Candy…falling from the sky!

Back in 2017, the 89th annual Oscars award ceremony reminded us of the power of surprise.

Jimmie Kimmel walked to the front of the stage and said “Not having candy at the movies is un-American!”

With that announcement, little tulle pouches filled with movie theatre candy, attached to tiny parachutes, fell from the ceiling to the surprise and delight of everyone in attendance.

Celebrities like Pharrell, Ryan Gosling, and Michelle Williams squealed with joy, arms outstretched to catch the Milkduds and Twizzlers and Mike&Ikes.

Cheers and laughter erupted throughout the theatre as movie stars ripped open each package and turned to their neighbor to share.

What an incredible way to set the tone for the evening.

If we really think about it, it’s got nothing to do with candy…(Milkduds are REALLY good though.) And, we’re sure that Ryan Gosling could afford a semi-truck full of Twizzlers if he really wanted them.

It’s all about surprise. An unexpected treat from an unexpected place. 

Surprise and delight create “remember that time when…?” moments that become indelible memories we hold with us for a long time.

With that in mind, here are three easy ways to surprise and delight your prospects and members – 

  1. After closing the sale…right before the prospect leaves the gym, stop them and say “WAIT, I almost forgot, pick out a T-shirt on your way out. Any shirt you’d like!” Chances are you were probably going to gift them a shirt anyway. Doing it this way leaves them with a final feeling of fun and belonging before they walk out the door.
  1. “I’ve got something special for the end of your program today.” A fun finisher, an agility game, a sport-specific exercise…anything out of ordinary from their normal workout. Doing this on occasion relieves boredom, sets the tone for future workouts, and gives them something fun to tell their friends and family about. #referrals.
  1. “I got you something!” From a personalized gift card to say thank you for a referral, to simply matching motivational bracelets for you both, anything that says “I was thinking about you,” or “I know you” goes a long way in building and strengthening rapport.

Remember, the gift doesn’t have to be expensive, just specific. And, when possible, a surprise.

Oh, and if you do surprise your clients, we’d love to hear about it! Send us a reply and we’ll post your example on our social media!

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