Hi, I’m Nine, and I used to be a Republican and a Catholic. Now I’m an American. LOC isn’t so much of a statement about my political leanings as it is about how much of a wierdo I can be. 
; ?>/images/mail1.gif)
A Christmas Shopping Idea That Could Work For Everyone
Friday, November 28th, 2008After hearing about the tragic death of a Wal Mart worker this morning, I began thinking about how business and consumers can both get something out of Christmas Shopping, and cut down on future bruises and contusions.
Some weeks ago, I was at Harris Teeter, picking up some items. Out in front of the store, they had these cards that you could get stamped by the cashier if you had bought a certain amount. If you did that for 10 weeks or so, Harris Teeter would give you a free turkey for Thanksgiving. The idea behind it is pretty simple: Harris Teeter got a guaranteed revenue stream out of you for 10 weeks, and in return, they gave you something back, it cost them far less in the end, what’s a turkey in return for the hundreds you spent?
Why can’t this model work for other things? For example, iPods, and the iTunes Store? Can we all agree that an iPod is an item a lot of us would like to have? Say, for example, Apple implemented a program that said if you spent x amount in the ITunes Store between January 1st and Thanksgiving Day, you could qualify for Apple Merchandise? They could set up a multi level thing, like rewards points. Based on where you end up on Thanksgiving Day, you could then choose what you want, and have it sent to you. Of course, it would have to be profitable for Apple. But, the upside for them is that they get a guaranteed revenue stream based on what you give them every month in hopes of reaching those levels.
Does it work for higher end items like HDTVs? Blu-ray players? Hell, Wal Mart could do this with very little problem, AND do it for much less than you think. For them, it’s going to come down to cost per unit, which is much less than you end up paying going into the store an buying something any old time. How much does the average family spend at Wal Mart every year? It should pale in comparison to the cost of, say, a flat screen TV.
A second Idea that might be better suited to the big box stores, is a lottery based on sales for a specific period. Person’s spending a certain amount over 10 weeks (or more), get their names put into a drawing, for the riht to be at the store at 4am to take first crack at the doorbusters. Say, the first 100 people. They get a predetermined amount of time in the store before opening to the general public. BUT, those lucky 100 people get an additional discount because of customer loyalty.
Lastly, people who act like animals, in any event, deserve to get their asses arrested, and their stuff restocked for someone a little more respectful of others to buy. If these stores are going to create a mob scene, they need to be prepared to respond to the mob mentality. This behavior can’t be tolerated, and something has to be put in place to enforce a little decorum. Throw the bums and psychopaths out of your store. Cage the animals. Insist on adult behavior. What the hell is wrong with that?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=f4984150-fec4-4d0f-a38d-0ef26bd11421)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=766c62fd-d9ed-4d37-9c4a-09f112ce746f)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=b4cf5394-b920-4815-8d0a-c03516fd91a4)
