Page 60 - #45 English

Management
Article by: Ed Arvidson
Photos by: CTI Team
Attracting Customer

by Supporting Your Community

Being a citizen of the community where you do In addition to merely proclaiming that supporting
business is something you should vigorously promote! your business will be helpful to the community, there are
Statements like: “Locally owned and operated,” and, other actions you should take to reinforce that assertion.
“Keep you money in Phuket”(whatever the name of your Anytime you can support a local cause, give a portion of
community is), should be proudly displayed on your busi- your proceeds to a worthwhile endeavor, or provide im-
ness sign, front door, and all of your promotional materi- portant information or services to your community, you
als. You’ll want to let people know that when they spend will be proving you’re a good local citizen… one people
money at your business, they will be helping someone should want to support! Of course, you’ll need to promote
like themselves, and their cash will continue to circulate that you are doing these things if you want to benefit from
throughout your community helping others. your actions.
Supporting or Organizing a Charitable Event
Supporting a local cause can be as simple as being a
sponsor or supporter of your local school’s sports team,
rescue mission, home for victims of domestic abuse, a
walk for breast cancer, a run for Muscular Dystrophy, or
some similar worthy cause. This support might be in the
form of a one-time or ongoing cash contribution, offering
half-off any purchase at your store, or merely provid-
ing free coffee, tea, or ice cream to the participants of a
charitable event. Discounts can be offered to participants
and/or attendees on the day of the event, or anytime
upon providing proof of membership to one of these
organizations.
If you plan to make a cash contribution to one of
these organizations instead of merely providing free
product or offering a discount, then you will want to
have your name proudly displayed or mentioned at their
events. We’ve all seen sporting events with the sponsor’s
names and logos displayed on the fence surrounding
the field, or heard the announcer giving thanks to their
sponsors. Make sure that you negotiate recognition in
exchange for your contribution.
If you are willing to be more ambitious, then instead
of merely being a supporter of an event, why not organize
a fund raising event for a worthy cause yourself. While
this will require more work than just being a sponsor, it
will allow your business to be the center of attention.
For example: If you decide to plan a fundraiser,
such as an auction of artwork with all proceeds going to
your local homeless shelter, then you will need to coor-
dinate all the details. You’ll need to contact local artists
and convince them to donate a piece of art or two for
the event. You’ll need to find a place to hold the auction,
your store being the ideal place if it’s large enough to ac-
commodate sufficient people. You’ll need to promote the
event by having some posters printed, and convince local
merchants to hang them in their windows. You should
also contact your local newspaper, radio and television
stations about promoting your event for free. After all,
it’s for a good cause, so they should be willing to help
out without charging you. And, if they need some cox-
ing, you can always offer to make them a cosponsor for

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