Manizesto

Forget fireworks and confetti to celebrate bringing in the new year. The French have a much wilder, adrenaline-rushing pastime: burning cars. In what has become an annual tradition, French hooligans burned 372 cars parked in the streets. And although in many places, 372 cars burning would be reason for great concern, to French police it wasn’t:

        “The night was relatively calm, without notable incident, there were very few direct clashes with the security forces.”

In fact, 372 burnt cars is nothing compared to last year’s total of 400, and 2005’s 1,400-car disaster (French car burning video). So it’s a downward trend, but you have to believe French automakers are not too upset about it, since the burnt cars means customers will soon be kicking tires. 

Although the car burning incident was not a happy one, a good marketer will make the most of any situation, looking for ways to help potential customers with any new unmet needs they might have. If you’re a small business, you have the edge to take advantage of marketing opportunities like this because you can act much more quickly than larger companies.

Looking for more ways to creatively market your small business? Then subscribe to the Manizesto Small Business Marketing blog.