Is The Snow and Cold Blowing Your Customers Away?

And is the cold is keeping them indoors? 

Eventually the hard weather will become soft and people will want to go out again. And you’re thinking, “Sure they want to go OUT, but not go inside.”

Time to "think different" as Steve Jobs of Apple fame used to say.

So how will you persuade a cabin fevered mob of people who, on the first sunny day, will be riding bikes, skateboarding, running, walking, hiking, playing with their dogs, digging in the garden and doing spring cleaning, to come into your bowling center?

The answer is: You are not going to persuade many people to come in. Unless you have some events you have pre-sold. 

Events like birthday parties for adults, seniors, teens and of course, kids, fund raisers, special community events, after prom parties, and end of school year parties for teachers as well as students.

Events like team building, day time bowling for companies, retirement parties, sales meetings, family reunions and fund raisers.

Here are just a few ideas to try:

·        Start a cause; clean up the dead branches in the public park areas; feed some homeless people; host an amateur hour variety show at your center.  By doing these types of events and getting involved in the community, you will get people to come to your center for meetings and gatherings and planning sessions.  From there, it’s not far to get PAID fundraisers, parties, and maybe even a short season spring or summer league.

·        Or a spring dog show in your parking lot. “The First Annual Happy Lanes Dog Show.”  Work with pet agencies, vets, Pet Smart pet stores, etc to get the word out and get lots of folks to your center. Winners get free dog food, pet supplies, pet toys and other goodies for their pets. Build a data base then build a league for pet owners. Can you think of any others, besides cats? Oh yes, don’t forget to get a parade permit, a sign off from your insurance company...and a few hoses.

·        Time to put a full court press on companies and businesses for “Cabin Fever parties or “Spring Fling” parties to boost morale and shrug off the winter doldrums. What could be better than a bowling party? Start now while it is still nasty out and build your parties as a selling situation for summer leagues or summer fund raisers.

Adaptation isn’t about waiting for something to happen and then dealing with it. More often than not it is  YOU creating the change and then working to profit from your ability to implement that change. 

Let the others “adapt to you.”