Direct Marketing for Big Box Stores Studied

Most large big-box store retailers will send out colorful brochures and catalogs as inserts in the local newspaper on Thursdays and it seems we also see them on Sundays. During the Christmas season we see that many box stores use more than one method of advertising to get customers to come in and entice new customers to come in and have a look see.
As a case study lets discuss direct-mail marketing in those little coupon package that we see for a big-box store retailer. Does it make sense for a big-box store retailer to send out coupons in the little coupon package books to all the homes that are within a 50-mile radius of their store?
It appears that it does make sense and perhaps they can advertise their best deals on three or four types of items that they expect to sell a lot of during the Christmas season. For instants let us talk about Circuit City and Best Buy; it makes sense for these stores to send out direct-mail marketing pieces to the customers within their area or region.
It also makes sense that they send out things like discounts on iPods, laptops, MP3 players and plasma television sets. Why you ask? Well because many people do not take a newspaper, as they will often read the newspaper at their local Starbucks or in the break room at work. Please consider all this in 2006.
"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/






Paying Off Your Credit Card - Skip A Lunch

Actually skipping your lunch to help you pay off your debt is just one small example of what you can do to help you pay off your credit cards. See, let's say you are in the habit of eating lunch every day outside. You are spending about $7 a day, 5 days a week, 4 weeks a month.
That ends up totaling about $35/week and $140/month. In a year that is $1,680! Just bringing your own lunch from home can literally cut that in half!
What are some other daily tasks that we do that can help you start saving more money and paying off your credit card?

- No bottled water
- Carpool
- Use Coupons
- No Starbucks

There are of course many things you could do to help you pay your credit card off, but let's evaluate just these for a few minutes.
If you start getting water filters instead of bottled water, that can save you almost $1.50 a day! Most people will end up spending about $2 a day just buying bottled water, whereas the filter would really cost you less than $.50 a day! So, that means over $360/year.
If you start carpooling, you will cut your average gas bill in half. The average person spends about $40/week in gasoline bills. If you start carpooling, you can save $480/year.
If you start using coupons, we estimate that you will save about $20/week in grocery bills. That means that you will save another $480/year.
Now, how about you stop wasting money at Starbucks every morning! You can instantly start saving about $3 a day just by switching to home made coffee or just going to 711! That means a total of $720/year.
So, in total, if you can just make a few small changes in your lifestyle and avoid wasting money on needless things, you can easily save $3,720 a year! Given the average American salary, that is actually more than 10% of the salary of the average American!
Look how much money you can save when we barely even started...
Learn how to start paying off your credit card quickly. But also learn how you can apply for 0% interest rate credit cards so that your debt does not increase.
Lots of FREE information on how to manage your credit...


Free articles on applying for the best credit cards at:
www.1a-low-interest-rate-credit-cards.com/






Four Retail Businesses Typically Located in Small Shopping Centers

Whether there are five shops or ten that are occupying space in a small shopping center, most often the type of retail being offered is the same in each place. Typically, a consumer will find a business that will feature fresh flowers and flower delivery to homes and businesses. In addition to these businesses, there are four other companies who are located in most small shopping centers all over the US. These four retail outlets are Subway, Starbucks, a nail salon and Gamestop.

Subway is a national chain restaurant featuring made to order sub sandwiches, soups, snacks and drinks. There are over 30,000 locations around the world. This company does a fantastic job at marketing and couponing in all the neighborhoods in which they are located. They pride themselves on being fast, fresh and a healthy alternative to the typical fast food options. Their locations are kept small and promote taking food to go. The company was founded in 1965 and franchises are still increasing today.

If there seems like there is a Starbucks on every corner, it is probably because there are over 16,000 locations all around the world. This coffee chain is the largest of its kind in the entire world. It serves specialty coffee, tea and alternative hot beverage drinks to people every day of the week. It also sells a variety of breakfast goods, snacks and dessert bars. Starbucks has even been successful in marketing their own choice of music that fits within their brand. Small shopping centers generally are located in prime traffic areas which is extremely helpful to the success of Starbucks locations.

These small shopping centers also house most of the walk-in nail salons throughout the country. These salons do not typically require an appointment, have lower service costs and provide wonderful service to their customers. The customer turnover in these salons is high due the sheer nature of who they target. Their typical consumer is a female who is out running errands, has disposable income and did not plan ahead by making an appointment. This type of nail salon can accommodate this consumer with great customer service and average to low pricing. The quick pace, low cost and great service make this type of business perfect for small shopping centers in every city.

