ONE "Marketing Idea" can "change" everything!

From my experience, carrying this one-step further, taking a look at Antique Shops and Gift Shops in ANY town....they MUST have "Traffic" (Shoppers) There are 2 types of shoppers for these stores;
1) Local residents
2) Tourists
a) Tourists who are "traveling thru town"
b) Tourists who STAY at local hotels

Now, regarding 2b...."What If"....there was a plastic display stand at the front desk of local hotels (One of those slant-back thingees that has a smaller plastic box attached to the front to hold cards)

The "Sales Copy" could read, "FREE Browser Bucks for local shops! (in BIG letters) (and underneath) "Just present this card to any participating merchant and get $1 Off your purchase!" (and above the small box of cards, the words; "FREE Take One!")

Now....on the front side of the Card is a list of 10, 15 or even 20 local shops where this "Coupon" can be redeemed. And, on the backside is a modified MAP of the area showing where each participating shop is located. (Tourists LOVE Maps)

I'm thinking that local Antique & Gift Shops would JUMP at a chance to be part of this. This COULD motivate tourists staying at local hotels to want to visit these shops. I don't know yet what I'd charge but I'm thinking that $50 a week for 13 weeks at a time (3 mos)...$650....to be in 10 local hotels, would be acceptable.

Now...if there were 10 shops participating the gross would be $6,500 for 3 mos and the cost would be negligible; 10 Plastic Stands from Staples ($10 ea = $100) say....10,000 3 x 5 cards ($150) So, for about $250-$300 there's the potential of making 6 Grand!...every 3 mos....$24,000 a YEAR...from a simple idea!

And...with the country heading towards a depression....THIS could allow some of these shops to stay in business longer....and putting extra bucks in your pockets with which to buy Krugerands to bury in your back yard.

What think ye?

Don Alm