Do you like chocolate? Well, I do and lots of people around the world do. I saw one manifestation of that this past week when I visited Hershey, Pennsylvania and Chocolate World. Talk about an amazing lesson in marketing! If you haven’t been there, this is one for your “bucket list” as a marketer — and a lover of chocolate.
They don’t just sell chocolate (yes, they do that) but they engage customers in a fun experience. Customers learn about the founder, Milton Hershey, and how he selected Central Pennsylvania because of the cows (who produce that delicious, essential milk for chocolate). I enjoyed a theme-park-style ride through the fun and delightful process of how they produce chocolate. When it was completed, they gave me the opportunity to purchase lots of varieties of chocolate (yes, it was delicious!).
3 Key Lessons You Can Use In Your Marketing
- Get something people want and offer quality at a reasonable price. Yes, people want chocolate. Hershey not only offers good chocolate but good prices and, at Chocolate World in Hershey, PA, it is a most enjoyable experience. Find ways to not just provide your product or service, but make it fun (and tasty, if you can!).
- Look “around” your product for tangential marketing opportunities. The people at Hershey didn’t just try to sell chocolate. Yes, they do that, but they created an experience (key point). I saw lots of kids there bouncing around, happy and families building wonderful memories. Come on now, be creative. How can you tap into other products or services that will support what you offer? Who can you align with who has complimentary products or services for your market? Give it some thought — and have fun!
- Build fun into your equation. We like to have fun. Hey, Hershey’s customers like chocolate. They do an excellent job of blending chocolate with fun. The bottom line is customers create great memories, buy some tasty chocolate to take home, give as gifts etc. Hershey not only makes a profit, but they create a wonderful experience for customers — and they build loyalty.
So, what can you do in your business to apply these three key principles? Think of how you can combine the fun and experience that Hershey Chocolate provides for their millions of fans. Have some ideas to share? I’d love to hear from you. You can leave a post here (www.TerryBrock.com) or send me a Tweet on Twitter – @TerryBrock.
And as they like to say at Hershey Chocolate World — “Have a Sweet Day!”
Terry Brock is a professional speaker and author who helps businesses solve problems and make money. Get him for your next meeting by contacting him at his website www.TerryBrock.com
