Why asking if you've tried our brand before matters in Jersey Mike's grassroots outreach.

What should you ask potential customers when doing grassroots marketing?

• A. How many subs do you eat per week?
• B. Have you tried our brand before?
• C. What's your favorite type of sandwich?
• D. Are you a member of our rewards program?

Answer: (B)

Asking potential customers if they have tried the brand before is essential in grassroots marketing because it helps gauge their familiarity and comfort level with your product. Understanding whether someone has previous experience with the brand provides insight into their potential interest and loyalty, influencing how you approach them further. If they have already tried the brand and enjoyed it, this can open the door to discussing new offerings or promotions. If not, it provides an opportunity to inform them about the brand and potentially convert them into customers. This question serves as a valuable starting point for building a relationship and understanding the consumer's connection to the brand, making it highly effective in grassroots marketing strategies. While the other options may gather some interesting information about customer preferences or habits, they do not directly assess a person's existing relationship with the brand, which is crucial for tailoring future marketing efforts effectively.

Grassroots marketing isn’t flashy banners or viral videos. It’s about real conversations with real people in your neighborhood, and it works wonders for a local favorite like Jersey Mike’s. If you’re looking at phase-three style questions and trying to translate them into everyday wins, here’s a simple, practical angle you can actually use: start with a question that reveals a customer’s relationship with your brand. The right opener can steer the entire interaction.

The one question that actually opens doors

Let me explain the core idea in plain terms: when you walk up to someone in a park, on campus, at a market, or near the corner shop, you want to know where they stand with your brand. The best first question for that is simple and direct—Have you tried Jersey Mike’s before? This isn’t a trick question. It’s a doorway. It tells you whether you’re meeting a curious newcomer, a returning fan, or someone who’s heard good things but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

Why this question matters

• It gauges familiarity. If they’ve tried the brand, you know you can pivot to what’s new—new subs, limited-time sauces, or a loyalty perk.

• It sets the tone for your pitch. A quick yes can lead to ambassador-level talk about favorites, while a no becomes an invitation to share your story and offer a taste.

• It’s efficient. You’re not guessing at intent; you’re starting with a fact you can build on.

• It respects time. People react more positively when you acknowledge what they’ve already experienced instead of starting from scratch.

What about the other options? Let’s slice them up, real talk style

A. How many subs do you eat per week?

This tells you a habit, but it doesn’t reveal the relationship to your brand. It’s useful for segmenting a broader strategy (who eats more, who’s shopping for teams, etc.), but it’s not the best icebreaker for a first touch.

B. Have you tried our brand before?

This one nails the core aim. It directly surfaces familiarity and opens a path to build on existing awareness or fix misconceptions. If you only ask this once, you’ll learn more about what to do next than you would with a dozen habit questions.

C. What’s your favorite type of sandwich?

That’s a keeper for post-talk engagement, but it presupposes you’ve already made some contact. It’s a natural next question after you’ve confirmed they know the brand, not the initial opener.

D. Are you a member of our rewards program?

This one’s clever for engagement, but it assumes you’ve got a rewards program that people know about and care about. If your goal is to establish familiarity first, this can feel like a pushy upsell rather than a friendly hello.

Bottom line: the single, straightforward question about prior exposure is a lightweight, highly effective starting point. It respects the person’s time, it guides the conversation, and it helps you tailor how you talk about subs, promos, and partnerships on the spot.

Turning that first line into a real conversation

So you’ve asked the right question. Now what? Here are practical, street-smart steps to translate a yes or no into a meaningful chat that leaves people warmer toward Jersey Mike’s.

If they’ve tried the brand before

• Acknowledge and celebrate familiarity. “Nice! What did you try last time? The #7 is my go-to, but I’m curious what caught your eye.” This signals you’re listening, not selling.

• Offer something new without pressure. Mention limited-time subs, a new sauce, or a combo deal. The key is to connect their past taste with a current push, not to push the old thing harder.

• Invite them to spread the word. If they had a positive experience, invite them to bring a friend or share a quick test-taste at the table. A little social proof goes a long way.

If they haven’t tried the brand yet

• Share the brand story in a tight, human way. A quick sentence about freshness, hand-cut meat, or the vibe of Jersey Mike’s can do the heavy lifting. People remember stories more than stats.

• Offer a low-friction intro. A free mini sub, a sample, or a discount on their first order lowers the barrier to curiosity turning into a bite.

• Make it easy to engage later. Hand out a simple card with a QR code to a signup page, or invite them to follow your local Jersey Mike’s on social for an in-person promo. The goal is a light, memorable nudge, not a hard sell.

