Halloween Photography Marketing

My sister was telling me about an opportunity she had recently to market her photography studio through an event at her church.

Each Halloween, her church puts on an event for the kids to come in costume and celebrate in a safe non-threatening way. Instead of going door-to-door to ask for candy, the kids go car-to-car instead. Each adult with a vehicle decorates the trunk of their car in a Halloween or Fall theme and hands out candy to the kids who ask.

My sister decorated her trunk as a photography studio. As each family came to her car, she offered to take a picture of the kids in costume. Using her photo printer — conveniently in the trunk — she printed off a copy for the parents and stuck a sticker on the back with her name, phone and address. Brilliant!

Next year, she should offer to email a copy to the parents instead. By taking two pictures, one with the kids in costume, and another with a piece of paper on which the parent’s email address is written, she’ll have an instant warm lead to follow up with as the holidays approach. Sending the picture by email also builds a rapport between her and the family for future business.

Good thinking, sis!

Posted on November 17, 2007 in Business. 5 comments   

5 Comments

  1. Michelle said:

    Aw shucks…thanks.

  2. The Dan said:

    I think I might be misunderstanding this one. Isn’t this like telling little Billy, “It’s okay to accept candy from strangers in cars so long as they paint the hood all Halloweeny.”? Are we sure the kids will be able to appreciate the fact that this environment is “safe” and all other environments aren’t?

  3. John said:

    You have a good point. I guess I wasn’t very clear.

    Well, the theory is that it’s everyone you go to church with (since its done in the church’s parking lot) and presumably the parents are walking along with them as well. So its like a Fall Festival that a church might do, but still gives a door-to-door type of feel.

    I guess they’ll just accept candy from anyone in the church parking lot then :-)

  4. John said:

    They call them “Trunk or Treat”, btw.

  5. The Dan said:

    Ah, if the parents are there, it’s totally safe then. :-)
    “Trunk or Treat” — cute!!!

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