Stop by my desk and tell me “I can’t wait to try your chili”…and receive a free gift!

1 gift per person only please.

Good Luck everyone:  it smells great in here!

Oh, and Happy Halloween!

I have decided not to repeat the Jamaican Jerk Chili of last year. Perhaps it will make a return in the future.  With that said, however, I still plan to utilize some of the great spices and flavors of that region’s cuisine in my  West Indian Curry Chicken Chili. You really didn’t think that I would visit Jamaica this year, and not bring back some seasoning and inspiration, did you?

Is it a little different from what is considered standard chili? Yes.  But is it delicious and prize-worthy? Absolutely yes.

Best of luck to all of the participants.  Chili Cook-Off is always a fun time  and I know we all appreciate the opportunity to enjoy such an event.

P.S.  Kudos to Fabry who yesterday guessed that I would use curry.  Of course I didn’t let on at the time that he was right.  I guess the Jamaican factor was predictable.   Since many of the popular dishes feature either curry or jerk blends, perhaps my strategy was obvious.

If anyone else wants to come out of the crock pot closet, well…you’re on your own.  Or, I could help for a small fee…j/k

May the best chili win;  good luck everyone!

P.S. Tell Kit the election was so last year.

Welcome to my Chili Marketing blog, “Spill The Beans.” I guess I could have titled it “Whether or Not to Spill The Beans”.  In an effort to reach a decision on whether or not to market my chili entry this year, I thought I would work this out through a few posts and gauge some interest while working with my indecisiveness (well, not really, I have decided, but it’s marketing folks, I’ll make you think I’m really mulling it over. This may all be part of the master plan; stay tuned).

In case I’ve totally lost you, or you are new to this quirky group we call the Queensboro Shirt Company, here’s the scoop:

 See, I arrived on the Queensboro Shirt Company scene in early 2008 and participated in my first Chili Cook-Off last Halloween. Little did I know that this was a hush-hush “secret” contest where all of the participants historically remained ANONYMOUS.  What, I ask you is the fun in that?!

Being someone who often likes to push the envelope a little and shake things up a bit, I consulted the official rules, and found that I was within my given right to represent my product as I saw fit. Fabulous. After all, I couldn’t really call myself a successful marketer if I couldn’t market my product, right? Isn’t that why I was hired in the first place?

Stirring Things Up

You may recall that Halloween 2008 was just prior to the Presidential Election, and that was all that people were hearing. I harnessed a candidate approach and made some flyers (ok, they were basic, but my budget wasn’t exactly huge, people) to push my Jamaican Jerk Chili.  So yes, not only did my marketing efforts not conform, but um…neither did my chili!

So I think a lot of people were surprised that I “revealed” the identity of my chili. But you see. I have nothing to hide.  I wanted people to try my chili and remember it. After all, how could you not sample some of its spicy goodness after running into flyers posted around the warehouse titled “Got Gas?”

While I respect others’ decisions to remain anonymous, I’ll be honest and say I find it a little, well, (yawn) boring!  Unless you memorize crock pots to owners, you can’t even tell your friend/coworker/boss you thought their chili was ___ (fill in adjective here). And that can be fun all by itself! Sure, there’s trash talking beforehand, but what’s the point if it’s lost in a uniform bean conglomerate of similar-tasting chili?

So I Won.  Now What To Do This Year  

I have to admit, I thought the Jerk chili was good, not gonna lie.  Also different. Which factor was it that led to my victory- the marketing,  the unique flavors,  the mere fact that everyone else’s was anonymous? Not sure.  But this year begs the question, what to do now?  While I was having fun pushing the product, I didn’t really think about the retention of the customer.  Now the pressure is on. Do I submit the same chili, or has it seen its season? While it was superb, I think the ruckus I stirred up would be its undoing.  There are some that are clearly against my technique not to be anonymous.  I must work with this…

Not Forcing You

If the election taught us one thing,  it’s that the parameters of social media are endless.  With the election behind us,  I think I’ll skip the campaign posters this year, in favor of less “in your face” marketing.  After all, everyone now knows I make a mean chili. My market position is secure. 

However, do I remain anonymous or not? I’m not sure I have fully decided.  Certainly, I don’t want to push my marketing on someone who doesn’t want it (although when did that ever really stop a marketer? ). OK, maybe I do…but the point  is, you can choose. You don’t have to read this blog. 

The Next 3 Days: What to Expect

On Thursday afternoon I will post the identity of my chili entry for this year. You can read it….or not. Therefore, you can decide if it’s anonymous chili or not. Should someone tell you…well, that’s not my fault, really.

Stay tuned, I will post daily on chili marketing updates. Heck, I might even post the recipe. I got nothing to hide! Feel free to leave a comment on a chili marketing tactic (yours or mine)…