Tuesday, Nov. 04, 2008

Voters eligible for Election Day freebies

After taking care of their patriotic duty today, voters can do another all-American thing — consume.

This year, retailers and restaurants are jumping on Election Day enthusiasm by offering freebies and discounts to voters who wear their “I voted” stickers.

“We’re expecting record turnouts in a lot of places, and that’s got everybody energized,” said David Crockett, a marketing associate professor in USC’s Moore School of Business. “You’re hoping to cash in on the attention. If you’re a business, you want to be where the action is.”

The promotions include:

• Starbucks — A free tall coffee

• Ben & Jerry’s — Free scoops from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Fun Zone — The Irmo play center is offering $5 admission to voters’ children, a discount of $1 to $3.

• Krispy Kreme — The store on Knox Abbott Drive in Cayce will give a voter one star-shaped doughnut with red, white and blue sprinkles. Manager Jim Legacy is expecting to give away about 2,000 doughnuts.

Other retailers already have cashed in on the election hype.

Flying Saucer, a Vista bar, on Sept. 3 began selling pint glasses with Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain printed on them. Each $5 glass sold counts as a “vote” for that candidate.

As of Monday morning, Obama led 974 to 773, general manager Michael Derby said.

Flying Saucer ran a similar promotion during the 2004 presidential race, and it was a hit, Derby said.

“Obviously, people talk about their politics in a bar, and people thought it was a great tie-in,” he said.

Sticky Fingers, a Charleston-based barbecue chain, starts its election promotion on Wednesday.

Anyone who brings an old campaign sign to one of its restaurants gets a coupon for a free appetizer with an entree, said Shelley Wolford, a company spokesman.

“It’s what everybody is already talking about,” Wolford said. “And, quite honestly, it just helps to clean up. Those signs tend to linger and linger.”

Jeff Ranta, a USC advertising instructor and owner of Mustard N’ Relish advertising firm, said the give-aways and discounts are one way to help people recover from a divisive election.

“You tap into that whole swirling enthusiasm that’s out there,” Ranta said. “Now, we’re tapping into patriotism of the day.

“Regardless of how the election comes out we’re getting back to celebrating being Americans.”

Reach Phillips at (803) 771-8307.