Cannot find a category for my question

[toolong]

So this is a question about how my business may choose to compete with a much larger and more established business.

I do not want to give away the names so will simply describe in general terms.

So there is me Small Company and another BIG COMPANY

So the BIG COMPANY organises lots of social events

They charge an annual membership fee approx 100gbp

They then charge attendees say 5 pounds per person to go to the events (Meeting in a pub might be an example of an event) They do have higher pricing for less mundane events.


SMALL COMPANY aka ME
I do not need to earn money from events / our audiences overlap 100% by model allows me to have 100% FREE events and NO membership fees.

Now what i want to do is TARGET the events (They are in public places like pubs / restaurants etc ) and of course introduce the people in those places to my FREE EVENTS that do not require membership.


I could do this in a number of ways
1. Have someone turn up at each event and dish out little fliers for free events
2. Ask venues if i can advertise and put up some posters

They publish their events and the public can browse the venues, obviously what i offer is significantly better than paying 100 quid then 5 pounds per attendance, if i look at the events on their site and then do either 1 or 2 or both is there any legal issues I could face?

I would mention they are not UK registered (They are a German Company)


Thanks

[echat11]

Hi Toolong

I don't thing you can do this 'Have someone turn up at each event and dish out little fliers for free events',

I also don't think thefollowing will work, simply because the venue is being paid. 'Ask venues if i can advertise and put up some posters'

You need to do other things to promote the business. Do the above you will be on a 'sticky wicket'.

[toolong]

Hi Toolong

I don't thing you can do this 'Have someone turn up at each event and dish out little fliers for free events',

I also don't think thefollowing will work, simply because the venue is being paid. 'Ask venues if i can advertise and put up some posters'

You need to do other things to promote the business. Do the above you will be on a 'sticky wicket'.

Thanks for reply

The second point you responded to is unclear, it is not clear whether you think this will not work or this is liable to cause me legal issues.

I do plenty other things to grow but I am wanting to target the global leader as their model is based on being paid for running events and my model offers free events.

If it is a marketing issue then there are things I might do, I am more concerned with the strict legality of doing this as it is clear that they have millions of members that I want to have, our audience type overlaps 100%

[echat11]

Thanks for reply

The second point you responded to is unclear, it is not clear whether you think this will not work or this is liable to cause me legal issues.

I do plenty other things to grow but I am wanting to target the global leader as their model is based on being paid for running events and my model offers free events.

If it is a marketing issue then there are things I might do, I am more concerned with the strict legality of doing this as it is clear that they have millions of members that I want to have, our audience type overlaps 100%

The second point wouldn't be illegal if the venues are willing to put your posts up, I don't think they would as they have an existing 'high profile' client. I don't think they would want to 'upset the apple cart' for a 'newbie' business.

What you need is one of those crazy 'costumes' i.e. a dragon or something unique etc.

[toolong]

The second point wouldn't be illegal if the venues are willing to put your posts up, I don't think they would as they have an existing 'high profile' client. I don't think they would want to 'upset the apple cart' for a 'newbie' business.

What you need is one of those crazy 'costumes' i.e. a dragon or something unique etc.

Thing is their client is only high profile in our market, in terms of value to the venue their presence is meaningless as they may take 30 people once per 2 months to a highly popular bar that serves thousands of people in the course of a month.

Why would attending a pub not be ok but putting a poster up be ok?
Given they are not doing any more than meeting in a place where anyone can attend?

[echat11]

Thing is their client is only high profile in our market, in terms of value to the venue their presence is meaningless as they may take 30 people once per 2 months to a highly popular bar that serves thousands of people in the course of a month.

Why would attending a pub not be ok but putting a poster up be ok?
Given they are not doing any more than meeting in a place where anyone can attend?

Give it a try, see what they say. Nothing to lose.