“Denny, the logo doesn’t go there.” That’s what Denny Cook told me many years ago that his customers would say when he would show them a sample print advertisement he created for them. “It goes right here,” they would show him. “I knew right then, I had the ad sold,” Denny would tell me. Getting the customer physically involved was the trick, he would say.
For much of my life, I have been fascinated with consumer behavior — in other words, what makes us buy the things we buy. Mark Peterson was a professor of several of my marketing classes in college. He said the definition of marketing was quite simple: satisfy the customer. He was right. But, sometimes, customers don’t know what they want until they experience the product through their senses. Seeing. Touching. Hearing. Smelling. Tasting.
A few decades ago, Jolene and I were looking at hot tubs. We visited a store that had several working units on display, which we preferred over the companies that stacked them on pallets in a warehouse. We couldn’t decide which hot tub we wanted, though. Seeing our hesitation, the sales rep offered for us to come in after hours and try them all out. So, for 30 minutes or so, we soaked in each one of the display units — and we wrote a deposit on one before we left.
One of my advertising customers in my first job out of college was Christopher’s in Beaverdale. I would stop in to see the Giudicessis in the kitchen and would salivate over the scents coming from the Italian food they were preparing. Seeing my delight, B.J. Giudicessi would say, “We can take your reservation for tonight right now.” And I would make it.
Just across the street, Jeff Watts at Bonds of Beaverdale was equally good at getting his customers physically involved. “Shane, I want you to try on this suit,” he would tell me. And I would. “That looks great on you. You should buy it,” he would say. And I would.
Harry Larson owns a car dealership in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Jolene and I were looking at vehicles there a few decades ago, and our sales rep, Harry’s daughter, told us to take a fully loaded SUV home for the weekend. She said her dad insisted we do it. So, we did. Later, Harry told me he knew we wanted a vehicle with a lot of bells and whistles, and he was convinced we would buy that one on the following Monday. We did.
You are probably thinking I am the easiest person in the world to sell, and I may be, especially when it comes to buying from people who do business with me. But it’s more than that. Like many of you, I appreciate being sold, and I also appreciate people suggesting products or services that will satisfy my wants and needs. They understand the need to get their customers physically involved in the process. At the end of the day, regardless of what we do for a living, we are all selling something. And, we are also buyers who want to be satisfied — or, better yet, delighted — with our purchases. That’s consumer behavior. That’s effective marketing. And that’s something we can all learn from.
Have a magnificent Monday, and thanks for reading.
|
|
|
FROM KCCI: Iowa forensic anthropologist helps investigators using clues from human remains.Human bones can contain clues that reveal the age, gender and height of an individual. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Two men charged with felonies following overnight burglary. DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Police Department arrested two men on multiple felony charges following a burglary that took place overnight. At approximately 3:16 a.m., DMPD 1st Watch patrol officers responded to the 3300 block of East Euclid Avenue on a burglary alarm located in a commercial business. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: Marshalltown PD: 3 arrested in credit card fraud investigation. As of Friday, Jan. 3, officials said they have heard from over 30 victims who reported credit card fraud on their accounts. ...READ MORE |
|
|
Clear Mortgage meteorology
Chilly temperatures this week. The only precipitation chance comes in the form of Friday flurries.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
|
|
| Read the latest CITYVIEW | | | BUSINESS FEATURE
Women in construction
By Gunner Onkst
PHOTO: The National Association of Women in Construction Greater Des Moines Chapter taking a tour of the Kwik Star Construction project on Merle Hay Road. Photo courtesy of National Association of Women in Construction
Walk through almost any construction site — building, road, roofing, infrastructure — and you likely won’t see many women. But the industry is changing, and more women are seeking and finding opportunities in it. While still male-dominated, one might be surprised to learn just how many women are donning hard hats and playing key roles in the field.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, in 2023, women made up 10.8% of employees in the construction industry, which is about 1.3 million women. | | | READ MORE |
|
|
The chef/restaurateur as role model or omen? University of Wisconsin - Madison celebrated its largest winter graduation ever last month, partly because of COVID shutdown delays. The commencement address was delivered by Dan Jacobs, a chef turned restaurateur whose Milwaukee restaurants include DanDan, a Chinese bar and grill, and EstherEv, a much acclaimed tasting menu cafe. When I graduated UW, the commencement speaker was CEO of General Motors turned Secretary of Defense. Hope Jacobs' restaurants do better than GM and the American war effort in Vietnam did.
Customers and neighbors love this, but is it legal? Café 8 in DC adopted a policy banning patrons under 30 after 8:30 p.m. They said they were reacting to crime and noise complaints after armed men attempted to enter the restaurant with guns out, and the owner was badly beaten when visiting a nearby Dunkin’ store. Washington Post says it's legal in DC for businesses to discriminate based on age, but also predicted someone will sue the Mediterranean cafe and hookah bar for Civil Rights violations. (WAPO)
Monday's deals
• Centro (1003 Locust St., Des Moines) offers half-price pizza and Peronis on Monday.
• Who's on First (810 E. First St., Ankeny) has steak night on Monday, and it's an 8-ounce filet with salad, mashed potatoes and beans for $22.95
• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special today on hot beef sandwiches, $10.95 until 4 p.m.
• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Monday $10 special is ham and Swiss sliders with fries.
• Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) offers all-you-can-eat wings Mondays.
• Trostel's Greenbriar (5810 Merle Hay Road, Johnston) offers half-pound steak burgers with fries or salad and a beer for a Monday-only price of $14.
• Monday brings prime rib specials to both Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) and Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines).
• Johnny's Hall of Fame (302 Court Ave., Des Moines) has $12 burger baskets on Mondays and Fridays.
• Urban Cellars (640 S. 50th St., West Des Moines) offers $60 wine dinners for two on Mondays including two entrees with soup or salad, a dessert and a bottle on wine.
• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) has a burger basket with fries deal Mondays for $9.
• Fareway has a sale on boneless USDA Choice arm roasts $4.88/pound, AE yogurts at 48 cents, and Bonne Mamman preserves and jams at $5.97.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
|
|
The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Chocolate/Candy Store
1. Chocolatarie Stam
2. Chocolate Storybook
3. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
The 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll is now closed. Results will be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW. |
|
|
| Featured home for sale | | |
$284,990 1428 56th St. Des Moines, IA 50311
This home is currently priced at $284,990, approximately $184 per square foot. This property was built in 1927 with nearby schools including Windsor Elementary School, Merrill Middle School, and Roosevelt High School.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
|
|
| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 2033 GRAND AVE., WEST DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-09-03
SALE PRICE: $833,334
SELLER: BRUINSMA FARMS INC
BUYER: SNYDER, TRISTEN
ACRES: 0.689
SQUARE FEET: 3,300 |
|
|
Featured in the current
issue of Bondurant Living magazine | | | Fostering a future
Rieke and Van Wyk lend a hand as a foster family.
By Darren Tromblay
While they’ve only been involved for two years thus far, the rewards of foster parenting have far exceeded anything that Michael Rieke and Nicola Van Wyk of Bondurant could have hoped.
The Bondurant family, which also includes Skyelynn Van Wyk, 15, has not only reached out a helping hand to others, they’ve also learned about themselves in the process. And that’s a good thing.
“Being a foster parent has been an incredibly rewarding experience; it’s amazing to see these children thrive, all while supporting their parents, when it’s safe to do so,” Van Wyk says. “For us, it has been a journey of personal growth, learning more about ourselves and how to work together as a family. Our focus has always been on ensuring the children feel supported and have the stability they need during what can often be an unstable time in their lives. | | | READ MORE |
|
|
FROM ESPN: Matsuyama sets PGA Tour's scoring record after 35-under finish. ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Patriots Fire Head Coach Jerod Mayo After One Season. ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: Party like it's 2015: Broncos beat Chiefs to break playoff drought, eliminate Bengals and Dolphins. ... READ MORE |
|
|
1996: Blizzard of 1996 begins. On January 6, 1996, snow begins falling in Washington, D.C., and up the Eastern seaboard, beginning a blizzard that kills 154 people and causes over $1 billion in damages before it ends. ...READ MORE
1994: Skater Nancy Kerrigan attacked. Olympic hopeful Nancy Kerrigan is attacked at a Detroit ice rink following a practice session two days before the Olympic trials. A man hit Kerrigan with a club on the back of her knee, causing the figure skater to cry out in pain and bewilderment. When the full story emerged a week later, the nation became caught up in a real-life soap opera. ... READ MORE
1975: More than 2,000 Led Zeppelin fans trash the Boston Garden. On January 6, 1975, a freezing cold day, a crowd of 2,000-plus lines up outside Boston Garden to buy tickets to the rock band Led Zeppelin. Some in the crowd then entered into the near-empty arena and caused thousands of dollars in damage. ... READ MORE
|
|
|
| Birthdays and notables | | | These celebrities were born on this date: Rowan Atkinson, Norman Reedus, Alex Turner, Eddie Redmayne, Kate McKinnon, Lil Reese, Hilaria Thomas Baldwin, Johnny Yong Bosch, Julie Chen, Gilbert Arenas, Jameis Winston
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
|
|
The answer to the last riddle: Why is New Year’s Eve the least favorite holiday of a slice of bread? THEY HAVE TO TOAST! - Gail Tomlinson
Today's riddle: What does Voldemort eat for breakfast?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
|
|
To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Grimes/Dallas Center, North Polk or Adel Living magazines, contact:
To advertise in the Guthrie Center Times, Panora Times, Lake Panorama Times and Guthrie County Times Vedette, contact:
KERRY JACOBSEN
Account Executive
Office: 641-332-2707
Mobile: 515-619-2788
kerry@iowalivingmagazines.com
Add webmaster@dmcityview.com to your address book to ensure delivery.
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Click here to get it delivered to your inbox for FREE! |
|
|
This email was sent to:
email@example.com
Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc.
8101 Birchwood Ct Suite D
Johnston, Iowa 50131
|
|
|
|
