Shop Competition

[CAS66]

Hi All,

As part of our marketing strategy for our new bridal shop we are thinking of running a competition. This will take the form of: anyone who orders a gown (and pays a deposit) will be entered into a draw where the winner will receive their gown completely free (and deposit repaid). The winner will be drawn (by a representative of the local newspaper) after 3 months of opening.

My questions are: Do we have to consider any legal implications here, as to be able to win requires a customer to purchase goods? Do we have to include people who do not purchase goods, effectively opening it up to anyone?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks

CAS66

 

[welshnoonoo]

Hi CAS66 -

I don't know the legal implications, but my only thought would be, if you are going to end up giving the gown away for free anyway why not open it up to anyone?

I can see that this might affect the people coming in to pay the deposit, but if I am honest, I don't think the competition would be enough to make them buy anyway. What it would do though is get girls through the door to have a nosey and let you work your magic on them.

Just a thought!

 

[fastfences]

Hi WP.

Might it be an idea to cap the price of the gown? I just wonder what the effect of giving away a £5,000 gown may have on your margins.
Cheer,
Nigel

 

[CAS66]

Hi

Thanks for your replies. Maybe we could open it up to everyone - we'll keep thinking about that one.

£5,000 for a gown! Thought that royalty lived in the smoke not the Midlands!

Any legal opinions out there?

Thanks

CAS66

 

[raingiver]

My questions are: Do we have to consider any legal implications here, as to be able to win requires a customer to purchase goods? Do we have to include people who do not purchase goods, effectively opening it up to anyone?

Hi,

Certainly you should expect some legal implications that are supposed to be here according to the law in force. A contest like this, as any other activity that establishes certain rights and liabilities for the partries involved, is to be regulated by the law.
So, certainly, if you think that your contest is a complex one from the legal viewpoint, you have to check the law that regulates contests.
Concerning the specific questions you asked above, I think, you are not supposed to include people who would not purchase your goods. The contest is connected with your commercial activity and undoubtedly, it will be kind of marketing ploy from your side. So, I think that the contest is like a lottery where the ticket is the deposit you mentioned about before.

 

[Hayles]

Hi

We ran a couple of competitions like this (but gave away a £200 voucher, not a dress). It was great to get brides-to-be details (make sure you ask their date of wedding on the entry form - we forgot on the first one :-( )

We used exhibitions to launch the competitions and had several hundred entries which was fantastic cost effective advertising and information gathering.

We didn't consider any legal implications ;-)

Hayles

 

[CAS66]

Again, thanks for your replies and advice.

We will announce the competition in the local paper next week so, everything's crossed and hoping for a lot of interest (and orders!)

Cheers

CAS66