Influencing Manufacturers

[Guest guest]

The last time I posted these thoughts, Pecan Bread had only about 400

members.... and we thought we were big then!

One of the things which the people of Pecan Bread, as parents, possess, is

far more economic clout than you may realize.

About twenty-five years ago, a very dear friend of mine, Judy Voros of

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I were discussing the fact that a another friend,

, was one of the most huggable people we knew. played

role-playing games; one of his characters was a pacifist werewolf.

Judy and I decided we wanted to give a Dakin stuffed wolf. As I'm

sure you know, Dakin plush toys are some of the cutest and most huggable,

and I'm equally sure you can see the connection.

So we started... I was doing a good bit of traveling around the SouthEast

US then, and any time I got to a toy store, I would ask about a Dakin wolf.

They never had one, but always wrote down the suggestion. Judy also hit toy

stores in Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, etc. etc. -- all over the US

Midwest.

About a year later, Dakin announced, with great fanfare, that they were

bringing out their " Wolf in Sheep's Clothing " , a Dakin wolf with a faux

sheep skin cloak. Well, that thing was so terminally CUTE that they

literally could not keep it on the shelves for almost six months. (Judy and

I *did* manage to get one and surprised the heck out of for his

birthday.)

Know what we were told?

Dakin designed and brought out the " Wolf in Sheep's Clothing " because they

were getting requests for a wolf from ALL OVER THE COUNTRY!

But it was only two determined women, wanting a fun gift for a friend.

If we could do this, how much more impact can you, the people of Pecan

Bread, have on marketing decisions (like potato starch in hot dogs) as

dedicated and loving parents?

One recommendation is to get a physical address and WRITE the company. A

physical letter has even more impact in these days of quick telephone calls

and emails.

Moreover, according to a survey I saw back when the Coca-Cola Company was

going through their furore over Old Coke / New Coke, a business counts each

physical letter to represent approximately 300 customers who felt the same

way, but 299 didn't care enough to write.

Keep letters simple, to the point, typed in a basic business format. You

are, after all, as much professionals as the people you are writing to: you

are professional parents, and I don't know of a more important job in the

world.

There are nearly 3000 people on this list: that means that this group has

the clout of something like 900,000 people. Yeah, REALLY! Nine Hundred

Thousand People! Almost a MILLION! Thassalottapeople!

So the next time you want a business to do something -- write!

<grin> And may your situation turn out like a Dakin Wolf In Sheep's

Clothing!

-- Marilyn (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA)

Undiagnosed IBS 25 Years, SCD Five Years

Darn Good SCD Cook

No Human Children

Shadow & Sunny Longhair Dachshund