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National
Day of the American Cowboy
Celebration and Promotion Ideas
Planning Your Event
The first step is deciding how you’d like to celebrate NDAC and what types of activities are best suited to your situation. Here are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
Recruit local cowboys to conduct demonstrations (ropers, rawhide braiding, bit makers, etc).
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Organize a chili cook-off and offer free samples to your guests, shoppers, etc.
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Challenge local chefs to a Bobby Flay style Western “Throwdown!” or cook-off.
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Conduct a “boots well worn” or “hats well worn” contest. Provide gift certificates as incentives.
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Work with your AQHA affiliate or similar organization to produce a ranch rodeo (mounted shooting competition, roping, horse show, etc.), which would be sponsored by your store or company.
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Plan a ceremonial campfire in the evening, complete with marshmallows and a cowboy sing-along.
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Hire a photographer to take photos of little cowboys and cowgirls on a pony.
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Organize a NDAC essay contest with the help of your local school or library. Have the best essay published in your local paper.
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Host a cowboy poetry reading session. Encourage fledgling cowboy poets to participate.
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Set up a large-screen television and preview cowboy movies throughout the day.
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Hold a roping contest using a roping dummy.
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Western cooking demonstrations (using recipes from cookbooks that you sell!)
Promoting Your Event
Getting the word out about your celebration is key to having a big turnout, so start early and don’t hold back! Here are just a few of the many ways you can promote your event, all of which will also help boost aware of your store or business and your sales.
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Download NDAC invitations and customize to your event.
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Display a NDAC Official Retailer sticker in your storefront window. Available through any of your WESA reps.
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Order NDAC Hatch Print posters and display throughout your store (click here to order or call 800-369-0196).
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Download the NDAC press release template and customize it to your event. Distribute to all local newspapers, radio and television stations.
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Most radio stations offer free public service announcements, so call them up and ask if they will announce your event details over the airwaves.
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If your community has a locally produced cable news program, book a slot to discuss the importance of paying homage to the American cowboy.
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Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper explaining NDAC and encouraging your community to celebrate it.
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Print a bag-stuffer promoting all of your store's planned activities and insert them at check-out.
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Add NDAC and your event information to a prominent spot on your Web site.
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Have shopping bags printed with the NDAC logo that you can use all season long.
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Ask your local legislators to proclaim July 26, 2008 National Day of the American Cowboy. Invite them to your celebration.
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Get your event listed on area tourism, newspaper, and Chamber of Commerce websites.
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Decorate your store with cowboy memorabilia, Western art, etc. in the weeks leading up to NDAC.
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When it comes to securing media coverage, timing is everything. Submit your press releases at least a four to six weeks in advance of your event. This gives you plenty of time to follow up on the press releases you have submitted and also gives journalists time to contact you for more information.
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Print advertising: make sure you find out advertising deadlines in advance. Many publications have at least a two month lead time.
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Signage: allow at least four weeks lead time for producing banners, signs, and posters.
- Send an email blast to your database promoting your event, store specials, etc.
Producing Your Event
The trick to hosting a successful event is making your customers feel welcome, engaged, and entertained. Here are a few tried-and-true techniques:
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Provide cowboy entertainment throughout the day, including musicians, poets, and storytellers.
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Find a caterer or local restaurant to prepare and serve Western-themed refreshments throughout the day
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Give a free NDAC poster with purchases over certain amount.
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Create a section in your store to display historic cowboy relics, Western collectibles, etc.
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Organize a street parade that starts and/or ends in front of your store.
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Offer special store promotions such as “buy two, get one free”, etc.
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Print T-shirts, baseball caps and other apparel with the NDAC logo and sell or give them away as promotional items.
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Sell or give away NDAC bumper stickers commemorating the day.
- Set up co-promotions with your vendors:
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- Offer door prizes donated by vendors
- Celebrity autograph signings (endorsees provided by manufacturers)
- Check with vendors to see if they are offering special products or promotions for the NDAC celebration
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Extend your store’s hours to accommodate your celebration.
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Always have a contingency plan in place in the event of inclement weather; your entertainment cancels, a staff member gets sick, etc.
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