For those of you who run bootcamp style training, do you use promotional materials like t-shirts, water bottles, baseball caps?
I’m going to be starting a bootcamp at the start of the New Year and am considering taking Todd Durkin’s advice (based on a great session I took of his at the IDEA World Conference this summer). He’s recommended purchasing t-shirts and the like. Do any of you do that?
Also, do any of you use an auto-pay billing system? If so, how does this work for you? If not, why?
I used to work for a promotional products company while I was just starting my fitness career part time, and after months of pouring through the thousands of promo items available, I found many low-cost options that definitely make an impact with clientele. T-shirts are done to death and aren’t always cost effective, but a clever giveaway can add cohesion and legitimacy to a program, especially an up-and-coming program.
Instead of t-shirts, consider branded towels (usually available for about $1.50 each), water bottles (anywhere from $0.90 for a basic plastic one to $10 or more for something heavy duty and fancy), lunch coolers (as low as $2.50 each), pedometers (very cheap, and a good way to inspire your clients to keep moving outside of class – pair with another giveaway and offer rewards to whoever walks the most each week?), drawstring bags (decent quality as low as $3.00 each)… The list goes on and on. You can find many of these items even cheaper than I’m listing, I’m just using pricing off the top of my head from the old job. You want to offer a REAL incentive, pair a few things, like a drawstring bag with a bottle and a towel – maybe $5-8/person, but now you’re offering not only a fitness experience but usable takeaways. And anything usable with your logo on it is extra marketing for you, too!
I firmly believe it is a good investment to give away a product that has your branding on it, that will see use. Not only are you adding value to your program but your investment doubles as marketing! That’s a win-win!