Monday, February 17, 2014

Mother Nature Big


Mother Nature Big

OK Florida developers.  This blog is for you.  Now is the time to reap what you sow.  You have never had a better opportunity to blow away your sales targets with out of town buyers.  Savvy developers know how to follow up on a major advertising campaign.  Offer incentives, giveaways, throw a party.  The point is to get customers through the door while your product is fresh on their minds. 
 
So, what are you all waiting for?  Mother Nature just put your marketing campaigns in bright lights, brought you mainstream to the entire country.  She gave you a first class, “A” rated advertisement for the sunnier climes.  And she did not just advertise up north where it is historically cold.  She even gave you a front page spread in the mid-south and all points in between, like the Carolinas and Georgia, where snow is as common as sundresses in January.  And what are you doing about it?  NOTHING.  Sure, you may be giving lip service about how the bad weather will cause people to move.  You may even take out a regional newspaper ad or put something on the radio or TV. 
 
Big deal.  Think bigger.  Think Mother Nature Big.  You need to not only roll out the red carpet, you need to paint the major highways red.  Physically red, using big cans of paint, directing them where to go.  Show them the path the whole way down south.  Free meals at every Denny’s and Cracker Barrel along the way if you buy a home right now.  Send a plane.  In fact, send a fleet of planes.  Let people know their flights are waiting on the tarmac.  First come, first served.  Free flights.  Hand out floral shirts and plaid shorts and tell them they look good.  Black socks, sunglasses and big hats too.  Let them know that never ending sunshine awaits.  Pay no attention to those who say they are afraid of hurricanes.  Really?  It seems like their recent winters of discontent have been on par with our stormy summers.  The last time I checked, the hurricanes played no favorites along the east coast, either.  Just ask those from New Jersey who are still feeling the effects from Hurricane Sandy.  Send buses.  Reroute trains.  It can be the mother of all parties.  Pour lots of fruity drinks with little umbrellas in them.  Put orange slices on the highballs.  Let them know they can grow those same oranges in their backyards.  Have a bonfire party.  Let them bring all their winter coats to throw on the fire.  It can be the world’s largest weenie roast.  Tell them to forget the Yankees and the Cubs.  The Tampa Rays have been better anyway.  They don’t have to worry about how bad their hometown football teams are, either.  We have three mediocre pro football teams right here that they can lament over.  You want winning football?  Follow the state’s college programs.  We even have two pro hockey teams.  Give them nice warm sweaters to wear to the games to ward off the chill from the ice.  Whatever it takes.  This is your chance.  Think big.  Mother Nature Big.

Until next time…

Keep kicking the dirt!

Jeff Gersh is President of Gersh Consulting Services, a real estate advisory firm, headquartered in Orlando, FL.  He may be reached at jsgersh@gmail.com or 407-468-9328

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment