Implementing Card Isle to Business Partners

Section III: Implementing Card Isle to Business Partners

Installation of printers

Phase 3 of our project the team installed the countertop printers at each location. (Can talk about experience at Vintage Cellar and Gates). After a couple of days and a couple of unsuccessful purchases with the printer, the team was able to figure out were we went wrong for a moment. That was the team did not properly instruct and educate each staff member on how the printer and website work together. The team only instructed store mangers but with the help of Stephen we were able to fix that.

Development of marketing plans for each location

During phase three the team also developed marketing plans and strategies for each location. The team came up with five different plans to achieve are goal. The first was we integrated Card Isle design widget online with the businesses website. (Not sure how we did that, need to ask nick, show picture if we have one). For the next plan the team wanted to boost sales through instore marketing like posters and displays. The team created rough drafts and designs for posters to be put on the door, at the cash register, and on tables of the businesses. (Introduce and display picture or use appendices for reference for the front and back of picture for bake shop tables and back of spinner). The teams next marketing plan was creating specialties and targeting holidays and special events. We did this by using target promotions, like including Card Isle cards with catering at NDBS(not sure what that means or how it works, ask nick) and asking Vintage Cellar to include cards in their gift boxes(ask Darby more about that and how it would work). The team also wanted to target holidays and specials events like Mother’s Day and graduation because that’s when most cards are bout. The team went out and took pictures at the businesses to entice customers to go there and purchase a card with a gift. (introduce and display picture or use appendices of the picture at gates with the flowers and at vintage with the wine). The next marketing plan the team came up with was getting in store staff to promote at the point of sale. This wasn’t something the team could be involved in other than telling the store managers to have their staff ask about a card each time a customer is checking out. While this is a very simple and easy marketing technique it is an easy way to spread the word about Card Isle’s countertop printers that doesn’t cost anything. The final marketing plan was online marketing like leveraging social media and email blasts. This plan was the most important because it reached the most people and spread the word about the countertop printers fastest. The team was able to find that Vintage Cellar and Next Door Bake Shop had twitters and all three had Facebooks. The team then went and made sample tweets and post for each business. Showing and briefly describing depending on what social media account the customer was one what the countertop printer is and how you can get a customize or pre-made card. The team also created post to cross market Card Isle and the businesses to reach more people. (Expand more on online marketing, then introduce and display picture or use appendices of a picture on twitter of card isle talking about one of the business).