I remember as a kid watching a show about futuristic stuff and that one day we would be able to have smells coming from our TV while we watched our favorite shows. I tried to imagine how they’d do that. Would there be a bunch of little jars inside the set and for a breakfast scene we’d get a whiff of bacon? Or maybe the smell of smoke if the news showed a fire? Even for my little brain I just couldn’t imagine there’d be enough room for all of the smells in the world to fit. Also I could in no way imagine just how a smell could travel through the air and find our TV antennas. What if the wind was blowing? Our neighbors would get our smells wouldn’t they?
As I remember they even went on to say that one day we’d have color TV, and that soon we’d all do our shopping on computers. Too much for me to comprehend. Now I liked the color TV idea but since I didn’t even know what a computer was–I got up, adjusted the tin foil on the rabbit ear antennas and turned the dial to another show. (we had 3 whole channels back then) Nothing like Andy Griffith in black and white.
Living In The Future- Now
So here we are just a few decades later and we have everything that futuristic show predicted. Well maybe not smell a vision in it’s fullest form quite yet but pretty close. Did you know companies are using “smellvertising” in many everyday places we go? Buses, bus stops, restaurants, malls, new cars, and the list goes on and on. It’s amazing to know how it works and some of the science behind it. In a nutshell, smells can be a powerful thing and often triggers emotions in people and this could cause you to become happy, relaxed, hungry or even put you in the buying mood…. eh? you see where I’m going here??????
So since pestcemetery.com is all pest control all the time I got to thinking. How can we, the pest control industry capitalize on the smellvertising industry? I think maybe I’m onto something here but I may need a little help with my list of ideas. If you have any thoughts or eh-emm, concerns, please clue us all in with your comments below.
Smell #1 Heavy roach fecal matter smell impregnated on our service tickets. You know, that unmistakeable thick odor that digs into the back of your throat the minute you go through the kitchen door. The idea is that each time you hand them a receipt–their mind produces a terrible thought of roach infestations–They’ll never want to cancel
Smell #2 Chlordane scented Termidor! Granted this might not work for the younger generation but the older folks will love it. Think of the powerful reenforcing emotion that’ll create in their mind. Betcha the first thing they’ll say is “That stuff will last for 35 years” as they reach for their checkbook. Customer for life!
Smell #3 Stinkbug activated flashlights! Kind of a Northeast region campaign but imagine if every time you turn on your flashlight, the pungent heavy smell of stinkbug fills the room. That customer watching you do your inspection will subliminally be thinking– “I know I can’t see em, but I remember that smell– I’ve got to get his service or I’m gonna
be invaded again!” I see record sales coming to your office this month.
Smell #4 Battery operated Plugins inserted in the soles of your shoes. You know plugins, the little aroma producing gadgets that plug into the wall. My wife has about 90 of em around our house. Just think of the housewife who suddenly smells lilacs throughout her home as you go about and do your service–she’ll be so relaxed, she’ll definitely want your power spray this month.
Smell #5 How about smellvertising while you’re driving? Imagine you pull up next to a guy who has a big ol Nascar sticker on his car. One flick of a button and your exhaust oozes out the smell of racing fuel or burnt rubber or even fresh mowed grass. So powerful! Or you see a lady behind you and you flip the switch and the smell of a new leather purse fills the air or maybe that faint ink aroma from the coupon pages in the newspaper. Just whose number do you think they’re gonna be writing down? That’s right–Yours! All with a little help from smellvertising.
I’m telling ya, I think I’m on something–whoops I mean ‘onto something. This could be really big and revolutionize the way pest control companies go about selling and securing work. I’m gonna stop writing right now and get to work on it.I’ve got about 200 roaches on some glue baords from today I can get started with..I wonder where my wife keeps the blender…hmmmmm
