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While the quantity of entries was high the quality was "none too hot" with many "fantasy schemes" often involving females.
I must disallow any general suggestions of games championships as we did these last year and we are running them this year. I would have taken a different view if the ideas for these had been worked up into fully suggestions (with details).
As I am judging this I can hardly award my own "Two Can Play at This" idea the prize - though undoubtedly we will use something similar for an "introduce a friend" incentive.
YH had a good notion about working with schools and Meka came up with "People are Stupid" idea to give safety advice with every game!
Rakuga deserves a mention for persistence and I particularly liked his suggestion of a One Day Sale. IF we decide to do that then he will get a prize. The problem with one day sales is that once people get used to (even) lower prices they are resistant to buying at the normal prices.
Rakuga also suggested giving better directions to the shops.
I liked Namostar's idea of placing addresses of the shops on internet banners. We'll use this so Namostar - you are A WINNER.
The second winner is Fantasy Meister. He made a couple of reasonable suggestions including better promotion of Reddies. But his idea which caught my imagination was to print an 8 digit number on the receipts for people to match with a number on the internet. This gives us the possibility of running Gameaday in the shops. I'm not sure if we will actually use it but it is the best idea (in my view).
A difficult competition which has clearly stretched imaginations to the limit. Thank you for entering.
Congratulations to NAMOSTAR and FANTASY MEISTER and I won't forget Rakuga IF we use the one day sale idea.
***********
These are the original rules.
The next amazing Special Reserve competition (another one!) is to suggest ideas for attracting people into our Big Club Shops.
The main objective here is to think about the cost effectiveness of your ideas. In order for them to work they need to be, yes you guessed it, low on cost and high on impact.
If you haven't visited all or any of our shops then get yourself down to your local shop and check them out! Visit our Big Club Shops page for further details: http://special.reserve.co.uk/common/shops/shopsindex.php
This competition is open for 1 month and the best ideas that we USE will win a game as part of GAMEADAY. If no ideas are used then I will pick 1 winner that I deem the best.
CLOSING DATE: 27th July 2001 *********MIDNIGHT*********
The challenge has been set. Good luck!
> Instead of just piped music in your shops, or Radio 1 depending on
> locality, have some special "SRDN" playback tapes running,
> pointing out all the special offers on that day, and repeat business
> deals and so forth. That way, whenever anyone enters your shop,
> they not only get marketing visuals thrust into their eyesight, but
> they get audible marketing brainwashing them through their ears as
> well.
It works for Virgin Record stores, then number of times
> I've gone there to buy a CD and come out with 3 or 4 other ones
> because I'd heard samples playing in the shop on the loudspeakers is
> quite amazing.
The same with games, if you walk into a shop and
> see a state of the art game running on a few monitors or widescreens
> dotted about, the more likely you are to make a spontaneous
> purchase.
Pop a few monitors in the main window as well, so that
> people walking past can be wowed by the graphics, and kids can say
> "WOW!" and drag their parents (complete with cards and
> wallets) into the shop with them.
Make sure the monitors are
> working at all times though, there is nothing more offputting than
> walking past a shop with blank screens looking out at you...
If i was to join sr *tony starts singing* you would have an experiance *time_warp starts dancing*...........Just imagine.
It works for Virgin Record stores, then number of times I've gone there to buy a CD and come out with 3 or 4 other ones because I'd heard samples playing in the shop on the loudspeakers is quite amazing.
The same with games, if you walk into a shop and see a state of the art game running on a few monitors or widescreens dotted about, the more likely you are to make a spontaneous purchase.
Pop a few monitors in the main window as well, so that people walking past can be wowed by the graphics, and kids can say "WOW!" and drag their parents (complete with cards and wallets) into the shop with them.
Make sure the monitors are working at all times though, there is nothing more offputting than walking past a shop with blank screens looking out at you...
I have to agree with Fozzydude. I'm not taking his idea I'm just reinforcing it. Radio advertising is a good and effective way of getting peoples attention. For example Essex FM would be great for the Chelmsford and Basildon shops. Have a jingle. 22336688 it's a free phone number so don't hesitate... buy 2 and get 2 free. I know that radio off by heart now. Even the number! How effect is that? You could do somehting the same
"Like games? Like DVDs? Like consoles? Like gadgets? Don't like the prices? Why not come down to Special Reserve and get the best for less. Our staff are very friendly and very helpful and will get you exactly what you need. Shops in Basildon and Chelmsford etc.."
That's the kind of thing you need.
Idea 20:
try beating a record and get lots of publicity. How about tallest tower of dvd cases ;-) the publicity would coax lots of people in.
Idea 21:
Hire a gorgeous girl stick her in the shop door. Boys are attracted to her and come in.
Idea 22:
Stress you sell DVDs get those film stands which advertise the game. You can get these for free. Then when used sell them. I'd love to get my hands on the Charlies Angels one... :D Also many people may think you only sell games so stress you also sell DVDs
Idea 23:
Many of the computers in your stores can't be used. Allow people to use them, maybe putting a shootem up on so they can try it out.
Idea 24:
Open up an internet service where people can surf on freeola in the shops for a small price. People without the net get to use it. and people with the net get to see how much better Freeola is. Homepages have to be special reserve network.
Warning! This idea is about Internet advertising.
I'm sure you are all aware of those really annoying windows that popup whon you go to certain sites. Hint-> these are advertising windows. Special reserve needs to have one of these at as many sites as possible. If the user tries to close then open another ect. (P.S. you dont have to use all of this idea.
You could hold trading sessions...
Reservians from all over the country could bring their Games, Collectibles, and even Pokémon cards to the big shops every 2-4 weeks and trade.
Interaction is really effective as shown by these new COMET stores where you can play with everything...
Maybe some PS2's would be good...
Make is more event-like rather than just a big shop...
I think holding trading sessions is definitely a way forward.
Is there anyway you can do a 'try before you buy' thing where people can, under the supervision of some of your staff, play on a game they're thiking of buying... if you don't like the idea of opening load of games you could designate a few (7 Multi-Format) games each month and have a massive Game-playing session!
It would definitely attract more people!
Game
Like a raffle type system, they get a ticket with every single item purchased. So they go in buy a game and then have the chance to win another one.
You could do the same with peripherals; Buy a multi-tap win a joy pad, or something to that affect.
Word would soon spread about these competitions and before you know it you're getting all the customers in that specific area. Particularly if you promised to match the lowest prices for games in that area.
I know I'd rather go to a shop that offered me the chance to win a free game and I'd be happy to purchase from there every time if the prices were as cheap as anywhere.
This has probably already been said pages ago but nevermind.