Naples Florida Real Estate: Ringing The Bell? - Pass Out Candy Canes With Business Cards!

John R. Wood Realtors Inc. agreed to ring the Salvation Army Bell at the Neapolitan Publix in Park Shore during the past two days.  Although I do various things to give back throughout each year, I never have been the one to "ring the bell".  I have been the one to put the money in the can but me...never the ringer. 

So after about 6 emails out to all the offices and still a few blank spaces on the calendar, I called up a fellow colleague of mine and told him we were going to be ringing the bell this evening between 6pm and 7pm.  It's an hour....we can do anything for an hour right? 

Did you get a chance to check out the video "The Bagger"?  If you haven't seen it...please don't forget because it really is an absolutely AWESOME story.  *** http://www.simpletruths.com/simpletruths/a.aspx?af=219&mo=stsr 

For those of you who are too tired to check out the link it's basically a customer service story about how somebody went out of there way to make the experience of the grocery shopper a little better.  Since I was going to be standing in front of a grocery store for an hour watching my buddy ring the bell, I thought I would try to do something along the same line...sort of.  I bought 120 candy canes today, tied my business card to them and brought them to give out to everybody.  Not just to the people dropping money in the bucket but to everyone.  How often does that happen right?

I was actually surprised out how hard it was to give them away.  Now I wasn't dressed like a bum.  In fact I in my typical Shannon Lefevre fashion was dressed in a hot pink shirt, black foofy bottom pants, pink socks, snowman shoes and a zebra jacket.  I looked REALLY SCARY AND MEAN...NOT!!!!   Watching people make wide circles around the tinkling bell was almost funny at times but when I said, "Happy Holidays".  With arm stretched wide out with candy cane in hand people almost broke out into a full on run.  Do you know how many people "can't" eat candy?  I'd say about 40% based off my experience tonight....how has Hershey's stayed in business???  Then I'd say, you don't know anybody you can give a candy cane to?  Believe it or not...some still said no.

So then I went to "Merry Christmas"...it's sad when you don't know how to give a holiday greeting anymore...don't cha think?  Anyway I tried that for a few minutes and after saying it the first time, I looked at my buddy and said, "Is there a rule against saying that"?  (Since I had missed the bell ringing instructions).  The lady who I had said that to heard me even though she was now across the street of the parking lot and she said loudly, there is NO rule against saying Merry Christmas, I liked to hear it and I'm glad you said it!...Ok...whew.  So we said, Merry Christmas for a few more minutes but ultimately...I might as well had been saying...I'm going to kill your kids.  People wouldn't look my direction, they waved their hands in front of their bodies as if to say they didn't want any...it was interesting.  One guy even argued by saying...no, everybody wants something from me...every time I turn around somebody wants something from me.  I replied, I know...that's why I'm giving this to you and I don't want anything from you.  You would've thought I had punched him in the mouth. He did take my candy cane and said thanks and even Merry Christmas and walked dumbfounded off into the parking lot somewhere.

So then I started saying, "Hi, this is for you".  Same results. I don't want it, I gave at the office, I kept saying...I don't want your money, this is really for you.  NOPE.  So let's see I tried, Happy Holiday's, Merry Christmas, This is for you, Here you go....all losers.  You want to know what worked.

Ta Da!

No, that's what worked...those two words...Ta Da!  All of a sudden, people were nice again.  Even smiles and people who willingly accepting my candy canes.  Not every time but I think positive results DOUBLED.

I even ran into a guy who I did a deal with a couple of years ago.  After looking at my card he said, hey I know you...we spoke for awhile, it was great.  I had another guy look at my card and say, hey, I've seen your advertising.  COOL!

So if you are going to be ringing any bells anytime soon, may I suggest bringing something you can give...say a candy cane and a business card.  It just might be the sweetest thing they received all day long and for you...well the cards travel...who knows!

As always, if you're thinking Naples, Florida real estate, Think Pink, Shannon Lefevre - Smart Girl Great Results!

*** Who originally posted the video about "The Bagger"?  I thought Rob Baldwin had posted the video but when I went back to his blog, it wasn't there.  Then I thought it may have been on Danny Thornton's blog but it wasn't there either.  I ran a search and of course nothing...so whoever did it, I'd love to give you credit if you'll let me know who you are!