ETD: 766 Postcard Marketing Investment Calculator; New
Potential Revenue Stream; The Value of Travel
E-Tailer's Digest
etd_post at gapent.com
Thu Mar 4 11:32:01 GMT 2004
E-Tailer's Digest --- Everything for the Retailer
Issue #0766 March 4, 2004
George Matyjewicz, Moderator mailto:georgem at gapent.com
Published by: GAP Enterprises, Ltd. http://www.etailersdigest.com
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CONTENTS
[1] Greetings
[2] Postcard Marketing Investment Calculator
[3] New Potential Revenue Stream
[4] The Value of Travel
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[1] Greetings.
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Hi All:
Some of us had some questions/comments on Postcard Marketing. And we have
further input on the new potential revenue stream for retailers. What do
you think.
I'm curious what you think about the value of travel. Do you get ideas
when you travel? Does travel help in your business or personal life, i.e.,
make you a better retailer or a better person, and not just because of the
rest of a vacation?
Let's hear about your business, which will remain for posterity at
our "Members: Who Are You?" site.
http://etailersdigest.com/resources/members/index.htm And we have a form
there for you to tell us about you. As I said when I first proposed this
idea, we have "known" each other for a long time, yet we often don't know
anything about each other. So, tell us who you are and what you do.
Now, let's get to everything for the retailer.
Sincerely
George Matyjewicz, PhD
Chief Global Strategist, GAP Enterprises, Ltd.
mailto:georgem at gapent.com
http://www.etailersdigest.com
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[2] Postcard Marketing Investment Calculator
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> I was playing with the Postcard Marketing Investment calculator. In your
>opinion what is a good rate of return?
One. I have only one of me in inventory.
On the 6 - 18 month software consulting projects that have been my bread
and butter for decades, one is enough. I also do smaller projects... I
love the odd problems!!! (It's looking like the odd problems are all that's
left in the sand belt of what we use to call Silicon Valley...)
TIP: I Barcode the database index key of each prospect under his return
address on postcards. If the card comes back undeliverable, I wand the
card, get the prospect's record, and call them, 411, or XXX-555-1212 to see
if they are still in the same area. If I didn't have that, I'd probably
let the trail go cold before I got around to checking up on them.
(For the do-it-yourselfers, there's some Code 39 source code at
http://www.mall-net.com/webcons/code39.html . You can also get all kinds
of bar code kits in many of the larger computer stores. Or of you have a
larger project... Call me at 408-846-8518. I love the odd ones!!!)
-javilk-
Today's Photo: http://www.mall-net.com/today/
------------------- IMAGINEERING --------------------
--------------- Every click, a vote. ----------------
----- Do people vote for, or against your pages? ----
-- What people want: http://www.SitePsych.com/free --
-----------------------------------------------------
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[3] New Potential Revenue Stream
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Jules Kaplan wrote...
>It is know as "Gift Cards" or aka the old hand delivered Gift
Certificates that have been
> around for years but hidden away in the accounting department or
cashier office. With
> Gift Cards it really become a POS situation. I even have seen Gift
Cards being promoted
> at our major chain grocery store.
Maybe some retailers have to get on to this band wagon.
Our software provides support for gift cards, both when selling the card
(ie: activation, setting value) and when taking payment (swipes just like a
credit/debit card). The same mag stripe reader that reads a credit/debit
card will read a gift card.
The bonus we offer to clients in our vertical (photography studios) is that
we built the "merchant" management side into the system so the studio has
all the control rather than being forced to use a gift card merchant
account that does little more than suck profit out of their pocket and
limit the amount of $ that can be placed on the gift card (many merchants
limit cards to $100). The management area is secure, does not require an
internet connection or modem line and can be used from every station on a
studio's network.
We can do these things because our studio's cards don't have to be honored
by 1000 different store locations all over the US, of course.
Mark Riffey
Granite Bear
http://www.granitebear.com
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
Gift cards are very common in a lot of stores. My family is all over the
US, and we exchange gift cards on a regular basis. From a retailers point
of view, there is another source of income - they take in the money, give
out the cards, and many are not used. And, you will note there is an
expiration date on them - use them by a certain date or lose them.
Many retailers are now giving gift cards instead of cash for returns. We
buy from Home Depot and are constantly returning things. It used to be if
you didn't have a receipt, you got cash. Now it doesn't matter if you have
a receipt or not, you get a gift card. That also keeps returns in the
store - they don't lose sales as they had in the past.
George
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[4] The Value of Travel
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> While in London we were discussing travel. Somebody mentioned that less
> than 10% of US citizens have passports, which implies they do not travel
> outside their own country (or North America). I know some folks who never
> traveled out of their small town or neighborhood. My question is, so
> what? Does travel make one a better business person or a better person
> period? What are your thoughts?
An important part of travel, is knowing that there is life away from home
so that when disaster strikes (or someone offers you that fantastic job),
you know that you can move elsewhere and live just as well.
I understand that many people are where they live and whom they know; not
themselves.
Travel, taking you away from your place and friends, teaches you that you
can and must be able to stand by yourself; and that by your actions and
appearance, you can create a community around yourself. Indeed, by going
out about those who do not know you, you see that it is by your actions and
appearance, that you create the reflections from others which give you your
social sense of self. And with that, you become a better person.
How many people's lives does George light up when he says hello while
waiting to be seated at a restaurant or theatre? I bet anything that in a
few minutes, he forms an instant community of people who would not normally
talk to each other.
-javilk-
Today's Photo: http://www.mall-net.com/today/
------------------- IMAGINEERING --------------------
--------------- Every click, a vote. ----------------
----- Do people vote for, or against your pages? ----
-- What people want: http://www.SitePsych.com/free --
-----------------------------------------------------
+++ [Moderator's Comments] +++
You bring up an interesting point John. In the US, especially in the NYC
area, folks walk and avoid eye contact. It drives them nuts when I say
"Good Morning" to complete strangers. In other parts of the world, it's
common courtesy to say hello - even in parts of the U.S. In Tortola, we
had to meet with the Minister of Labor when we first moved the company
there, so we could be taught how to deal with locals, which included a
greeting when meeting people. So start now - say hello to the next
stranger you meet.
What I love about travel is to see other cultures and mores. Simple things
like how folks use a knife and fork. More complicated things like where to
sit in a business meeting. Or the issues retailers encounter in other
countries - like limits on what can be on sale, or hours of operation.
I love to listen and learn. Unfortunately, we are often known as the "Ugly
American." Time to change attitudes and learn from others.
George
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