Lastly, Gamestop is a growing retail outlet that buys and sells video games, gaming systems and gaming accessories. It was founded in 1984 as a company called Babbages and in 1994 evolved into what we know as Gamestop. It was with the financial backing of the then CEO of Barnes and Noble that this company really took off and prospered. Today there are over 6,200 locations throughout the world. Their target consumer is anyone who is interested in and plays video games. Because of their broad appeal this business concept continues to grow every day. They do not need a lot of space and prefer to have controlled rent in highly visible areas. Small shopping centers provide all of this and allow Gamestop to keep being successful.





Connor R. Sullivan finds it simpler to buy fresh flowers online for special occasions. He finds it convenient to get flower delivery when ordering fresh flowers online.




Want Free Money? It's Easier Than You Think!

Start thinking of the stores you shop at often. What comes to mind? Is it Circuit City, Starbucks, Banana Republic, Sephora, Barnes & Noble? Undoubtedly most of us could easily come up with a list of ten to twenty, if not more.

I'm the kind of person who loves to save money. I've been doing something so simple for the past few years that has saved me hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars - I'd like to think of it as "free money"! It's so easy, yet surprisingly few people take advantage of it.

You're probably wondering what I do. It's simple:

I purchase gift cards online for the stores I shop at most often at a discounted rate.

I mainly use eBay, but there are others like CertificateSwap.com and SwapAGift.com. A lot of people receive gift cards as presents but aren't interested in the store or would prefer cash, so they list the cards online. Expect to usually pay 80 to 90 percent of face value, although some prices can be higher or lower depending on the popularity of the merchant. The way I see it is, if I'm going to spend the money at the store anyway, why not purchase a gift card and save a few dollars?

One method I have found to be quite useful in finding good deals is to go to the Gift Certificates category on eBay and search for "Buy it Now items" in the search options. I then sort the results by the most recently listed auctions. Some sellers underestimate the value of their gift cards, so they may put up a Buy it Now price that is lower than what the card would generally go for. You have to be at the right place at the right time to snatch up those deals, but it can be worth it! (Just to prove that it does happen - as I was writing this article, I was able to purchase a $100 gift certificate redeemable at hundreds of spas nationwide for only $50!)

One word of caution: as with any online purchase, be sure that you are purchasing from a reputable seller. Unfortunately scammers are out there, so do your homework on the seller before making a purchase.

I hope you are able to use this technique to save money like I have. It is one I plan on using for years to come!






Want Free Money? It's Easier Than You Think!

Copyright 2006 Jessica Roop

Start thinking of the stores you shop at often. What comes to mind? Is it Circuit City, Starbucks, Banana Republic, Sephora, Barnes & Noble? Undoubtedly most of us could easily come up with a list of ten to twenty, if not more.

I'm the kind of person who loves to save money. I've been doing something so simple for the past few years that has saved me hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars - I'd like to think of it as "free money"! It's so easy, yet surprisingly few people take advantage of it.

You're probably wondering what I do. It's simple:

I purchase gift cards online for the stores I shop at most often at a discounted rate.

I mainly use eBay, but there are others like CertificateSwap.com and SwapAGift.com. A lot of people receive gift cards as presents but aren't interested in the store or would prefer cash, so they list the cards online. Expect to usually pay 80 to 90 percent of face value, although some prices can be higher or lower depending on the popularity of the merchant. The way I see it is, if I'm going to spend the money at the store anyway, why not purchase a gift card and save a few dollars?

One method I have found to be quite useful in finding good deals is to go to the Gift Certificates category on eBay and search for "Buy it Now items" in the search options. I then sort the results by the most recently listed auctions. Some sellers underestimate the value of their gift cards, so they may put up a Buy it Now price that is lower than what the card would generally go for. You have to be at the right place at the right time to snatch up those deals, but it can be worth it! (Just to prove that it does happen - as I was writing this article, I was able to purchase a $100 gift certificate redeemable at hundreds of spas nationwide for only $50!)

One word of caution: as with any online purchase, be sure that you are purchasing from a reputable seller. Unfortunately scammers are out there, so do your homework on the seller before making a purchase.

I hope you are able to use this technique to save money like I have. It is one I plan on using for years to come!








Attracting Love - Whining Or Fine Dining it is Up to You

"....and then Lori, that witch, sat on his lap and wrapped her skanky arms around him and he did absolutely nothing...nothing! He just sat there like the jerk that he is and did nothing."

I heard every word. I was three tables over in Starbucks and I couldn't help but overhear. I glanced over and I was surprised to see the person I was listening to was nearing 50. I couldn't help but wonder if she realized how she was coming across. If you are single and there are no prospects in sight, you are in the perfect position to take on a personal project. Ladies, we must learn to control what is coming out of our mouths. It is the perfect homework for control freaks every where, the one thing you CAN control is your speech! Starting tomorrow, begin each day with this intention at the forefront of your mind: I intend to write my complaints down in detail instead of speaking them out loud. There are two steps here, one, acknowledge the things that are bugging you and two, write them down. Don't get trapped in the artificial positivity that goes along with Law of Attraction thinking.

