Thank you Gisborne…

 Thanks for phoning the radio station in droves this week when Heart of Gisborne launched a new retail promotion called “Gisopoly”.

Gisopoly is designed to bump up the bucks in our local retailers’ tills during the drab winter month of August. It was developed in response to feedback from our previous Shop & Win promotions. Gisborne people told us they wanted cash and that’s what you get when you play Gisopoly – $5000 big fat dollars will go to the winner, and there are many more prizes up for grabs as well.

Heart of Gisborne has partnered with Classic Hits FM for Gisopoly. Breakfast host, Darryl Mallet, told me he was jaw-droppingly delighted on Monday morning when he received dozens of calls from people wanting to play the on-air version of the game.

“I have never, ever, had so many calls on the first day of a promotion. Not even in Rotorua, which has a much bigger market.” There are two games…. the on-air game and the Real Life game. The radio version is “for listeners to win instant prizes…oh, and for cheating”, laughs Mr Mallet.

In the Real Life game there are 21 Gisopoly cards… and the game works just like the world-famous board game we all know and love. All you have to do is make a purchase at any participating business in the Heart of Gisborne and receive a Gisopoly card. Once you’ve got one, simply visit two other businesses that belong in the same colour group. Your first card will tell you where you need to go.

Qualifying by visiting three businesses is actually much less hassle than it sounds like it might be. Each of the participating stores has low-ticket items as well as more pricey ones available.

Just as an example, the three places to collect your grey set of cards are: Tairawhiti Museum & Art Gallery, Olympic Pools and the HB Williams Memorial Library. Library manager Pene Walsh says involvement in the promotion was a no-brainer for her.

“It’s really a fantastic chance for us to have a bit of fun in the winter and to promote what we do. It’ll encourage people to come out in the cold to the library.” Ms Walsh says people will qualify for a Gisopoly card whenever they complete any financial transaction of $3 or more at the library. That means you can hire a CD or a magazine or an artwork, buy a photocopy card, even pay off your extended loan charges. Then all you need to do is visit the Museum, and enjoy a warm swim at the indoor heated pool at the Pools.

Many of the Gisopoly businesses are shops you’ll be going to already. Some of them may be new to you. As shoppers, this is a chance to support local retailers. For the businesses, it’s a chance to promote themselves, work together and support one another. We all get to have fun.

Once you’ve collected your set of three of the same colour, seal them in the envelope supplied at any participating business then place in the entry box to win $5000. When you’ve got your three cards, simply start again – collecting a new, or the same colour set to increase your chances of winning the cash.

Thank you Gisborne, for supporting the On Air game so well this week. I hope you’ll do the same for the Real Life game… on Monday.