When, at the first flake, Philadelphia comes to a grinding halt, its neighborhoods come alive. Dogs needs walking, kids need exercise, and bread, milk, and eggs become scarce. Snow’s novelty never ends in Philly, but the city’s desire to shovel it does.
In local Facebook groups, I marketed that I would shovel snow from steps, stoops, and sidewalks for $25 per house and that I would donate 50% of the proceeds to Team I Hate Cancer, the charity that my brother and I founded.
The Warby Parker model of snow shoveling worked - the harmony of hard work and charitable giving struck a chord with my neighbors. They were not only funding my weekly grocery bill, but also a local charity. I immediately tripled my shovelling business - taking Venmo payments as the snow fell.
After two sweaty days of wet & heavy snow, I again marketed to those same groups that the neighborhood had raised $300 for families facing a cancer diagnosis. Although the subsequent snow storm was a bust, my book of business is full for this week’s flakes.
What does your business do that sets you apart?
Does your deli pick up the best rolls in the city?
Do you coach wrestling after depositions?
Do you personally oversee every insured’s claim?
Do you keep swatches of every suit you sold me?
Do you take the drama out of buying a house?
Tell those stories to new and existing customers and watch your referrals grow.
(Yes, those are all real businesses in my network)