Two or three quick scripts you can adapt on the fly

• Script for the “Have you tried us before?” moment:

“Hey there, quick question—have you tried Jersey Mike’s before? If yes, what did you go for? If not, I’d love to introduce you to a fresh favorite. We’ve got a promo running today—want to sample a bite?”

• Script for the “yes, I’ve tried it” moment:

“Awesome! If you’re into classics, the Mike’s Way sub is a crowd-pleaser. If you’re feeling adventurous, we just rolled out a new flavor combo you might love. Want a quick bite and a quick chat about what’s new?”

• Script for the “not yet” moment:

“Totally get it—new tastes, new habits. How about a quick sample? If you love it, we’ll throw in a little loyalty perk for first-timers. No pressure, just a taste.”

Ground-level tactics that fit Jersey Mike’s energy

Grassroots marketing thrives on authenticity. Here are some tactics that feel natural in a Jersey Mike’s environment and don’t take over the story.

• Sampling with a smile. Set up near high-traffic spots—college greens, office parks, farmers markets—and offer a bite-sized sub portion with a tiny napkin and a smile. A tiny taste can turn curiosity into a memory.

• Friendly, brief chats. Train your team to greet with a warm, casual line, not a scripted pitch. Acknowledge the moment, ask the opening question, and let the conversation breathe. People appreciate feeling seen, not sold to.

• Simple follow-through. If they show interest, hand them a small card with a QR code linking to a local rewards sign-up or to a one-time promo. Make the next step feel easy and optional.

• Local partnerships. Team up with nearby coffee shops, gyms, or campus clubs for cross-promo subs. A quick cross-promo line keeps both audiences engaged without feeling forced.

• On-site visuals that tell a story. Use a clean banner or chalkboard with a one-liner about freshness, hand-cut meat, or signature sauces. It should support the conversation without shouting over it.

• Social proof in the moment. If someone shares a positive comment, reflect it back to them succinctly. “We’re glad you loved it. Would you be comfortable posting a quick snap with your favorite sub?”

Ethics, consent, and respect in the real world

The best grassroots moves feel natural because they’re respectful. Don’t push samples where a person clearly isn’t interested. If a shopper says no, switch to a friendly hello and move along. You’re planting seeds, not forcing growth. If people want more info, offer a simple sign-up option rather than a hard pitch. Trust builds loyalty faster than a bright banner could ever manage.

Keep the vibe local, human, and a touch playful. It helps to share a quick anecdote about a sub that became a neighborhood favorite, or a moment when a smile turned an ordinary street corner into a little local celebration. People remember experiences, not slogans.

A quick note on the bigger picture

This approach—starting with whether someone has tried the brand before and then listening carefully to their response—ties into broader marketing thinking you might encounter in phase-three material: understanding how familiarity shapes interest, trust, and future purchases. It’s not about clever tricks; it’s about meaningful conversations that move people from “I’ve heard of it” or “I’ve tried it” to “I want to be part of this with you.” When you get that transition right, you’re not just selling subs. You’re inviting someone into a local story they can be part of.

Why this works across time and places

• It’s scalable in small bursts and gentle bursts. You can do it with a couple of team members at a campus event or with a single, friendly rep outside a store.

• It respects regional vibes. Jersey Mike’s has a place in many neighborhoods, but every locale has its own pace. A local touch—whether you’re near a warehouse district or a college quad—sends the right signal.

• It builds relationships, not one-off sales. By focusing on familiarity first, you create a foundation for loyalty that can grow with seasonal promos, new subs, or community events.

Two-part takeaway to keep in mind

• Start with a simple, relationship-focused question: Have you tried our brand before? It’s the most honest, efficient way to understand where someone stands and how to talk next.

• Let the conversation flow from there. If they’ve tried it, celebrate and pivot to new offerings. If they haven’t, share your brand story briefly and offer a low-friction path to taste or sign-up.

Phase-three-level insight you can apply today

The beauty of this approach is in its adaptability. It isn’t a one-size-fits-all script. It’s a framework: establish familiarity, read the room, and tailor your next move. That’s the kind of practical thinking you want to carry into every local marketing moment—whether you’re at a street fair, a campus gathering, or a pop-up near a busy intersection.

If you’re aiming for authentic, lasting impact in grassroots efforts, remember this: people buy from people they trust, and trust grows from conversations that matter. Starting with “Have you tried our brand before?” gives you that doorway to a real connection. The rest is just good conversation, a tasty bite, and a neighborly hello.

So next time you’re out there, give that opener a try. You’ll likely hear a story, learn something new about your audience, and maybe even spark a lasting affinity for Jersey Mike’s in your own corner of the world. And that, in the end, is what great local marketing feels like—simple, human, and a little bit delicious.