Sales promotion

In marketing, sales promotion is one of the four aspects of promotion. (The other three parts of the promotional mix are advertising, personal selling, and publicity/public relations.) Sales promotions are non-personal promotional efforts that are designed to have an immediate impact on sales. Sales promotion is media and non-media marketing communications employed for a pre-determined, limited time to increase consumer demand, stimulate market demand or improve product availability. Examples include:


 * coupons
 * discounts and sales
 * contests
 * point of purchase displays
 * rebates
 * free samples (in the case of food items)
 * gifts and incentive items
 * free travel, such as free flights

Sales promotions can be directed at either the customer, sales staff, or distribution channel members (such as retailers). Sales promotions targeted at the consumer are called consumer sales promotions. Sales promotions targeted at retailers and wholesale are called trade sales promotions. Some sale promotions, particularly ones with unusual methods, are considered gimmick by many.

Consumer sales promotion techniques

 * Price deal: A temporary reduction in the price, such as happy hour
 * Loyalty rewards program: Consumers collect points, miles, or credits for purchases and redeem them for rewards. The two most famous examples are Pepsi Stuff and AAdvantage.
 * Cents-off deal: Offers a brand at a lower price. Price reduction may be a percentage marked on the package.
 * Price-pack deal: The packaging offers a consumer a certain percentage more of the product for the same price (for example, 25 percent extra).
 * Coupons: coupons have become a standard mechanism for sales promotions.
 * Loss leader: the price of a popular product is temporarily reduced in order to stimulate other profitable sales
 * Free-standing insert (FSI): A coupon booklet is inserted into the local newspaper for delivery.
 * On-shelf couponing: Coupons are present at the shelf where the product is available.
 * Checkout dispensers: On checkout the customer is given a coupon based on products purchased.
 * On-line couponing: Coupons are available on line. Consumers print them out and take them to the store.
 * Rebates: Consumers are offered money back if the receipt and barcode are mailed to the producer.
 * Contests/sweepstakes/games: The consumer is automatically entered into the event by purchasing the product.
 * Point-of-sale displays:
 * Aisle interrupter: A sign the juts into the aisle from the shelf.
 * Dangler: A sign that sways when a consumer walks by it.
 * Dump bin: A bin full of products dumped inside.
 * Glorifier: A small stage that elevates a product above other products.
 * Wobbler: A sign that jiggles.
 * Lipstick Board: A board on which messages are written in crayon.
 * Necker: A coupon placed on the 'neck' of a bottle.
 * YES unit: "your extra salesperson" is a pull-out fact sheet.

Trade sales promotion techniques

 * Trade allowances: short term incentive offered to induce a retailer to stock up on a product.
 * Dealer loader: An incentive given to induce a retailer to purchase and display a product.
 * Trade contest: A contest to reward retailers that sell the most product.
 * Point-of-purchase displays: Extra sales tools given to retailers to boost sales.
 * Training programs: dealer employees are trained in selling the product.
 * Push money: also known as "spiffs". An extra commission paid to retail employees to push products.

Political issues
Sales promotions have traditionally been heavily regulated in many advanced industrial nations, with the notable exception of the United States. For example, Canada formerly operated under a resale price maintenance regime in which manufacturers could legally dictate the minimum resale price for virtually all goods; this practice was abolished in 1964.

Most European countries also have controls on the scheduling and permissible types of sales promotions. Germany is notorious for having the most strict regulations. Famous examples include the car wash that was barred from giving free car washes to regular customers and a baker who could not give a free cloth bag to customers who bought more than 10 rolls.