I've had a brainwave!

[rob1963]

Each week I do four regular pub quiz nights which are attended by around 120-150 people in total.

I get a fair few disco bookings from these, as people sometimes come up asking about discos, so I give them a card & ask them to contact me, which they usually do.

At the end of the quiz nights I only ever get about half my pens back, as the rest obviously end up in peoples pockets or handbags.

This morning I had a brainwave, and I'm wondering if it's really as good as it seems, or is there something I've overlooked?

My idea is to get some promotional pens from an auction site printed with my website address on one line & the phrase "Mobile discos & quiz nights" on a second line. These would then be given out in place of my current cheapo pens at all quiz nights...but NOT collected back at the end of the night.

I can get 1,000 pens for £145, so one disco booking would easily pay for them & I'd only need two bookings to be nicely in profit...although I'm sure I'd get more than that. Even with a take up rate of only 1%, that could still be an extra 10 bookings a year!

The best thing about this is that the people who take these pens will be people that have done my pub quiz & therefore know me to some extent...rather than Googling for mobile discos & coming up with a load of "faceless wonders".

Once all the pens had gone (after about 3 or 4 months) I'd just go back to using cheapo pens like I do now.

So...is this a good idea?

Comments & opinions please!

:)

[Sapphire Disco]

Sounds good to me for the money well worth a try, although you probably will never know exactly how successful it's been.

Check the quality of the pens though.

[rob1963]

Sounds good to me for the money well worth a try, although you probably will never know exactly how successful it's been.

Check the quality of the pens though.

Thanks diamondgeezer.

If you mean check the quality of the printing, I've seen samples on the listing, and it looks more than adequate...very good, in fact.

If you mean the quality of the actual pens, that's not too important...as long as they work. After all, they're only for filling in answers at a pub quiz night...not for writing essays...and I'm sure they'll compare favourably to the pens I currently use...which are Sainsburys basics that cost 3p each!

:)

[Sapphire Disco]

If you mean check the quality of the printing, I've seen samples on the listing, and it looks more than adequate...very good, in fact.

Yes I did mean mainly that they work and don't fall apart but also it's not a bad thing if they look nice because people could keep them for a year or two, they could end up being owned by many different people in their life time.

[CRAZY K]

Each week I do four regular pub quiz nights which are attended by around 120-150 people in total.

I get a fair few disco bookings from these, as people sometimes come up asking about discos, so I give them a card & ask them to contact me, which they usually do.

At the end of the quiz nights I only ever get about half my pens back, as the rest obviously end up in peoples pockets or handbags.

This morning I had a brainwave, and I'm wondering if it's really as good as it seems, or is there something I've overlooked?

My idea is to get some promotional pens from an auction site printed with my website address on one line & the phrase "Mobile discos & quiz nights" on a second line. These would then be given out in place of my current cheapo pens at all quiz nights...but NOT collected back at the end of the night.

I can get 1,000 pens for £145, so one disco booking would easily pay for them & I'd only need two bookings to be nicely in profit...although I'm sure I'd get more than that. Even with a take up rate of only 1%, that could still be an extra 10 bookings a year!

The best thing about this is that the people who take these pens will be people that have done my pub quiz & therefore know me to some extent...rather than Googling for mobile discos & coming up with a load of "faceless wonders".

Once all the pens had gone (after about 3 or 4 months) I'd just go back to using cheapo pens like I do now.

So...is this a good idea?

Comments & opinions please!

:)

My only thought is---if they go to the same pub and your there every week
wouldnt they just ask for a card when next visiting the pub--also of course leave some behind the bar in case your not around so the landlord can hand them out ( do you do that?)

Why not put up a subtle professional looking ad on the wall in the pub promoting yourself?

Over the years I have acquired dozens of free pens, none of which have prompted me to buy a service from the name on them.

