How dumb/genius is this?
 

Hello,

Question. I had a brain flash today regarding getting the attention of a business owner whom I have found to be elusive.

I want to send a cheap stopwatch with a note that says "Can I have 15 minutes of your time?"

I think this is slightly genius. Cheesy? Most certainly. But I think it demonstrates a slightly higher level of effort that people appreciate.

So, would you take this appointment?

(BTW, I am in commercial insurance)

Thanks!

Most likely....he won't get the message that you are trying to send as you do.
Nice idea though.

just my opinion

send it ! I would for sure respond to that ! How could he not ?

My dad the salesman always told me, “You can’t lose what you don’t have”. I say go for it.

china source for cheap watches:

https://www.banggood.com/search/watches.html?from=nav

Be grammatically correct and more memorable, maybe?

May I have 14 minutes of your time?

Bribery is probably the second oldest profession. Wouldn't hurt..

It could be that your quote was reviewed, and rejected, or ignored, for whatever reason.
Need to make contact to adjust if possible.

It depends upon circumstances. Your company might not even want that dog contract.

A friend of mine was always too busy/too important to call me back. So when I phoned I said to his Personal Assistant "It's united video here, who you ask Mr. Patterson to return the videos Back Door Bride, Anal Frenzy, etc.. or he will be charged and extra day's rental." He called back reasonably promptly

I'm not really sure this would work in your instance. But it worked for me.

I like this .... but make it short... like 7 minutes and 23 seconds.

^^^

1. Yes. Grammar counts. Thanks.
2. Funny, I always ask for a random, odd time amount, like 7.5 minutes.
3. No proposals delivered. We need to meet and find a reason to work together first.

I read a story years ago about a HS kid that started a lawn mowing business. He was expanding and wanted to get the business of a large commercial building. He sent a note to the person in charge asking for 5 mins of their time with $500 attached to the note. The story was that he got the job and at the age of 18 was making >$50k per year (many years ago).

How about a 15 minute hour glass? He might like putting it on his desk.

^^^Clever!

How many business owners like gimmicks?
Just sayin.

How elusive can someone be? I haven't had a hard time getting people to open their door. When I do catch them, I punch them right in the nose. "If you want to throw away money, I'm not going to waste my time or yours". I don't find many that won't listen after that.

First bold
As a business owner, time is my most precious commodity. I have been throwing money at everything lately just to buy more time. I think most business owners feel the same way, time is hard to come by. So directly asking for a piece of time, no matter how ingenious your idea may be, might not be the best way to go.

The flip side of that is telling a prospect how you can save them time, get them more time, anything time. How can you give them time?

Sure, it's a neat idea, but he's thinking how much time he wasted opening a box only find a stopwatch and a cheeky note.



Second bold
I am constantly disappointed in other people and "what they get." Most people are pretty dull.


I like the way you think LWJ, sorry if I sound like a downer, but the above is the reality many business owners live in.

And look, I've wasted 5 minutes typing this up. :D:D:D

Wow, the games sales people play to get a foot in the door !

No wonder I was never good at it.

If I got a note asking me for something attached to a stopwatch from some yahoo in the mail, I’d call the FBI.

I get these requests all the time, and trust me when I say that would get my attention - and you a meeting!

...I only have 14 minutes... ...here’s is what I can bring you in that time,.

Probably be flagged as a bomb and you get arrested :D

Are there no other similar prospects you can just get an appointment with?

Rather than a sopwatch...
 

Why not a magnetic timer? I saw some on Amazon for 5 bucks.

I see the cheap stopwatch more of a cheap gimmick. At least get a cool one from a pawn shop and polish it up. It gotta have story behind it. Say it was the watch used in the filming of Dustin Hoffman's "Luck."

The stopwatch is creative and will get his attention. Good
He will either think it is creative and give you a shot -or- he may be the serious no nonsense type and think it is goofy and you will be branded as such.
I would use it as a last resort.

^^
Joe is right. I was bombarded with "stuff" when I was the CEO. Some of it was clever, some of it was cheesy. I appreciated some of it, but not enough to make an appointment with the sender.
Frankly, to me it comes across as desperate.

If the CEO takes your claim seriously you are now branded a liar. No appointment for you.

I actually heard the same ploy during a sales seminar many moons ago.
They also said to book your time in 12 minute intervals because it made it sound like you were so busy you had to break down the hour.
Last sales job I had I got canned, so maybe I should have used it. lol

I'm with Shaun on this one.

It may be a clever idea, but not my style.


There are entire books on the concept of reciprocity / gifting in sales. Personally, it turns me off. Bigtime.

If he's elusive, there's a reason, and throwing in a gift (for me) would backfire. If it's cheap, he'll know it, and if it's too nice, he'll feel obligated and resentful. Either way, he probably didn't wake up this morning thinking "wow I need a new watch" any more than I woke up thinking I need a timeshare presentation.

The gifting of the watch is an attempt to satisfy your needs, not his, and he'll know it. If he's a busy guy, you've just added yourself as one more thing for him to deal with.

My favorite salespeople are low key who let you know they are available if needed, but not pushy.

Sorry- but good luck anyway! :)

i like this..a lot.