Harvey Mackay: Fun, creative ideas

For some time, a storekeeper had displayed in his window a card inscribed "Fishing Tickle."

A customer drew the proprietor's attention to the spelling error. "Hasn't anyone told you about it before?" asked the patron.

"Oh, yes," the dealer said placidly, "many have mentioned it. But whenever they drop in to tell me, they always buy something."

Intentional spelling errors in advertising are nothing new. Snickers is one of my favorite candy bars (when my wife lets me have one), and I remember when they ran ads featuring spelling errors. One ad read: "Oh Deer Its Hard To Spel When Your Hungry. If you keap making typing mistakes grab yourself a Snickers fast." Then they pictured a candy bar that read "Snikkers."

The salesman in me pays attention to creative sales ideas that make customers take notice. Here are a few of my favorite tips.

Personalize things. It only makes sense for stores to offer this service for customers who want products personalized, from towels to basketball shoes.

Break a record. Mike Lindell, of MyPillow fame, handed out pillows at a sporting event and had the world's largest pillow fight.

Use props. There can be found no better examples of salespeople using props than at state fairs. I'm mesmerized by product pitchers demonstrating knives, cookware, cleaners, toys or some product that you can't live without. Always remember: A mediocre salesperson tells. A good salesperson explains. A superior salesperson demonstrates.

Catchy and ubiquitous ads. Advertising is everywhere. From bathroom stalls to shopping carts to websites, it needs to be memorable to be effective. Example: an ad for a handyman that read, "I can fix anything your husband can. And I'll do it NOW." Another similar ad read, "I can fix anything that your husband breaks."

Contests. They have been around forever. The crazier the better. The more attention they attract the better.

Sell benefits, not features. Don't sell me books; sell me knowledge. Don't sell me insurance; sell me peace of mind. Don't sell me clothes; sell me style, a sharper image. Don't sell me a computer; sell me the time I will save.

Have a unique calling card. My friend, the late Victor Kiam, told me about one of the greatest salesmen he ever knew. John Henry James was a tall and imposing man who made his sales calls in a chauffeur-driven limousine. At each stop, the chauffeur would jump out of the car and announce, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. John Henry James has arrived!" James would enter with his sample case and say, "I do believe we're going to do some business today." And he was right.

Appreciate your customers. They don't magically appear, and they need motivation to stay and keep coming back. Whether you have everyday customers, once-a-year customers, in person or online, browsers or buyers, they need to feel special.

Joe, a small-town barber, knew his clients' preferences after decades of service, and he always charged his clients fairly. A national-chain hair salon opened just across the street. It had shiny new fixtures, neon signs, young and attractive personnel and they were offering haircuts for $10.

Joe watched as traffic poured into the new competitor and wondered how he was going to compete with that. Should he put up a sign — "Haircuts $9.99"? What to do?

After some thought and reflection on his business, Joe posted a large sign outside of his shop: "We fix $10 haircuts." He pointed the sign directly at his competitor's front door.

It didn't take long for Joe's clients to come back.