Company Blog

The Cliché and You

by Adam Zack — October 10, 2018

Strike while the iron is hot.

“It is what it is.”
“All things being equal.”
“A deal’s a deal.”
“Better late than never.”
“Easier said than done.”
“Needless to say.”
“No guts, no glory.”
“Think outside the box.”

I use them all the time, yet I loathe clichés. They are overused and have really lost their meaning. I especially am tired of “think outside the box”. Yet I understand it and see it’s necessity. It’s the opposite of “Tried and true.” It pushes you to something new and exciting. Something unproven that involves risk. It’s not routine, and it’s not “Been there, done that.” Today I was discussing grocery sales with my friend Gary and how the day after Thanksgiving is one of the slowest days of the year for grocers. How can we get more business when everyone is food exhausted from Thanksgiving and there are lots of leftovers in the fridge? How can we do a promotion that’s as strong as an ox and sells like hotcakes? It’s especially difficult to rally the troops who have worked so hard during the very busy Thanksgiving sales. I started thinking outside the box and remembered a couple post-holiday promotions. Breakfast items was one, but so unexciting. Ideas on how to creatively use your leftovers was OK, but it didn’t translate to a lot of sales. One I like that involves some risk and creates excitement is a live lobster promotion. Starts Friday and ends Sunday, while supplies last! Sell them cheap (you cannot make your margin. Sell them for $1 over cost and advertise the hell out of it.) Get the buzz going and stack ‘em high and watch ‘em fly. When all is said and done, when push comes to shove, you have to strike while the iron is hot, and you’ll get your just desserts. In a nutshell: Do or die, or it’s back to square one.