There’s an interesting project that’s just getting started called Supportland, which is basically a rewards card that you use when you shop at local businesses. I’m all for anything that supports the Portland economy, and this seems more convenient than chronically forgetting to use coupons from the Chinook Book. Plus, their graphics are hella twee. So Portland. Watch this cutesy video (originally produced for Ignite Portland), which explains the program v e r y s l o w l y using the Paul Bunyan statue and raccoons (I watched it twice and I still don’t understand the Facebook/Twitter linking piece, but I have a message out to find out more). Do you think you’d use this? I just pre-registered. The site says it should be ready to roll within a month.
Marjorie Skinner is the Portland Mercury's Managing Editor, author of the weekly Sold Out column chronicling the area's independent fashion and retail industry, and a frequent contributor to the film and... More by Marjorie Skinner
This seems like it could actually be a decent idea, if it can get the critical mass required.
That said, I would still feel a little silly taking out my Supportland card, though I do the same without thinking at Great Harvest or Fred Meyer…
It seems kind of funny that a marketing major’s wet dream of seamless integration between companies constantly beaming their messages directly to WILLING consumers could find a home here, of all places, simply by marrying technology with Portland’s smug obsession with itself.
I second the “v e r y s l o w l y” comment.
I will do anything Paul Bunyan tells me to, though. Even though he usually only talks about the Dancin’ Bare.
Ten point doughnut? A raccoon drinking beer? I am confused. (Also, I nominate Reymont for comment of the week.)
I know, it’s confusing. I wrote a note to the nice lady to help us understand.
So did the tattoo artist pay $ to charge Paul’s card? Does the bar and the donut shop get compensated by supportland (or the tattoo shop) for giving out free products to reward paul for getting a tattoo? I’m just trying to understand the business side of it.
Hi everyone! My husband and I are Supportland. Apologizes for anything coming off confusing – I have zip marketing background. Plus it’s such a massive concept that it’s difficult to explain without just handing you a Supportland Card. Once we’re launched it’ll be similar to the Safeway Card/Fred Meyer Card/Airline Miles Card, but you can use it all over town and only at locally-owned places. If you want to know more about the business side, please come along to one of our presentations in SE next week:
Monday, March 8 at 6:30pm at Zoomtopia (810 SE Belmont)
Tuesday, March 9 at 7pm hosted Woodstock Community Business Association at Laughing Planet (4110 SE Woodstock Blvd)
Wednesday, March 10 at 9:30am at Zoomtopia (810 SE Belmont)
Right on and please let me know if you have any questions –
@Katrinasdc – The video shows Ol’ Paul choosing the donut deal online before going off and using his card to claim one in the store. Will you really have to perform that step in advance? If I’m at a store with my card and I see they are offering 10-point donuts, can I make an impulse buy?
@Reymont – You will be able to collect points without any online transactions. Just walk into a business with a Supportland sticker. There are other features, like our built in “punch card” (ex: buy 10 lattes, get 11th free), that can also be used 100% offline.
To spend points however, consumers will have to either go to our site or use the Supportland iPhone app (Android coming soon). Also, we’ve got an open API and are working with other local websites, like Portland Pedal Power, so they can have Supportland point transactions on their site as well. We had to make this online/offline distinction mainly for security reasons.
Katrina is going to be a guest on LaunchPad Radio this Thursday. Definitely worth a listen if you want to learn more about how Supportland came about and what impact it is having: http://launchpadradio.com