AIS: Marketing and Publicity

From: HIPSource@aol.com

In a message dated 1/13/99 10:32:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, rdhager@dmv.com
writes:

<<  > How do other clubs handle  publicity for shows and sales?  How do you
all bring in non club/AIS members to these events? >>

 Just as in real estate, location is VERY important. The busy, successful
 malls rarely have space for flower shows and sales. Horticultural
 centers offer some of the best facilities, but rarely draw new faces.
 Last year, the Diamond State Beardless Show was held in a huge open-air
 produce stand/greenhouse/garden center. >>

I think there some very simple means of attracting the public as well, ones
that do not involve a whole lot of coordination or committees. The ideas is to
get the iris blooms themselves out to where the people are so they can be
seen, and accompany these with some free literature. For instance, about a
week before a show put a large vase of cut stalks of mixed TBs or mixed
beardless irises with some attractive greenery--not a contrived arrangement as
such but a fresh collection of well grown blooms and some various textures of
greens--on the Circulation Desk of the local library. Have a free one page
pass out sheet with a few words about irises, some brief notes on culture, the
particulars about the local AIS chapter, details of when and where the show
will be held, the dates and places of the plant sale, and some names of folks
to call if people want to ask questions or whatever. Single space it and keep
it classy and simple and you can get a lot of info on one page. Other high
traffic places that might work are neighborhood dry cleaning establishments,
small local markets, hardware stores, hairdressers, and so forth.  The bleaker
the environment the more the flowers will make the point. I'd certainly make
contact before showing up with the vase, but often folks are pretty amenable
to this sort of thing if they are not in competition with you for the same
iris business, as some nursery centers may very well be.

Anner Whitehead
HIPSource@aol.com

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