MarketScale
‹ Back to Industries

Professional AV

What is the Craziest Thing Your Business Has Ever Done?

A minor league baseball team's unconventional uniform choice became a marketing masterstroke that demonstrated how absurdity can drive authentic engagement

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Professional AV teams put it to work with Customer Stories & Case Studies.

By Jesse Cole · B2bBaseballBrandloyaltyBusiness
Share

Key takeaways

01

Unconventional marketing can lead to significant brand engagement.

02

Connecting emotionally with the audience creates memorable experiences.

03

Community involvement amplifies marketing impact.

In this captivating episode of the Fans First series, Jesse Cole, the mastermind behind the Savannah Bananas, shares with us that in the competitive world of marketing, standing out often means taking bold, unconventional steps. A prime example is a company that captured the essence of St. Patrick's Day in Savannah by doing something unprecedented: they had a sports team play in kilts.

In the competitive world of marketing, standing out often means taking bold, unconventional steps.

Key Takeaways from a Bold Move

This daring choice was not just about wearing kilts but creating a story that resonated deeply with fans and the community, leaving a memorable imprint on the brand. The game, played in front of a sold-out crowd, resulted in a victory and established a legendary status as the team remained undefeated in kilts. This unique strategy turned into a talking point and a highlight for annual celebrations, demonstrating the power of memorable marketing.

This unique strategy turned into a talking point and a highlight for annual celebrations, demonstrating the power of memorable marketing.

Lessons for Effective Marketing Strategies

  1. Innovate Courageously: Stand out by doing something no one else has.
  2. Connect Emotionally: Make your campaigns relatable and fun.
  3. Foster Community: Engage both your team and audience to amplify impact.
Video TranscriptExpand ↓

A question you can ask yourself is what is the craziest wildest thing that you've done in your business that people are gonna be talking about for years to come? Again, it goes back to creating that attention, creating that story. Every company may have a mission or core beliefs, but do you have stories that back those up, Stories that are wild, stories that are fun, stories that are different? And for us, we've been basing our company on these wild stories. Some haven't worked out as well. Some have been crazy like Flatulence fun night where we gave away whoopee cushions. That didn't work as well. But some of the wild things, we just take chances. And one of the craziest things we did is we said, all right, St. Patrick's Day is huge in Savannah. It matters to these people. Well, why don't we have fun with that? So we said, well, what could we play? And everyone plays in green jerseys and they have green beer. Could we take it to the next step? And so we came up with the idea of being the first team ever to play in kilts. And, yes, when we showed the team, they're like, are we really playing in skirts? I go, guys, they're kilts. And the whole team got on board, and I said, guys, we're gonna be the first team ever not only to play in kilts, but but to win in kilts. And, yes, we played in front of a sold out crowd in kilts, and we won on a walk off. And to this day, we still remain undefeated in kilts. And our fans talk about it. Our players talk about it. It's one of the first games to sell out because it's different. What's that different thing that you're doing that people are gonna be talking about?

About the author

Jesse Cole
Jesse ColeOwner of Savannah Bananas, Creator of Banana Ball, Author of Fans First & Find Your Yellow Tux

Jesse Cole is the founder of Fans First Entertainment, known for owning the Savannah Bananas. The Bananas have 1M+ fans, have sold out every game since inception, and been featured on major media outlets. Jesse is also an author and speaker, advocating for standing out and prioritizing customers and employees.

Free workspace

You just read one expert. Imagine publishing your whole team.

This article was produced through MarketScale. Create a free workspace and turn your own team's expertise into articles, video, and social posts. No credit card, no demo required.

Start freeBook a demoNPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

Explore More Professional AV Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Professional AV.

Browse Professional AV Hub

About the Expert

JC
Jesse Cole

Owner of the Savannah Bananas

Jesse Cole is the owner of the Savannah Bananas, a minor league baseball team known for its innovative and engaging fan experiences. He is credited with transforming the team's approach to marketing, helping to sell out games consistently through creative promotions. His leadership emphasizes unique strategies, such as themed games and community engagement, to grow brand loyalty.