Safety Program and Sales Programs

Collect the Points - The vast majority of safety programs are run using a point system. This type of program is designed to be long term (a year or more). Some companies award points on a monthly basis others do it quarterly. Whichever way you choose it is important that your participants be kept informed of their point standing. Remember they are working toward a special goal that they have set and need to know how well they are doing.

Caught Doing It Right - This is an interesting twist to a safety program. Catch your people doing the right thing for their own safety and the safety of those around them and give them a reward right on the spot. This reward can be a ticket, make it some bright color so it can be seen by others, that entitles the holder to receive a gift catalog from the safety director or the company president. This not only gives positive reinforcement right on time but it also allows for some management recognition of a good habit. Another plus is that it gets the supervisors into thinking safety.

Safety Games - A lot of companies use some type of safety game. These games usually do not carry a lot of interest with the employees because it is a game of chance that most will never win. There is also a tendency to use inexpensive logo covered merchandise that most employees have no interest in and already have three. Or it is one big prize that only one person will win. These games can be brought to life and interest exploded with the use of gift catalogs as the prize. With a gift catalog the winner gets to choose the gift that is really wanted. It is also a great idea to have multiple winners and have enough prizes so that everyone can be a winner sooner or later.

Zero Lost Time - If your company goal is to reduce lost time accidents then a company wide award is used to reward all if the goal is achieved. While this is a nice idea all it takes is one person to mess up and your whole program is shot. Rather than an all or nothing approach a gradation of awards may be more effective. If you take into consideration what a year of no lost time accidents can save your company, the award should be considerable. Then if an accident does occur an award of lesser value would be awarded. The award would continue to be reduced with each accident until an unacceptable level is reached where no award is given. With this system you will still have a program and maintain interest for the duration of the year.

Team Work - Sometimes a lot can be achieved with team work. A company will split the entire work force into teams. Each team has a field worker, plant worker and office personnel. Each team has the same number of people and the split is even. The object of this program is to not have any lost time accidents on your team. If the team went accident free for a month each member receives 20 personal points plus 10 extra team points. If there was a lost time accident with a team member, the team lost the 10 extra team points, the person who had the accident lost his 20 personal points but the rest of the team members still receive their 20 personal points. This type of program has proven to be very effective.

Sales Incentive Ideas

Meet the Goal - As a general rule, sales incentive programs tend to be "You meet our goal and you get this" type of program. They do work and have worked well for years. The major problem with this type of program is the reward must be something that your sales staff really wants. If the reward is something that is not needed or will cost money if they win, the program will not be successful. An example of a reward that costs money if you win would be a trip. On any type of trip there are always side expenses and tips that have to be paid. There is also the loss of sales when you are on the trip. Gift certificates are the same thing. You always want more than the gift certificate will get you so you pay the extra cash.

Sales Closers - Door Openers - A lot of times a little gift for buying right now will really improve your overall sales performance. Or a gift for letting me show you our product can really open the door. Here the secret to success is to be able to offer what the person really wants and has a high perceived value. If you use calculators or alarm clocks or maybe golf balls as your incentive item you will only attract the people who want or need these items. That usually is about 3 out of a 100. On the other hand, if you can let then choose from over 50 different items, your chances of offering something that they want are about 90%. Plus you do not have your capital tied up with all the gift items that you bought in bulk. A gift catalog is really hard to beat as a sales closer.

The Test Drive - A lot of cars, boats, planes are sold with a test drive. It is during the test drive that a person takes personal ownership over the vehicle. Once this has happened, the sale is more than halfway done. What you need is a compelling reason for the person to come into your store for that test drive. The use of a gift for taking a test drive is a time proven winner. It can even be made a greater winner if you can advertise 50 different gift ideas that people really want or would enjoy. Here again with a gift catalog you have the wide scope of gift selections without the up front expenses.

Customer Loyalty - It is said that a loyal customer can be a real business asset. The cost of getting new customers is always raising. Why not work on keeping the customers you already have. People would rather do business with someone they already know and trust. Many times a gift to a good customer lets them know that you think of them as a friend not just another sale. By using merchandise as a gift you are remembered each time they use the item. People already know who sent them a useful item and they remember even more if they got to select the item they wanted through the use of a gift catalog.