Last week a street team sampling for a company called Blowfish took place on Wall Street, NY early in the morning. We’ve done a number of these samplings with this client so I thought it would be fun to meet up with the client and the BAs to snap some photos and get a feel for what they were up to. I learned a lot!
I chatted with the Account Manager for the event who explained what I was supposed to wear. Black pants, comfortable shoes, and a branded shirt. Easy. I got the T-shirt from the client, made sure everything I needed to wear was clean, and laid everything out the night before.
What the GC Webmaster learned about working promotions
- Waking up at 6am is hard
Bleary-eyed, I showered and put on my uniform for the day and headed out to the subway to trek down to Wall Street. I found that on the crowded morning subway, people looked at me a lot more when I was wearing a branded shirt. I tried to look more alert.
- When you’re wearing branded attire, you’re an extension of the brand, so act the part!
I thought I’d given myself plenty of time to get down there, but I arrived 5 minutes late. After all the blog posts I’ve written about being at an event at least a few minutes early, I felt a little silly.
- You have to be on top of your schedule and plan plenty of buffer time
The client had very kindly brought branded jackets for everyone to wear, which was a relief because I was already pretty chilly in just a tank top and my branded t-shirt. The promotion began and the street team started handing out samples of the client’s product. Within fifteen minutes, my feet were killing me. The account manager had specified that we were to wear “comfortable shoes,” but I disregarded this in favor of cute black flats.
- Never disregard attire recommendations
The BAs who have had plenty of promotional experience had worn warm sneakers and boots whereas I had underestimated how cold it would be that morning. It was as if I was freezing from the toes up and there was nothing I could do about it!
- Dress for the weather
I made sure to keep my eyes on the BAs working the event who had done street team samplings before. They were great teachers and their persistent positivity was a big inspiration. Hearing them chatting and interacting with passersby was particularly amusing. They always seemed to have answers to peoples’ questions, or a friendly comeback ready.
- Know the product
When we all took a break inside (thank goodness for my frozen toes!) the reps were all joking about interesting people they’d spoken with, funny questions they’d been asked, phrasing they’d found effective, and things they’d noticed on the street. It was very cool to see how dedicated they were to the promotion and how well they maintained focus.
- Stay engaged and have fun!
All in all I had a really fun time. It was nice to spend time with the client and the BAs who we’d booked for the event. I was really impressed with all of the great work I saw, and I have a much greater appreciation for what goes in to a street team sampling! I’m already looking forward to my next onsite visit.
That’s me on the right, my cold little toes were bright red when this photo was taken!
For the right people in the right places,
The GC Marketing Services Team
Post by Cricky Cicchetti
Hydration – Whether it’s a couple bottles of water, juice, or a sports drinks (yay for electrolytes!), it’s very important to stay hydrated when you’re out in the sun. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol because they’ll only dehydrate you more. Heatstroke and dehydration are no joke.
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