One day I said, “Mac, the only way in this world that you…
““One day I said, “Mac, the only way in this world that you can increase your soda fountain volume is to sell to people who don’t take up a stool. Look, I’ll tell you what I’m gonna do. I will give you 200 or 300 containers with covers, however many you need to try this for a month in your store down the street. Now most of your takeout customers will be Walgreen employees from headquarters here, and you can conduct your own marketing survey on them and see how they like it. You get the cups free, so it’s not going to cost you anything to try it.” Finally he agreed. I brought him the cups, and we set the thing up at one end of the soda fountain. It was a big success from the first day. It wasn’t long before McNamarra was more excited about the idea of takeouts than I was.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Innovative marketing can boost sales by offering free trials to a targeted group, creating data and excitement.
In simple terms: Free trials can spark demand and insight.
Key Takeaway
Offer low‑risk samples to test ideas.
Themes
marketing
sales
innovation
experimentation
customer insight
Mood
optimistic
strategic
Type
business
motivational
When to use this quote
- restaurant chain expansion
- new product launch
- customer feedback gathering
Key Concepts
trial marketing
product adoption
data collection
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure trial users become repeat customers?
- What metrics best gauge trial success?
A Different Perspective
Free samples may attract only short‑term interest without long‑term loyalty.