Struggling to make your business stand out? Feel like your marketing efforts sound and feel the same as everyone else in your space?

What if I told you the answer might be found in a $16 milkshake?

On a recent family vacation, I stumbled upon a marketing goldmine disguised as a dessert shop.

This place wasn’t simply selling ice cream and milkshakes — they were selling unforgettable experiences that had people lining up (and spreading the word).

In this post, I’ll share how a small business turned a simple product into a sensation. You’ll learn practical, easy-to-implement ways you can make your business stand out, even in the most crowded markets.

You’ll discover:

• How going “over the top” can be a winning strategy

• The power of creative naming and packaging

• Why the full customer experience matters more than you think

Let’s dive in and uncover these sweet marketing secrets of standing out.

The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar: A Case Study in Standing Out

Picture this. We’re in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We spot a milkshake bar. Sounds like a nice place to get an afternoon ice-cream treat, right?

Wrong. It wasn’t nice. It was amazing!

The shop was packed. People were ordering from a menu of crazy milkshakes.

The marketing power of going over the top

Imagine milkshakes topped with cookie dough, full-size brownies, toasted marshmallows, slices of pie or dessert waffles. These toppings were bigger than the drinks.

These weren’t your average ice-cream-shop milkshake. These were dessert extravaganzas served in a glass. Or rather, in a souvenir mason jar.

And they had us taking pictures before indulging (and posting on social media). Plus talking about them well after we left the shop.

Free marketing. All served up in a mason jar.

Using creative names to make your product memorable

Even the names were fun. “Build Me Up Buttercup” for a chocolate-peanut butter shake. “Smore’s the Merrier” for a shake themed around the favorite campfire treat.” And “Butter My Waffle” which was described as “Belgian taste, Butterfinger style.”

These clever names didn’t simply describe the product. They told a story. They made our group smile. And, most importantly, they made the shakes memorable.

Going the extra mile to enhance the customer experience

The milkshakes weren’t served in a disposable cup. They were served in souvenir mason jars. And the best part? There was a washbasin in the store where you could wash you jar in store and bag it to take it home. Smart, right?

This simple addition of the souvenir mason jar turned a one-time purchase into a lasting memory. And the washbasin eliminated a potential friction point, adding value to the experience.

Applying these lessons to your business

So, what can you learn from a crazy, over-the-top milkshake to make your product or service stand out?

1. Create a premium version. Take your basic offer and add extras so it doesn’t look like what everyone else in the market offers.

2. Bundle items together. Create a themed package that solves a specific problem or appeals to a certain group. This makes the decision easier for your audience compared to a typical “build your own” strategy.

3. Look outside your field for ideas. Who knows what themed over-the-top milkshakes might inspire for your business.

4. Think about the whole experience. A simple (and relatively inexpensive addition) like a jar-washing station can make a big difference.

5. Use creative naming. Clever, descriptive names can make your product or service memorable.

The sweet conclusion

Remember, sometimes the craziest idea is the one that gets noticed. Don’t be afraid to go big and offer something no one else on the market is offering.

This week, pause for a moment. Have a wild idea that you’ve set aside? If so, give it another consideration. It may turn into your $16 milkshake — thing thing that seems a little too much, but ends up being just right.

In a world of vanilla marketing, dare to be the crazy, over-the-top, unforgettable milkshake. Your customers (and your bottom line) will thank you.