Leverage Raffles as a Marketing ToolWritten by Susan Franzen
“Our next raffle prize is a free haircut from Shine Designs, and winner is…” Wow, what a great feeling for both person who donated this prize and me! I’ve just won something and their name has been announced to a room full of people. What could be better?New to area and eager to find out what this person might do differently, I called number on my prize certificate and made my appointment. Though salon was on other side of town, I knew I’d gladly make drive every six weeks if I liked result. Turning onto highway, I saw a thousand cars parked in road where I needed to be! I grabbed my cell phone and dialed salon to say I’m stuck in traffic. I’m told that if I’m more than 10 minutes late they’ll need to re-schedule for another day. While it was tough for me to fit in this appointment, I understand their need to stay on schedule, so I don’t try to negotiate. I dash into salon, exactly 10 minutes past my appointment time to find it empty except for one stylist casually reading newspaper. He rises to greet me and from that point on I feel as though we’re in a mad sprint for 50-yard line. No time to look at styles, a brief discussion, and next thing I know I’m hearing SNIP, SNIP, SNIP. Even though I mentioned I’d like to try something new, I walked out with a shorter version of exact style I had. He told me how much better cut was and I never noticed a difference. Oh, and one other thing. I mentioned that I don’t always remember to book hair appointments and my previous stylists have kindly sent reminders. He informed me he always makes next appointment before client leaves. Not less than five minutes after that statement, he ushers me out door with a handful of business cards and no next appointment set. What went wrong? From my perspective, plenty! I’ll never go back and I threw his cards in trash. If anyone asks me about my experience I’ll tell truth. BUST! Maybe his service is always that way, maybe he had a hot date, or maybe he had a preconceived notion that I was just there for “free” service, nothing more. Besides, he’d gotten his name announced to over 200 people at raffle event. What else did he need to do? Raffling your products or services is a great way to gain exposure and best thing is, your leverage doesn’t stop there! How do you make your raffle contribution a BOON for your business and not a BUST—or even worse, a bad public relations move? First ask yourself these three questions:
| | Halliburton Under Fire for Operations in IranWritten by Kirt Hill
The shareholders of Halliburton are trying to stop state-sponsored terrorism, using same economic leverage that was effective against South African racism in 1970's. Back then, shareholders used corporate resolutions to stop companies from doing business in South Africa. The tactic helped bring a peaceful end to an unpopular regime. Today, shareholders are trying to stop companies from doing business with "sponsors of terrorism". Many Americans would be alarmed to learn that American corporations are doing business with countries who are linked to terrorism. U.S. law currently restricts trade by American companies with states designated as "sponsors of terrorism." Halliburton is an American company doing business with two restricted nations - Iran and Syria. The company circumvented law by opening an office in Iran under name of Halliburton Products and Services Ltd, its Cayman Islands subsidiary. The U.S. government may not be able to stop company from using a subsidiary in this manner, but company is contending with an angry group of New York City Police and Fire Department pension fund owners. On November 12, 2002, group submitted a shareowner resolution regarding Halliburton's office in Iran. The resolution points out that U.S. law restricts trade by American companies in countries such as Iran, who are designated by U.S. State Department as "sponsors of terrorism." The company believes that operations of its subsidiaries in Iran are in compliance with U.S. law. Halliburton may, in fact, be operating legally in a technical sense. Some investors are not satisfied. According to William Thompson, New York City comptroller who oversees $80 billion in pension funds for all city workers, oil revenue from work company is doing may be underwriting or supporting terrorism. In March of 2003, Halliburton agreed to fulfill terms of resolution by establishing a Board committee to review potential financial and reputational risks of its Iranian operations and submit a report. Thompson subsequently withdrew resolution. However, Halliburton's report submitted in October of 2003 failed to address concerns specified in pension funds' proposal. The report focused on financial and legal risks, and said nothing about reputational risk, or potential public backlash against company. It's only a theory, but Halliburton may be reluctant to address issue due to fact that Vice-President of United States was in charge of corporation when Cayman subsidiary was formed. In any event, Thompson considered report to be a breach of Halliburton's promise to Fire and Police pension funds. In a letter to David J Lesar, CEO of Halliburton, Thompson said "your counsel cannot excuse Halliburton's complete failure to report on reputational risks of Halliburton's business activities in Iran by repeating, as she does, your report's statement that Halliburton's activities are technically within letter of law."
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