Looking for suggestions on "freebies" to hand out to patients

[ozerman]

My office currently dispenses every pair of glasses in a nice little gift bag with a cleaning cloth and small bottle of lens cleaner, both with the company logo on them. I'd like to add a bit more to the bag in an effort to create that wow factor our office strives to achieve.

I'm currently looking at small eyeglass repair kits and car visor clips for glasses. I'm looking into pricing these out with and without our company logo. Does anyone have any thoughts on other addable items?

I also wanted to ask if anyone else does the same thing, and if so have you found a supplier that you're happy with.

Thanks,

Andrew

[SeaU2020]

I have been wanting to get business cards in the form of a refrigerator magnets for dispense......

[B101875]

I do a fitting card along w/ cleaner and cloth. Seems like you really give alot.

[Fezz]

I would skip the eyewear repair kit!

They are junk, and I feel that it devalues the skill and expertise that many of us have. It makes me think of that saying:

So easy, even a caveman (optician) can do it!

I like to hand out autographed glamour shots of myself down at the Stumple Inn!

[kelanor]

Chocolate.

[idispense]

What does the cleaning cloth cost with the logo on it ?

[B101875]

Depends on where you get them (wholesale pricing removed) is what I pay per 1.

[Johns]

We give away 2 oz. bottles of eyeglass cleaners, and we offer a lifetime refill on them. (We make our own cleaner for the refills).

It keeps them coming back in for the refill, and they have an excuse to browse our latest styles.

(And no, I won't share the recipe)

[Now I See]

Ditto on the repair kit...yikes...those screwdrivers are the worst!!

I give a small cleaner and cloth, I've been giving them a few of those pre-moistened cloths, so the pt can try them as well.

[CCGREEN]

I like to give them a small bottle of cleaner and cloth with company phone number name and address, remind them that refills for that bottle are free when ever needed just bring the bottle in. Now for two more steps I like to send the patient a birthday card and a annual anniversary card using the purchass date of their eyewear. So thats two cards a year. Included in the cards are of course business cards along with discount coupons to be used in what ever promo the office can come up with.

[Java99]

I would also stay away from the visor clips unless you want to encourage people to leave their suns in a hot car. Where I live, that's lens suicide. We see more orange peeled coatings here because of those stupid visor clips.

[optilady1]

What about a pen? Everyone loves a good pen. No risk of ruining the frames with a pen!

[sharpstick777]

I like to hand out autographed glamour shots of myself down at the Stumple Inn!

PM with my mailing address sent, send me one please!

[sharpstick777]

I would also stay away from the visor clips unless you want to encourage people to leave their suns in a hot car. Where I live, that's lens suicide. We see more orange peeled coatings here because of those stupid visor clips.

it's OK here in Seattle, 75 is a hot day. It might melt chocolate but thats about it.

[SeaU2020]

i do a fitting card along w/ cleaner and cloth. Seems like you really give alot.

what does a "fitting card" say?

[harry a saake]

what does a "fitting card" say?

Years ago, when i had a dispensary of my own, down in georgia, i thought the same thing, what could i give that would remind them of me all the time.

Driving down the street one day, i saw this huge nursery and realized from the name that the owner was a patient. I dropped in and we got to talking when the subject of a giveaway came up. She said she had the answer and was she ever right.

I bought 100 small cactus plants, that were in small pots, i then went out and bought a roll of stick on labels, with my business name and phone number on it. I put two labels on each pot , so pretty much any way it was facing, you saw my name. Now think about this, where are you going to put a cactus, probably on the window sill(which i always recommended)where the sun was coming in., most likely the kitchen

Did it work, oh yeh, went through hundreds of them, anything else like a card, pen cloth, probably winds up in a drawer, seen occasionally

[B101875]

what does a "fitting card" say?

On the front of the card it says our
address and phone number. Then it has a space for the pt's name and
next fitting date. The back looks like this:


Dispensed____________________________

__Indoor/Evening __Computer Glasses

__Sun Glasses __ Sport Glasses
__Other ______________
Your purchase of new eyewear is an important
investment in your health, well being, and personal appearance.

You will be better and look better if your eyewear is kept in good alignment.
Please allow us to maintain them for you.


I took this for a 20/20 art. I read. Hope this helps

[Judy Canty]

PD's? They already think we like giving away "free" stuff, like adjustments, minor repairs and nosepads.

[sharpstick777]

Years ago, when i had a dispensary of my own, down in georgia, i thought the same thing, what could i give that would remind them of me all the time.

Driving down the street one day, i saw this huge nursery and realized from the name that the owner was a patient. I dropped in and we got to talking when the subject of a giveaway came up. She said she had the answer and was she ever right.

I bought 100 small cactus plants, that were in small pots, i then went out and bought a roll of stick on labels, with my business name and phone number on it. I put two labels on each pot , so pretty much any way it was facing, you saw my name. Now think about this, where are you going to put a cactus, probably on the window sill(which i always recommended)where the sun was coming in., most likely the kitchen

Did it work, oh yeh, went through hundreds of them, anything else like a card, pen cloth, probably winds up in a drawer, seen occasionally

GREAT idea! Except here in the Northwest the only thing that grows in the window is mildew, which is strangely unloved in the plant world. Oh well.

[Fezz]

I had an epiphany last night!

I awoke from an opium induced dream, similar to Coleridge's, and came up with the most brilliant give-a-way EVER!

FezzJohns Kubla Combs

[RIMLESS]

Sorry to let you down. Just went to a 6 hour business marketing seminar. Refrigerator magnets are where it's at.

[Mick]

HA! I still carry a comb given to me by an optician/barber from Idaho that I met at a NAIT testing meeting. It's marked "BARBER SHOP / OPTICAL CO. (PHONE #). Sometimes we have to do what we can to make ends meet.

[Barry Santini]

FWIW, here's my take on this:

Far and away, THE most enthusiastically-rec'd "free" item for clients is a cleaning cloth - embossed with our logo, address and phone, just as others have stated, but with a difference:

We go through the California Accessories catalogue and order 500-1000 at a time, loose packed, in all various colors of the rainbow, patterns and finishes. When we're all done with dispensing their eyewer, we render the cleaner and the frame brand's as well as lens brand's microfiber cloth. Then, i tell them "Oh, one more thing..."

And then I ask: "What is your favorite color?", while I retrieve a neatly folded stack in each desk's drawer of a variety of all the colors, and fan it out in front of them to pick from.

I can't tell you the amount of excitement they feelwhen done this way.

$1000+ DSFF glassees...7-8 on the richter scale.

Picking your favorite color/pattern cleaning cloth? An 11 fer sure, and 'priceless'!

B

[B101875]

Comb? what if you don't have hair?

[Mick]

Use the lens cloth to polish your head.