We gave away iPods!

Yep, iPods. When I started with my (former) company, while cleaning out the company unit, I found a stand-up wheel, just like the Wheel of Fortune wheel, but it stood up on the counter (about 15 inches wide). It was originally used for the store's Grand Opening 18 months earlier and put back in the box, practically brand new.

Well, we dressed up the #1 spot with the words "Free iPod". Every person that walked into our store (customer and non-customer) was eligible to spin the wheel to try to win it. (In Illinois there are strict laws on having a type of "lottery" in the store.) The winners had their picture taken with their prize and put on the wall for all to see.

In total, we had hundreds spin the wheel, gave away about 8 iPods and got maybe 4 or 5 rentals (I don't remember, exactly). The length of stay for those rentals FAR outweighed the cost of the iPods. In fact, when I left there after 6 months, those same tenants were still there. 10x10 units.

It was a big risk, but because we believed in it, and promoted the heck out of it...it worked.