PostcardPerfect.com/blog

I discovered some great marketing while helping a friend move last weekend.

I’m not talking about fancy advertising or a slick viral campaign. Nope, this was just good old “selling the right thing in the right place at the the right time.”

I call it the U-Haul Mini-bar.

At the back of the truck we rented there was a dolly (or hand truck, depending on where you are from) and a package of furniture pads. Both were strapped securely to the wall.

Each one was covered with a sales pitch and price information.

Finally, there were green plastic ties that had to be snapped in order to access the items.

If the ties were broken, you get charged. It’s as simple as that. Just take what you need and they’d add it to your bill.

The hand truck was $7 and the furniture pads were $5. I think both prices were pretty reasonable (especially compared to a $6 bottle of water found in a traditional mini-bar). I’d love to see data showing how often each one is used.

Overall, I love this upsell tactic because it’s a really simple, yet very effective, way to solve a customer’s problem. You may have snubbed the idea of moving pads while renting the truck, but after hearing your spouse tell you for the 12th time not to scratch the furniture - they may start to look like a good idea.

Brilliant.

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