We were in Queen Bee Party Store yesterday selecting invitations for my son’s fourth birthday party. One excited girl said she was dressing as a witch for Halloween. It seems the holiday is slowly taking hold in Australia.
Never mind it won’t have the same feel as in America. We’re in late spring and yesterday it topped 35 degrees celsius (about 90+ Fahrenheit). I remember wearing a long top under my costume as a kid because of the early onset of cold in New Jersey.
Ten years ago I worked at Edelman Worldwide in Australia and the firm responded to a request for public relations services from the Confectionery Manufacturer’s of Australia. Their goal was to have Halloween celebrated in Australia. Prior, no one had heard of the holiday!
While Edelman didn’t win the business the successful firm has been making inroads. What a great way to build sales! Use public relations to introduce a holiday into a country where it’s never been celebrated! And of course candy sales sky rocket.
What’s next? We’re hosting a dinner on the last Thursday of November for our American friends (okay, we’re letting two Canadians attend). It’s to celebrate Thanksgiving. Wouldn’t the Turkey Manufacturers love to get that holiday underway in Australia!
What other holidays are ripe for transport? If we want sales of VB to sky rocket we should take Australia Day global - kind of like Cinco de Maio boosts Mexican beer sales in New York City every May.
What holiday from which country would you export - and where would you send it?
