sales | Xplor International

A Mobile App or The Hot Dog Guy

One of the big joys in my life is attending sporting events whether it baseball, football, hockey, arena football. There are some things I love and I hate about the experience.

• I LOVE to sit in the stands, do the wave, eat a hot dog and drink a beer
• I HATE to have to get up and stand in line for a hotdog and a beer
• I LOVE to sit in my seat and buy a hotdog and beer from one of the vendors
• I HATE when they pass my hotdog down the row and 10 people have their hands on it
• I LOVE not getting out of my seat, so I get over it them passing my hot dog

Throw the Hot Dog Guy Out

What if you had a mobile app that allowed you to sit in your seat key in your section and seat number and order whatever you want and it will be delivered to you right where you sit? Payment is automatic, including the tip and posted to your account. No fuss no muss.

You don’t have to wait for a vendor to come by to remind you that you need another beverage or that your daughter wants cotton candy.

Would you download such an app? Well it’s currently being tested at Yankee Stadium in New York in Section 130 and is also being used in stadiums in Ireland and Australia. It seems just a matter of time to invade the US sports scene unless fans reject it …. which we should. Click here to check out the whole story

Enough is Enough!

I know I said I hated to get up and stand in line but that is why they have the hot dog and beer vendors. These folks are going to lose their job. And what about the cotton candy guy making me look like a hero when she says “Daddy can I have some cotton candy, pleeeeaaaasseee” and she gives me a kiss on the cheek.

What are the owners thinking? How would I know I needed that second beverage, that bag of peanuts or a second hotdog if those wonderful vendors did not remind.

In my mind they are making a mistake and are going to lose money. Am I going to download the app? I don’t think so. Are you?

Last week I finally broke down and bought a new office chair. I had been looking at this particular one for months but was unwilling to spend the $$$$ for it. Alas, I received an email promotion from Office Depot and MY chair was on sale for 50% off and it was free shipping. I could not resist.

I was like a little kid waiting for Christmas. Two days later my chair arrived, I opened the box, assembled and settled in for a day of bliss, which it was.

Yesterday, I receive an email from Office Depot, the subject: Your New Chair is Lonely, Accessorize Your Office. The new ad had several items for my desk, chairmat, lamps, etc.

After being on their mailing list for more than a year, and buying quite a bit of stuff, this was the first time they tried to upsell and I applaud the effort.

So many times, someone purchases something from us and other than a “thank you” confirmation we very rarely associate the sale with other opportunity. Some companies do it better than others. And many companies do nothing.

This ad was not obnoxious or offensive. I did not feel pressured to buy anything else and visualizing my “lonely” chair was actually humorous.

Is your company missing opportunity? (BTW, I anxiously await my new chairmat, although not quite as exciting as my chair).