Buena Park-based musical instrument and audio-visual company Yamaha Corp. of America is celebrating the 125th anniversary of its parent company, Japan-based Yamaha Corp., with a yearlong series of promotions.
The center of the effort is a sweepstakes with grand prize packages to be awarded on a quarterly basis between now and September 2013. Each sweepstakes period also will include giveaways of 125 musical instruments and related items.
The first sweepstakes period runs through Dec. 31, and is being promoted in stores, through social media, the company website and at special events.
The grand prize is an all-expense-paid trip for two to the annual National Association of Music Merchants’ annual trade show that’s scheduled for the Anaheim Convention Center in January. That includes entrance to a 125th anniversary concert Yamaha plans to put on during NAMM.
Among the other prizes Yamaha will give away between now and the end of the year are 25 sets of PRO-500 headphones, which have a retail value of about $399.
Yamaha has launched an online customer-rewards program as part of the anniversary promotion, said Jeff Hawley, customer experience group director at Yamaha Corp. of America. Customers who want to enter the sweepstakes contest must create a My Rewards account on the Yamaha website. Users collect points for attending Yamaha dealer locations and websites, sharing information about the company with friends through social media, among other activities.
Yamaha’s advertising is handled in-house by the company’s customer experience group. The company regularly participates in marketing co-op programs—both online and in print with dealers—throughout the year, Hawley said.
Yamaha Corp. and all its subsidiaries had $4.3 billion in revenue in its March-ended fiscal year. The company doesn’t break out revenue for Yamaha Corp. of America, which has about 320 employees in Buena Park.
Yogurt Contest
Irvine-based Yogurtland Franchising Inc. encouraged customers to submit their favorite yogurt creation for a chance to win free yogurt for a year through its My Masterpiece contest.
Customers were asked to take a photo of their creation and name it, then post the photo through self-serve specialist Yogurtland’s website and Facebook page.
“Our fans are inspired by our variety of flavors and toppings and see our cups as blank canvases to create their ideal treat,” said Charlotte Lucich, director of marketing at Yogurtland. “Our My Masterpiece contest is a chance for our guests to be rewarded for their creativity and great taste.”
The first-place winner is in line for a $500 Yogurtland gift card. Second place is a $250 gift card, while the third-place is good for $125 in free yogurt.
Yogurtland franchisees were encouraged to choose a local winner at each store to receive a $100 gift card.
Yogurtland recently began to offer catering of frozen yogurt and toppings in prepackaged boxes in increments of 15, 25, or 50 cups of yogurt.
New cups and store signage are promoting the company’s Get Real tagline by touting the use of real milk, fruit, and healthful nutrients.
Yogurtland has about 200 locations and an estimated $100 million in revenue for the 12 months through June and has 100 employees in OC.
Social Strategies
Among recent examples of promotions using social media:
• Fullerton-based Yokohama Tire Corp. is asking customers to submit a video on Yokohama’s Facebook page describing their fantasy road trip and the benefits of the company’s YK580 tires. Three grand prize winners will be selected by Yokohama. The grand prize includes $5,800 for use towards the trip, a set of YK580 tires, a Samsung tablet, and other prizes.
• Costa Mesa-based Hyundai Motor America Inc. is asking college football fans to post a photo to its Facebook page that shows their team loyalty for the chance to win a new 2013 Santa Fe.
• Irvine-based fast food chain Wienerschnitzel asked fans to post a photo of their dog dressed in a costume for Halloween on its Facebook page. Ten winners received a prize package.
Bits and Pieces
Newport Beach-based luxury marketing agency Private Club Marketing has added private jet company Jumpjet, also of Newport Beach, as a client. The agency will help promote client membership for the brand. … Irvine-based Morgan Marketing & Public Relations’ work for Golden Island Jerky in Rancho Cucamonga was featured as a case study in a recent public relations class at California State University, Fullerton.
