October is synonymous with the color orange, pumpkin spice everything and you guessed it — Halloween. Haunting season is here, and it’s prime time for you to engage with your customers before the turkey, traditions and road trip frenzies ensue. To help, here are five festive ideas to help your shop join in the haunts and maybe even kickoff a new holiday tradition of your own.
1. Costume Contest
Make your costume contest as big or small as you like. Have customers dress up themselves or their cars to earn a free service. Encourage employees to arrive to work in costume and let customers vote on who has the best get-up. The winning employee gets a paid day off, and everyone gets a laugh.
No matter who’s wearing the costume you can share photos via social and digital media and promote it up until the big day arrives. Invite local news outlets to stop by the day of the event to share what you’re doing. Chances are, people will talk about it and that is exactly what you want them to do!
2. Haunt Your Shop
Deck out your bays haunted house-style. There are many creative and easy ways your team can decorate to make your customers feel like the Munster Koach could be one bay over, with Herman, Lily, Grandpa, Eddie and Marilyn inside. Think fake spider webs, castles and creepy music. Better yet, go all out and have your staff dress like The Munsters to complete the experience.
3. Fall Fest
Keep things light and easy just like fall. Consider offering a different special each day for a week in October or hosting a special event. If you decide to hold a fall festival, complete the extravaganza with a “dunk-a-tech tank,” DIY winter emergency kits and lots and lots of Halloween candy.
4. Pumpkin Carving
Carving pumpkins is a classic Halloween activity. However, it can be time consuming and messy. Since the quick lube business is all about being fast, instead of having customers carve pumpkins, have a day where you offer to handout pumpkins for customers to take home and carve. It’s a festive and fun way to position yourself in a family-friendly way and give back to your community.
5. Trick-or-Treat
Forgo the tricks, and get right to the treats. Treats are always a better idea and your customers will appreciate the kind gesture. Treats don’t have to mean candy. For example, partner with other businesses in the community trade services. You’ll end up with lots of things to give away that customers would love to receive.
A new season is an opportunity to bring in new business and grow. One of the best ways to do that is to give your existing customers and the community something to talk about. This October, I challenge you to have fun and do just that. If you try any of these ideas or one of your own, I’d love to hear about it. Email me at: [email protected]
