Retailer Gives Gifts Out Using Social Media

At Turkstra Lumber, a business with 11 locations around Ontario, Canada, the familiar telethon got a makeover. Last October, Mitch MacLellan, social media and marketing director, and Jamie Crickmore, manager of the company’s trim and door division, sat down in front of a camera for their first-ever Like-a-Thon.

For about an hour and a half, MacLellan and Crickmore livestreamed their Like-a-Thon on the company’s Facebook page. They had a table full of prizes, such as store gift cards and tickets to a local sports game. Whenever they reached a pre-determined number of likes (usually every 5 to 10 minutes) they gave away another prize. Winners were chosen at random from those commenting on the company’s Facebook page during the event.

MacLellan and Crickmore used the event to talk about Turkstra Lumber’s current sales promotions and services.

“We were very pleased with the way it turned out,” says MacLellan. “People loved the prizes and they gave a lot of shout outs to their favorite Turkstra employees. This is something we will do again. Next time, we’ll probably tie the event to a donation for a charity along with the giveaways.”