Let yourself be bugged. Write it down and then if you are a drama diva like me, create a burning ceremony and do it up right! Even if you just throw it away, at least it is coming up out of you and on to something neutral like a blank piece of paper. I like to use different colors of pens and sometimes I write conversationally as if an inner buddy is answering back.

Now Lori might actually be out to steal your man but even if she is, do we need to talk about it? What if the words we speak radiate from us as surely as radio waves? Personally, that is exactly what I think happens. Wouldn't it behoove us to choose carefully what we are broadcasting? So, let's get together here, ladies, and make some serious decisions. Yes, I am sure that people have been low down and no good including ex-boyfriends, ex-friends and ex-bosses, but retelling the story again and again and again doesn't serve you. As long as you are in between guys, why not practice cutting complaining out of your day to day routine?

A pastor in the Midwest started an anti-complaining campaign that has had a major impact. His suggestion is to put a rubber bracelet on one wrist and then switch wrists every time you catch yourself complaining. The goal is to wear the bracelet on the same wrist for thirty days. Great idea! I love the plan. I would just add one element. Complain once a day on paper. Let yourself be ticked off at the inconveniences that frustrate you, the inefficiency that annoys you, the disrespect that angers you and the carelessness that infuriates you. What ever it is, write it out, every word. Your opportunities for great dates and new connections will be dramatically impacted by this change in your routine. Most feel a change in a week. You can expect to be treated differently in subtle ways and you will attract small things like coupons from area restaurants, invitations, movie passes, things like that. Can fine dining be far behind?

Getting used to noticing the small but certain signs that our luck is changing is a necessary step. You want to be with someone permanently. You want someone around to fix a few things and to snuggle with on the couch. He wants that too and he is looking for you. Whining and complaining, no matter how deserving the offending party has been, is simply unattractive to a lot of decent guys and potential soul mates. Are you up for the challenge? When you are sipping a great red wine at your favorite fine dining establishment instead of whining at Starbucks to your girlfriends, you will be glad you did!





Catherine Behan, M.S. is an Author, Law Of Attraction Love Coach, Seminar Leader, Inspirational Speaker and E-Columnist. Ever wonder why the Law of Attraction seems to be ignoring your desire to be a soulmate? Could your love set point be set too low? Have @LOALoveCoach analyze your point of attraction and discover your love set point.
http://www.ResetYourLoveSetPoint.com




8 Ways to Save $50 a Month

Now on to the steps:

Clip coupons. You can save up to $20 to $30 everytime you shop. That leads to big time savings. Use your local papers to find coupons or go to the myriad coupon sites on the internet to find them. This is one of the easiest ways to save money each month.
Buy Groceries on sale. But only items that are on sale. Base your meals and snacks around sales. You'll be surprised at how little your grocery bill can be. You'll save a good $50 a month by doing this.
Get rid of your landline phone. Only use your cellphone. You can now get all services from your cell phone provider as your landline. And then some.
Only buy generic items at the store. Generic items are just as good as name brand and they are a lot cheaper.
If you smoke, roll your own cigarettes. This may sound silly, but you will save a ton of money by not buying name brand cigarettes. This may sound like a pain, but look at the money you'll save. The same goes for drinking beer. Drink domestic rather than import.
Share rides. If you share a ride to work, or bike, instead of driving everyday you can save at least $50 a month if not more. And it's good for the environment to boot.
Plant your own garden. In the summer you won't have to buy vegetables and most likely you'll have enough to give to friends and neighbors.
Cut out the daily Starbucks, or don't eat out more than once a week. If you are eating out all of the time, that could mean $50 a week for lunch, maybe $100 on the weekend eating out at restaurants.

So there is a start. You probably know other ways.





Feel free to share them with me over at my personal finance blog, A Dollar Earned.




What Are the Benefits of Buying Starbucks Coffee Online?

Starbucks coffee is one of the best tasting coffees of the world. With a history of providing the people with innovative blending tastes of coffee, Starbucks has always been a demand-high beverage. Everyone wishes to drink it once more after tasting the remarkable taste of Starbucks for the first time. Those who live at a nearby place to any Starbucks outlet can easily join in the lucky crowd that enjoys the great taste.

What if a person is craving to taste Starbucks, and there is no Starbucks outlet near his vicinity. Alternatively, you can feel perturbed if you travelled to a country and got lucky by chance to sip the aromatic flavour of Starbucks coffee. Now after reaching your homeland, you wish to cherish the same taste again, and can't find it there.

