Sep 6, 2007

Golden Key promotion stimulates retail salesBy David CorderTheVillagesDailySun.com

The Villages — Sales at The Purple Pig jumped over the past week or so, thanks to an unexpected boost.

The retail gift shop that Ellie Heiner owns and operates in Lake Sumter Landing isn’t the only business in this commercial district to benefit from the windfall, either.

And everyone is attributing this unexpected good fortune to the very popular Golden Key promotion sponsored by The Waterfront Inn.

“They just asked who wanted to participate,” said Ellen Harcourt, one of the gift shop’s co-managers. “And it was free advertising.”

This promotion offers Villagers the opportunity to win a golden key, which entitles the winner to a free night’s lodging at the upscale hotel in advance of its grand opening next month.

All you have to do is fill out a coupon published intermittently in the Daily Sun. Then deposit the coupon in one of the red contest boxes displayed at participating businesses, such as the Lake Sumter branch of Citizens First Bank.

“The box is filling very quickly,” said Julie Sotherden, a Citizens First vice president and Lake Sumter branch manager. “It’s almost full.”

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