My personal philosophy revolves around the concept of saying "YES" and then work backwards.
I find myself comfortably nestled in the realm that exists between rigid rules and the freedom of creative thinking. This story begins when I attempted to secure a sponsorship slot at the APP Dallas Open at Oasis Pickleball Park in Rockwall Texas. When I inquired, I received a firm "NO" in response for potential competition issues with this lead sponsor. Seriously?
Undaunted, I decided to put on my guerrilla marketing hat and get to work. Let's break down the options: I could have shelled out a substantial sum of money for a 10'x10' tent and hoped that passersby would be interested in what I had to offer. Alternatively, I could load up a rolling basket with free shorts from The Dinkable Collection and GIVE them to people under just two conditions: they had to wear the shorts right away and connect with me on social media so I could tag them.
And guess what? It worked like a charm!
I genuinely have a deep appreciation for the APP (which, in my opinion, operates with a much more structured and ethical approach than some others out there - just move the letters around), so I didn't anticipate any problems with giving away our products.
However, things took an unexpected turn when the head honcho of APP gently approached me, under the assumption that I was selling products (to his surprise, my DOT card wasn't processing payments but rather facilitating social media connections) and was even more astounded that I was giving things away for free.
He labeled my actions as residing in a "gray area."
I'm perfectly fine with that assessment. You see, entrepreneurs often find themselves navigating this gray area - it's where we thrive, thinking beyond conventional boundaries, taking calculated risks, and occasionally needing to offer apologies.
With that said, I'd like to apologize to and commend the APP for their fantastic work this weekend and express my gratitude for their patience as I engaged in some grassroots, guerrilla marketing efforts. It's all part of the journey!
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#thedinkablecollection
#guerillamarketing
#femaleentrepreneurs
#womenownedbusiness