Golden Ticket

Keen got an early start on summertime adventures. As part of the brand’s HybridLife Days in-store initiative, shoppers at participating retail locations can enter the HybridLife Adventure Trip Sweepstakes by filling out a card that asks “Where will your Keen shoes take you?” The Grand Prize winner receives a trip for two on a Bryce and Zion National Park Adventure—a 6-day excursion packed with mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoneering and hiking.
“Summer is a key time for outdoor adventures, and we’re excited to partner with our retailers and find out where their customers plan to go in their Keen shoes,” says Bobbie Parisi, vice president of marketing. 
Since May, the Portland, OR, performance brand has hosted “Keen-fests” in 14 select retail stores across the country, offering customers bonus merchandise with purchases. During the promotion, customers who buy a pair of Keen shoes receive a pair of Keen socks or a tote. The promotion ends in August.
 
Retailers are enthusiastic about the initiative. Amy Croteau, store manager of Hawley Lane in Shelton, CT, says the store—which is one of the brand’s larger accounts—was more than happy to take part in the giveaways. Ultimately, customers bought more. “We ran out of socks and totes,” she says, noting Keen was smart about what it give away. “Lots of times we receive items like pens and notepads, which have little use to customers buying performance footwear,” she says. “The socks and totes Keen offers are good quality and add value to the overall purchase.”