THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409150153
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Although it is named for the Roman god of the sea, the Neptune Festival is using a creative idea named after Neptune's Greek counterpart to fill its financial gulf.
Poseidon pins.
Sales of the small commemorative lapel pins began in 1993 at the 20th annual Neptune Festival and sales are expected to increase dramatically this year.
``We made 20,000 of the pins last year and sold about two-thirds of them. This year, we have 50,000 pins for sale,'' said John Brogan, Poseidon pin chairman for the 21st festival.
The sales are crucial. The city's funding ends after the 1995 Neptune Festival.
Neptune organizers, eager to reel in the financial catch of the season, have been fishing for fund-raising ideas. They hooked what they hope will be a big one.
``The Kentucky Derby Festival has been doing this (selling pins) for about 20 years,'' Brogan said. ``They sell between 650,000 and 800,000 a year. Obviously, we're not up to that level yet, but the idea looks promising.
``Someone buys a pin for $2 and also receives $3 or $4 worth of coupons. Those come with no strings attached. You walk in, hand the coupon to the merchant and receive the items listed for free,'' said Brogan.
Burger King, Pizza Hut, McDonald's and Subway all have Poseidon pin coupon offers, for example.
The purchaser also has a chance of receiving a special gold Poseidon pin. The gold pin entitles the buyer to a $10 gift certificate at a Beach restaurant, and a chance at one of five grand prizes.
The grand prize drawing will be held on Oct. 16 at Lynnhaven Mall.
``We've added four grand prizes since last year,'' Brogan said.
In 1993, the grand prize was two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the continental United States from USAir and Beach Travel.
For the 21st festival, these prizes have been added:
A $1,500 shopping spree at Lynnhaven Mall.
1,000 gallons of fuel oil from Papco Oil Co.
A $500 savings bond from Commerce Bank.
A weekend getaway for two at the Oceanfront Inn.
A thousand gold pins will be distributed among the 50,000 pins for sale. MEMO: For information on buying a pin, call 498-0215. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
A thousand gold pins, which entitle the buyer to $10 gift
certificates, will be distributed among the 50,000 pins for sale.
by CNB