I spend a lot of time on Twitter talking about the joy that is a lunch at Jethro’s BBQ in Des Moines. Turns out, being a brand advocate of Jethro’s pays off. Saturday night, my family was invited by Jethro’s to attend a special, invite only, event in Altoona for a preview of the opening of Jethro ‘n Jake’s Smokehouse Steaks. I was told this event was to help servers, cooks and staff members gain practice and experience in delivering the great taste of Jethro’s in a new location. They did more than that in the process. They hit a home run.
Besides the food being free – and I went for the Rib Eye which was awesome, the staff could not have been more personable. Our waitress handled everything with ease (did I mention I have four kids?). The food was as great as I expected it to be. The only complaint I can make was that there was too much food. Then again, we had left overs all day Sunday, so scratch that complaint.
What a great experience.
What an awesome idea.
Now I don’t go to Altoona very often, but when I do, I know where I am going to eat. Why don’t more companies do this? Why aren’t there more experiences to be had to try something new yet somewhat familiar? Why not a “thank you customer, we appreciate you!” campaign. How about an open house, a VIP customer event, a customer appreciation golf outing. Opportunities abound.
If your company has a new product, a new location or something to say, why not consider an event like this? Why not reward your brand advocates who will undoubtedly spread the word like I’m doing now? And that’s the kicker isn’t it? Knowing who your brand advocates are. Want an argument for social media? Look no further than this blog post. Jethro’s gave me a platform to engage with them on Twitter. In doing so, they found their brand advocates. Does your company provide a platform to engage with customers to seek out brand advocates?
Kudos to Jethro’s for understanding that reaching your customer goes beyond a print ad in Juice or an add on Des Moines sports talk radio. It’s the personal touch they provided me with online and offline that really makes a difference for me as a consumer. Sure the food is great, but I’m not a food critic so I’ll leave the restaurant reviews to the professionals. I write about marketing. And I prefer to write about good marketing. And that’s exactly what this post is about. Well played, Jethro’s!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Agree on all fronts, Fleming.
That Jethro’s has so quickly established itself as a must-smash-at staple of the central Iowa grubbers’ community is a testament to two things: succulent food and personable service. For first-time patrons (how they still exist is beyond me), the reputation of Jethro’s food obviously precedes itself. But as you so eloquently illustrated, it’s the genuinely compassionate and considerate customer service that converts occasional diners to full-time advocates.
When we lived nearby in Beaverdale, my wife and I would meet our closest friends there every Friday, and immediately upon crossing the threshold, we were greeted with familiar smiles and a pitcher of our favorite brew. There’s something to be said about a restaurant whose employees not only remember your name and favorite beer, but are truly glad to see you. It surprises me not one bit that they would invite a loyal customer like yourself to such an exclusive event, for if you dine there as often as is publicized on Twitter, I imagine you’ve been on a first-name basis there for sometime.
God I miss that place. Might have to organize a reunion this Friday.
Joe W