February 15, 2016 at 12:47 p.m.
Minocqua Popcorn Company featured on 'The Price is Right'
Local company due for one more appearance on the show
Minocqua Popcorn Company featured on 'The Price is Right'
By Michael Strasburg-
On Jan. 8, Minocqua Popcorn Company was featured on CBS' long-running game show "The Price is Right," hosted by Drew Carey. This episode marked Minocqua Popcorn Company's second appearance on the show; the first was in April 2015.
While most companies lobby and often pay exorbitant fees to be featured on the show, Minocqua Popcorn Company was actually approached by the network.
"A couple girls who work for CBS had been in our store on vacation and really liked our store and our products," co-owner Jim Wescott said. "They reached out to us and asked if we'd be interested in doing [the show]."
The Wescotts approached the offer with healthy skepticism as they were cognizant of corporate fees typically associated with a business sponsorship, but as it turns out the price was right for their small business.
"All we had to pay was the prize if they won it - a bag of popcorn every month for a year - which is really a reasonable price to be on 'The Price is Right,'" Jim Wescott said.
"There are companies that pay thousands of dollars to come on," added Nancy Wescott, Jim's wife and co-owner of the company.
The April 2015 winner is entitled to their choice of custom popcorn once a month for the following year. Most orders are carried out through the website, but Nancy Wescott was able to talk to the winner and get some feedback on her experience with their product.
"At Christmastime she called me and wanted it sent to one of her relatives instead of her, but I had the opportunity to talk to her and she told us how much she enjoyed the popcorn and loved it," Nancy Wescott said. "She wanted to share it with her family. She called again this month and we're sending to a different relative again."
While the national appearance didn't mark a significant increase in sales, it did boost website traffic and exposed the Minocqua business to some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
"It has resulted in us getting a lot of calls from companies in L.A. now wanting us to be in gift bags for the Emmys or the ESPYs or the Oscars," Nancy Wescott said. "We're getting quite a few of them now that want us to do that."
Considering the fees associated with having a product featured in an exclusive gift bag, the Wescotts haven't decided if their business is ready to make that type of investment.
In the meantime, Minocqua Popcorn Company is due for one more appearance on "The Price is Right," because they signed a three-show contract.
The company has a shop in downtown Minocqua and its factory is located nearby, across from the community building downtown.
"All of our products are made there. Everything is made from scratch," Nancy Wescott said.
In addition to benefiting their business, the Wescotts hope the appearances on national television bring increased exposure to the Minocqua area and their fellow downtown businesses.
"Hopefully people came to our website, saw Minocqua Popcorn and thought 'what's this Minocqua place?' and (this) brought more tourists to the area," Nancy said.
"I think our local base was excited about it and almost felt proud to buy our popcorn. They were so genuinely excited," Jim Wescott added.
Winter hours for the Minocqua Popcorn Company are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Stay in touch with their Facebook page for updates on the company's next appearance on "The Price is Right."
The Wescotts aren't sure when their next appearance on the perennial CBS game show will be, but like any business owner, they happily anticipate seeing their product featured on national television once more.
"Obviously businesses people are in it to make money, but you can't put a price tag on some things like that," Nancy said. "It just makes you feel like you've succeeded."
Michael Strasburg may be reached at [email protected].
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