THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509080197
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
They may not look valuable, but the plastic 1995 Neptune Festival Poseidon Pins are going to be collector items.
That's what festival president Nancy Creech predicts. She cited the popularity of the lapel pins of the prestigious Kentucky Derby Festival, which have risen steadily in value over the years. Organizers from that festival taught the Neptune Festival directors three years ago how to create, market and sell the brightly colored pins.
``At the Kentucky Derby Festival, they've become collector's items,'' said Creech. ``They're worth in the thousands if you have six to 12 of the pins. They sell hundreds of thousands of Pegasus pins.''
The Neptune Festival pins have a long way to go to generate that kind of income, but they do bring in about $25,000 a year, said Creech. The money raised is used to support the next year's festival. Pins sell for $2 each and come with $6 worth of coupons to local fast-food restaurants.
What's new about this year's pin is that everyone who buys one has a chance at the grand prizes. Previously, only those lucky enough to buy a gold pin were eligible for the grand prize drawings, according to Neptune Festival chairman Lawrence Sutton, president of Hoffman Beverage Co. This year, everyone can fill out the registration form and place it in one of the information kiosks that will be set up on 13th, 17th and 24th streets. Winning entries will be drawn on the last day of the Neptune Festival, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m. on the 17th Street stage.
This year's grand prizes are:
Two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the continental United States.
A weekend for two at Oceanfront Inn.
1,000 gallons of heating oil from Papco Oil Company.
A $500 U.S. Savings Bond from Commerce Bank.
Two beach cruisers from Conte's Bicycle and Fitness Equipment.
A set of custom-made golf clubs, courtesy of Affordable Golf.
Two color TV sets and two VCRs from Nu-Home TV & Furniture.
Additionally, smaller prizes ($25 to $50 gift certificates) will be given every 15 minutes during Boardwalk Weekend, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.
Poseidon pins are available through about 140 local businesses and will be on sale during the festival, which began Saturday night with the Grand Ball and continues through Oct. 1. It costs $100 for a business to buy a standing A-frame board of 60 pin packets worth $120.
``Businesses can sell them and make a $20 return on their money,'' Creech said. ``I don't know where else you can make a 20 percent profit, and it's a way to help the festival.''
NEPTUNE EVENTS SCHEDULE/ 10 ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Neptune Festival pins sell for $2 each and come with $6 worth of
coupons to local fast-food restaurants. Everyone who buys one has a
chance at grand prizes.
by CNB