The pens might mean a lot of duplication perhaps---i.e. they already know you--but hey your allowed to waste your own money and its tax deductible:D

I put this in the same category as names on sides of vans--yes weve done that one before.

Those stats quoted are all well and good

Possibly the only people who think this is a good idea are--


















Pen Manufacturers:D :D :D

CRAZY K

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

It is a good idea, but not really original or a brain wave!

[rob1963]

It is a good idea, but not really original or a brain wave!

Darren...compared to most of my ideas, it's DEFINATELY a brainwave!

:rofl:

[CRAZY K]

Darren...compared to most of my ideas, it's DEFINATELY a brainwave!

:rofl:

So can you tell us of one of your BAD ideas Rob--theres nothing worth watching on the telly at the moment---;)

CRAZY K

[Penfold42]

So can you tell us of one of your BAD ideas Rob--theres nothing worth watching on the telly at the moment---;)

CRAZY K

LMAO............:D :D :D

[BeerFunk]

That's a great idea, but I reckon there would be less going missing if it had your name all over it, as opposed to a non-branded pen. Either way, what's to lose?

[rob1963]

also of course leave some behind the bar in case your not around so the landlord can hand them out (do you do that?)

That's already covered, Crazy.

I've noticed the staff pick up any pens I miss & they put them in a jar behind the bar...ready for when anyone needs a pen in the future.


So can you tell us of one of your BAD ideas Rob--theres nothing worth watching on the telly at the moment---;)


You're right...my first night off for a week, and nothing on TV whatsoever.

That's no reason to embarrass myself, though! ;)


That's a great idea, but I reckon there would be less going missing if it had your name all over it, as opposed to a non-branded pen. Either way, what's to lose?

Cheers, Beerfunk!

[501damian501]

hence the words "promotional goods" they are their to be used, not to be missed, £145 for 1,000 seems big numbers, maybe shop around to see if you can get a cheaper price, also have afew testers to see if the quality of the pens are any good, cheers damian

[rob1963]

hence the words "promotional goods" they are their to be used, not to be missed, £145 for 1,000 seems big numbers, maybe shop around to see if you can get a cheaper price, also have afew testers to see if the quality of the pens are any good, cheers damian

Thanks Damian,

I've already Googled, but not found anything as cheap as £145 for 1,000 pens (especially once you've added things like set up costs & postage to what you originally thought was the total price)...so ebay it will be!

Good advice about the sample...I'll probably ask for that before making my actual order.

[DMX Will]

Sounds like a no-brainer.

Got a linky Rob?

[rob1963]

Sounds like a no-brainer.

Got a linky Rob?

I sure have Will!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=310076236895

:)

[JAMdisco]

I got a free 'JAMdisco' pen a while ago - can't remember where from but will have a dig around. It works fine and the quality of printing is excellent (I think it's laser etched).

It has my disco name and address on it - would have prefered the web address but for free, I suppose I can't argue - after all they were only giving it as a sample.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Great idea but, as Darren said, hardly worthy of 'brainwave' status. The only reason I haven't done it to now has been prohibitive cost (in NZ).

[rob1963]

Great idea but, as Darren said, hardly worthy of 'brainwave' status.

I admit "brainwave" might have been the wrong word...I just thought it was such a good & simple idea that I was amazed it hadn't occurred to me before!


The only reason I haven't done it to now has been prohibitive cost (in NZ).

Wow...how much do pens COST in NZ?

:shrug:

[PropellerHeadCase]

Personalised pens cost around $2.50 (approx £1), each, for orders of 500 or more, last I checked.

[rob1963]

Personalised pens cost around $2.50 (approx £1), each, for orders of 500 or more, last I checked.

£1 each?

That's crazy!

Mine will cost 14.5p each!

:D :D :D

[Tom]

Good idea Rob. Might have to use that. :D:D:D

[rob1963]

Good idea Rob. Might have to use that. :D:D:D

Don't run before you can walk, Tom...you need to get those quiz nights first!

:)