Maggie Rants [and Raves]

Restroom Inspiration

by Maggie Franklin | September 26, 2012 | Bookmark +

So last weekend was the Big Family Disneyland Outing. It was a long time, on a hot weekend, with a lot of people. But this is not about Disneyland. Like many families visiting the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif., we — nine out of 18 of us — opted for dinner at the Downtown Disney Rainforest Cafe.

 

This is also not about Rainforest Cafe.

 

At the end of our meal, before returning to another round of 50-minute lines in 100-degree weather, I made a trip to the women’s restroom of the Rainforest Cafe.

 

This is a post about marketing strategies. I'm not even sure it's nail-related, but I don't have many audiences that wouldn’t find this interesting or relevant.

 

Lying on the counter next to the sinks was a Scensty. Ummmm ... what is this? It's a ... well, like a car fragrance thingy. One of those pressed cardboard things that you hang from the rearview mirror.

 

It was lying there, brand new, in its packaging with the rep's sticker on it with her name and contact information on it.

 

My initial thought was that she had probably come in and put them on the counter hoping people would pick them up and call her or order from her online. Part of me was all like, "Weird." It's Disneyland, how many of the people going to the restroom at the Rainforest Cafe are local? It didn't strike me as the best target marketing.

 

On the other hand, there's a website listed. It doesn't matter if the people who find them are locals, they can order from her anywhere. So maybe it's brilliant marketing?

 

I initially opted not to pick up one of the little Scentsy doodads, but I found more placed in thoughtful places around the bathroom, so I picked one that listed its scent as something that didn't sound too noxious and I've been pondering the marketing strategy ever since.

 

Most of us don't live anywhere near Disneyland. And even if you do, leaving your cards in the ladies' rooms of the resort restaurants probably won't benefit you as a nail tech. But it does get me thinking about other out-of-the-box marketing ideas.

 

Meanwhile, I think I will make a point to e-mail the rep and let her know that I got her "gift" and maybe I'll order something from her just to support her initiative.

 

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