In that case, the best option is to find a source that can bring this great tasting coffee right to your doorsteps. Now, you should sit in front of your computer and search the Starbucks Coffee site.

Like anything else, you can buy Starbucks Coffee Online easily. Shopping anything online is a today activity, and fearing about placing an order to a fraudulent company is an old story. It is not a big deal to assess about the credibility of the website. It is just a matter of checking it out properly for a several minutes.

Here on the Starbucks website, you can check out the offered flavours and can get to know about them in detail. You can also find several discounts offered by the company for the addicts of their coffee. This is an amazing benefit of buying Starbucks coffee online. Several times, you may find offers while purchasing online, which you may not find in the concrete outlets. They may be coupons for tasting various flavours or they may be for equipments/ coffee drinking accessories with the company logo on them.

Buying Starbucks Coffee online is like a dream come true for those who can't easily get a chance to drink it in a nearby coffee shop. In this way, they can enjoy the same fresh taste of coffee again, which they cherished at the very first sip of this great tasting coffee during their trip to a place, while staying right at their place.

There is an array of possibilities that you did not have a chance to taste all the exotic flavours of the brand when you drank it for the first time. By buying coffee online, you can taste them all easily by availing special offers, coupons, or discounts. What else can be greater when you don't even have to step out of your house to get what you want?!

It does not matter that you want to purchase Starbucks coffee for yourself, to present it to someone, or you are buying it to open some eatery. You can simply place your order on the Starbucks website and get it within a limited period with the assurance of same high quality that it provides throughout the world. If you have not tasted all the Starbucks flavours, do try them out for a completely new and joyous experience, which is easily possible through an online purchase option.





The Author:
Tom B is a avowed fan of coffee, in his site: http://www.coffee-buy.com he reviews the best coffee brands in the world.




Restaurant Coupons Can Rescue Your Money

Using Coupons From a Restaurant

It is more difficult, but even more important to save money. Just to stay above water, many people have to work more, if they have a job at all. Since people are working longer hours, or are looking all the time for a job, they have even less time to make full course meals for their family, or even eating out at inexpensive restaurants. The act of eating out with family and friends has become a very rare luxury indeed.

Rescue Yourself with Restaurant Coupons

You don't have to live like this. Restaurants often use gift cards, other promotions, and restaurant coupons, to attract new customers, since restaurants are suffering just like we are. As a consumer, this works to your advantage. You can begin to see a large difference in your food bill through the huge savings that you will enjoy. When first starting, organizing and clipping coupons can be overwhelming for many people.

Coupons From Fast Food Restaurants

Nowadays, not everyone has the time or energy to cook a complete meal for their family every night. The kids are usually doing their own activities, and lots of times, both parents work. There is not much time left in the day to cook. Sometimes, the parents may have had a bad time at work, and don't want to cook. What do you do? Or your boss let's you leave early by cutting your lunch break short. You have to eat something to be able to make it through the next four hours. What is the answer to the problem?

If you are in need of food right away, fast food restaurants can be the answer. Whether you need to pick up dinner, or a small snack before dinner, it can be your answer. Over spending has to be watched carefully though. Clipping coupons come in handy at this time. Coupons are usually offered at fast food restaurants. When you find yourself going to a restaurant at the last minute, having coupons from your favorite fast food restaurants stashed in your glove compartment can really come in handy.

Coupon Hunting On The Internet

As times get harder, people are finding more progressively creative and ingenious ways to save money. The power and vast reach of the internet serves as a force multiplier for coupon finding. The real bargains and deals are in seemingly obvious yet unconventional outlets for paper coupons. For example, did you know that you can find virtually any newspaper, cutout, promotional restaurant coupon on ebay? You can pay a relatively small fee for a persons time and effort to clip the coupon and set up the listing and they will ship it for free to your door via first class mail. By using the internet in this fashion, you have access to an array of promotions that you normally wouldn't, one can assemble a virtual menu of restaurant and food coupons based on their taste and needs.

Healthy Food Choices

With the nation battling childhood obesity and diabetes, the industry of fast food has had to reevaluate their menus and the foods they offer. More people are becoming aware of the need to eat better, healthier foods. Healthier foods choices are now being offered by many of the leading fast food restaurants.

Before, it was harder to eat healthy, since more nutritious foods cost more than foods that were not as healthy. This was a trade off that many had to make. When you can take advantage of the fast food restaurants now preparing healthier foods, and through the use of money saving coupons, you can have healthy foods that have a lower price.





As a freelance writer, Josh Sterling now has a new appreciation and fondness for Starbucks gift cards and restaurant coupons, since researching this article and achieving significant savings through their use.