, you’ll be helping to save one of the world’s most important and endangered rainforests.”

You read it right, get a mortgage or loan or pension and HSBC will donate an entire £2. I wonder what that represents as a percentage of the fees they earn on each of the products.

I’ve never liked this type of use of a charity to promote a business, product or service.