More on the Bounce Back Bag Sale & Register Receipt Auction

We received this question last night:

"Can you explain the Bounce Back Bag Sale on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) and the Cash Register Receipt Auction event?"

Of course! Both events are described in this post.

Bounce Back Bag Sale™

The bag sale has been a retail favorite for many years, but we changed the face of it in the 90s when we introduced the Bounce Back Bag Sale. Traditionally, retailers printed their “20% Off of All You Can Fit in this Bag” offers on brown paper grocery bags, had them stuffed in newspapers, and waited for the crowds.

We thought that waiting for crowds was little risky so we decided to shake things up and use shopping bags with handles instead. Like Bag Stuffers, we recommend that for two weeks prior to the day of your sale, you pass out your bags by substituting them for your regular bags. Here’s the cool thing: the bags become walking billboards for your store!

The face of your Bounce Back Bag shows your discounted amount, 20% is usually enough to get customers off of the couch and into your store. It also has any disclaimers and rules of your sale. Add a “You could win a $500 shopping spree!” and you’re in business.

The shopping spree is a big draw and $500 is a lot of money. Fortunately for you it’s $500 at retail so it will only cost you about half of that. Customer’s must register in the store. (Note: Before running check with your state’s rules on contests. Some states require you to allow customers to mail in entries.)

In addition to the main giveaway, you will want to have second chance drawings for free crops and classes and other smaller prizes. And make sure that you collect the customer’s email address on your entry form because those addresses will be invaluable to you when business slows and you need to alert customers to a great deal really fast.

The back of the bag is unique in that it has four coupons on it: one for 50% off of any one item of your choice, provided it’s priced at $25 or less, and the customer comes in to shop between the hours of 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM. This will appeal to the folks who enjoy waiting outside of stores at 4:00 AM. It also helps you secure “first dollars” before they head off to the malls.

The other three coupons are good after the holidays – that’s the Bounce Back part. One coupon each for the first, second, and third weeks in January. Don’t cut the coupons off of the bag, instead you have your cashier initial them after they have been redeemed. That way your customers will carry the bags around town at least three more times!

The bags can be custom printed for you by any bag manufacturer, or you can buy plain white shopping bags and have stickers printed to get your message across. Does it work? We’ve had retailers record double digit increases. A Michigan craft store was so busy the police had to come and direct traffic.
Email us for a copy of our “10 Things You Need To Know To Run A Successful Bag Sale!” promos@kizerandbender.com

Cash Register Receipt Auction

Your customers will want to save every receipt from your store from the day after Thanksgiving through December 15th, because on the 15th, you are going to have a Holiday Auction and their receipts will be the same as cash. Create a Bag Stuffer to advertise your Cash Register Receipt Auction and begin to distribute them two weeks before the Day After Thanksgiving.

Contact your vendors and as them to donate product for the auction and door prizes. Add items from your store as well, and make sure to include some big ticket items. Display all items prominently in the front of your store. Add signs that tell customers about the auction.

On the 15th, have an auctioneer work the crowd from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. auctioning off all the items. The customers simply add up their register tapes to determine the amount of money they have to spend (of course, you’ll let them add cash if they want too!).

The store will be packed! So by all means, STAY OPEN AFTER THE AUCTION, say until 11:00 pm. The store will be packed with shoppers, and Christmas is only ten days away. The obvious question will be: “Will this be cash or charge? …”

IMPORTANT For 2005! If you want to hold this event this year you need to get to work planning it NOW. Create your bag stuffers NOW and begin to hand them out TODAY! You will most likely have to choose items from your sales floor because it’s too late for vendors to respond to your request for product. Call us if you’d like to brainstorm: 888.215.1839

© KIZER & BENDER . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED . ™ KIZER & BENDER

Click on the word "Comments" below to leave your own thoughts, comments, or questions!