Merchants distribute free shopper discount cards
at Somerville Arts & Main Street Fair Oct. 2

By Rod Hirsch
Visitors to the Oct. 2 Somerville Arts & Main street festival can pick up something for nothing and turn that into hundreds of dollars in savings the next time they visit downtown merchants. The Somerville Business & Professional Association will distribute Consumer Loyalty Cards for free at their display table located in front of Beneath It All, 72 W. Main Street from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

“Everyone can afford to save a few dollars, especially in this economy,” said Paul Sanford, president of the Somerville Business & Professional Association and owner of Sanford Jewelers. Here’s how the card works:
Shoppers present the card to participating merchants, identified by a decal on the doors and windows of their individual stores and ask for the discount as listed on the SBPA website, www.somervillebiz.org.
 That’s it.
Each merchant designs their own discount program or special offer, which will be advertised and updated on the website.   
“The beauty of the card is in the fact that it does not offer one specified reward to the user, but rather offers a variety of benefits that are determined by the merchants themselves,” explained Tony Loftus, director of Marketing, Events & Special  Programs at Somerville Lumber, a member of the SBPA and designer of the discount card program.
“This allows each merchant to custom tailor the offering so as to best suit their customer base, product offerings and results required to run their business successfully.”
Here’s a sampling of offers from a few merchants participating in the program:
·        Verizon store -  25 percent off all accessories and 15 percent off of Android devices;
·        Paul Sanford Jewelers -  $1 off repairs (See store for additional information);
·        Central Pizzeria - Buy two entrees  and get a free dessert;
·        Beneath it All – 10 percent off of new merchandise;
·        It's All Good – 10 percent off all merchandise;
“It’s a great way for us to say ‘thank you’ to all of our loyal customers, and to welcome new customers to our stores,” Sanford said. “It’s also a great way for the merchants to cross-pollinate and encourage shoppers to visit other merchants down the blcok or across the street.”
Sanford also noted that many merchants’ organizations in other towns charge a fee for their discount program; the SBPA does not.
“All you have to do is walk up to the SBPA table at the street fair and ask for the discount card,” he said.
“Simply put, the card is created for and issued to our customers as a continuing stimulus tool, encouraging the holder to repeat their visits to our stores time and time again,” Loftus said.
Further information is available by calling (908) 725-3636.