Here is a short non-automated “drip marketing” success story. We have driven past the Stray Dog restaurant billboards many times.  I have long wanted to detour to try it, but we never had the time. Until this summer.

When I suggested it to the family, the reply was “I’ve always wanted to try that place.”

The Stray Dog marketing presence was all around downtown New Buffalo, MI, where the restaurant is located.

–exit the highway, more billboards.

–enter downtown, they sponsor a big parking lot.  With their logo, of course.

–name and logo on distinct circular sign on the building seen from all directions.

–friendly restaurant staff wearing Stray Dog attire.

–A Stray Dog “gear shop” right across the lot from the restaurant.  Displayed and priced like a university bookstore, they carry a varied selection of clothing, blankets, glasses, stickers, etc.

–and always a sign of admiration, knock off copycat (pun intended) clothing in other shops.

The restaurant was clean, bright, and crowded, with many dog pictures and their cute back story.  The food was decent, the experience enjoyable.  I would very much like to go try out their roof top bar, for 21+ older.

And when we told our good friends we stopped there, they said “I drive by their signs all the time. I’ve always wanted to try that place. Was it good?”

So, keep up those marketing efforts and tests.  Sometimes the unengaged become engaged, when you least expect it.  

The journey continues. Cindy

P.S. I posted a shorter version of this story on my LinkedIn profile last week. I got DM’s and comments from others who also like this restaurant…who all live in IL, not MI….so others are finding it too.

P.P.S. Thanks to the latest iPhone update, I can’t upload any of my pics to my blog posts. Frustrating. The logo on this post is from the restaurant website.