Business executives, managers and sales reps eat lunch alone or in small groups ... usually at local diners, sandwich shops and comfortable nearby restaurants. Eating by themselves, they'll bring along some paperwork, buy a paper, or take a book to keep them company. When they eat with friends and associates, they're always conscious of how to keep the conversation going. Anything worth reading on the table will get read.
Opportunity: Strike an agreement with your local eatery to pay for their paper placemats. In exchange, you'll either put an advertising message about your services on the mat, or agree to put your business card near the cash register or on a display piece at each table. A local delicatessen offers a small cardholder at each table stacked with eight different business cards. The businesses pay to have their cards on the table, the deli makes a few extra bucks, and the patrons glance at the cards while they're eating ... everyone wins!
To locate a service that coordinates this with local restaurants, check the yellow pages under Advertising-Specialty or Advertising-Outdoors. Other options available are display racks at hotels, motels and restaurants where you can put a glossy flyer promoting your business. You've got a captive audience that eats out several times a month. This market is ripe for hundreds of businesses, and your message will have about a half-hour exposure while they're at the table.