Target = No Ringing Bells = More Shoppers?
Do you have a problem with Target stores not allowing the Salvation Army bell ringers? Well, it’s not that I don’t like to be in the spirit and all, I just hate to see the people standing in the cold and ringing a bell that gives me a headache.
I was driving by the Target today and thought to myself, “is Target actually getting more customers because they don’t allow bell ringers?” I know that it sounds crazy, but I was just thinking like a marketing affiliate blogger would, you know? Give the people what they want, right?
If there are even 15% of people that are annoyed or bothered by the constant bell ringing of the Salvation Army, would they go to Target just because of there aren’t bells ringing? I must say that I would. That is just my preference. I don’t have many problems with the reasons they are in front of stores. But really, how many people have cash on them anymore these days? It’s a plastic age and people are shopping with their credit or debit cards, that’s just the way it is.
I think that if the stores offered an option at checkout, like PetSmart homeless pets option, people would be more likely to add $1 to their order, maybe even more often. This option is less obtrusive and that’s how people want it these days. That way you won’t see ONE bell ringer at EACH entrance to Walmart ringing the bells like mad.
Ringing the bells is a marketing technique in itself. It gets the attention of people at the shopping center and no matter who you ask, they know the bell ringers are for the Salvation Army.
I understand that people freak out and want to burn down the Target stores, but really think about it. They may have nothing against the Salvation Army or the ways they go about getting donations, but they might just want to provide a nice, less annoying shopping experience for their customers.
I give credit to Target. They stuck their head out and take shots about every year, but they are sticking to their decision. Target has decided to donate $1 million to the Salvation Army and offer a link on the Target.com web site. See not all is lost, but did they gain customers?