I’m not sure how I feel about offering your consignment shoppers a discount to vote for you.
What do you think? Perfectly fine, a bit weird, no way? Cast your vote: Let’s see what YOU think. After you opt for a choice, send this poll to a resale shopkeeper friend. It’ll be interesting to see…
PS Don’t forget to enter our current Wacky Wednesday Giveaway. It’s not 10% off, but then, it’s fun to see what everyone does, from vegging out to blasting away at clay targets (they go “boom” so satisfyingly!)
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
I goofed; I should have added another choice to the poll. That one would be: “DAMN! Why didn’t I think of this?” 😉
There’s a great way to do this and still not feel smarmy about payola. How’s about they bring in the “Thanks for voting” page and the shop donates a dollar to your current charity? (Don’t forget, a nice crisp dollar bill in the big clear donation jar clearly labeled with the charity’s name/ mission sitting in full view and pride of place.) That way, you’ll get some votes, you’ll show that it’s NOT “all about you”… or them… and get some community spirit going.
Of course, your donating that dollar to charity doesn’t get the voter money off, and sure, there’s lots of people out there who’d only vote if they could save money. But not much any of us can do about that…
The contests are generally neither fair or accurate.
However I think it is generally accepted that paying for votes is unethical. My personally integrity is crucial to me as a business owner, and particularly in the resale industry.
I would think quite less of a business owner who suggested such a thing to me personally. I would wonder about their general integrity. Asking for a vote is quite a different thing.
Well let me tell you this. I recently visited the ‘BEST’ consignment shop, 2 yrs running, and to my disappointment, I was amazed they even got a mention. Their stuff was old lady, tags ripped out, old and tired. Could not believe it!! This contest is all about who can stuff the ballot box the fastest! And Rachel is right, this ‘award’ only requires you to spend more advertising bucks! and our local paper is way too expensive! Statistics show young people are online for their news, not reading the old fashioned print form (except me, of course!)
Regardless of how you feel about it, your competition will probably do it so you’d be stupid not to do the same.
That being said, my experience is that these contest create more stress for us owners than they’re worth. My store has won these local contest in the past and they did nothing to increase sales.
Do you really think that someone will visit you because of some award you won? Consumers today are too savvy to fall for that.
The people who make out on these contests are the local TV stations and magazines that promote them, not the local retailer!
My first thought was of the producer of Hurt Locker who sent emails to the academy members soliciting votes. That was considered unfair and I would think a discount for a vote would be as well. Maybe a special sale afterwards to thank their customers for making them win or nominated.