Vista taps Melendez as SANDAG rep ask mr. marketi rob weinberg Taking stock with potato chips

Thirty years ago, I bought a bag of po tato chips.

the scale this morning re minds me that I’ve prob ably bought (and eaten) a truckload of these munch ies since then. But this par ticular potato chip experi ence was special enough to stand out in my mind.

Because every bag of snacks I purchased from the Good Idea Foods Co. came with one share of its common stock, certificate and all.

The company had obviously figured out that, regardless of what you sell, your customers are asking one question: What’s in it for me?

And by providing an “ownership” position in the company, Good Idea Foods had successfully gotten me to buy into its success. The company was motivating me to buy more of its merchandise.

Pretty slick trick!

Now for my confession: After I received that first stock certificate, I went out and bought a bunch more of Good Idea’s snack foods.

I eventually ended up with several dozen shares. My youthful fantasies of easy wealth focused on ably a cleaner, more effective strategy than having me send in four box tops.

Furthermore, in addition to providing significant incentive to continue buying its products, Good Idea Foods also added my name (and countless others) to its mailing list. That mailing list was undoubtedly rented out to other businesses numerous times.

Sadly, Good Idea Foods went belly up in 1997. So much for my youthful wisdom and foresight, eh?

But remember, a sales promotion is supposed to generate short-term sales with an eye toward establishing long-term customer relationships. Anyone familiar with the story of Willy Wonka recognizes drawings, you periodically encounter a campaign that’s professional, clever and most important, different. Your business can also benefit from the occasional sales promotion. Done properly, it can grab attention, build long-term revenues and steal market share from your competitors. As this manufacturer showed, being daring and outrageous has potential to add some immediate flavor to your bottom line. And that makes it a good idea. With that said, I wish you a week of profitable marketing.

Get your share of marketing ideas at www. askmrmarketing.com.

By Steve Puterski VISTA

— The Vista City Council voted on Tuesday to appoint Councilwoman Katie Melendez as the body’s primary representative on the SANDAG board.

The agenda item was a continuation from the council’s January decision to amend the municipal code and change how the city selects representation to one of the most high-profile boards in San Diego County.

Melendez was approved following a 3-2 vote during the 6½-hour meeting on Feb. 28, with Mayor John Franklin and Councilman Joe Green voting against the nomination.

The council also appointed Councilman Dan O’Donnell as the primary SANDAG alternate and Franklin as second alternate.

“I think there is no one better than Councilmember Melendez to advocate,” said Councilmember Corrina Contreras. “SANDAG is so much more than transportation. It’s about affordable housing, habitat protection and how we connect with each other.”

In January, Franklin, as the newly-elected mayor, proposed a slate of municipal appointments to regional boards and commissions, with him serving as the primary representative on SANDAG’s board.

But the council’s Democratic majority, consisting of Contreras, Melendez and O’Donnell, opted to changed the city code to allow for any council member to propose a slate of appointments.

Countywide, the issue of representation on the SANDAG board has been sharply divided along partisan lines. And Vista was no different, as the council jockeyed for the seat to the regional planning agency that oversees a nearly $1 billion annual budget.

Making matters even more contentious among member cities is SANDAG’s controversial $172 billion Regional Transportation Plan.

Melendez said her goal is to advocate for Vista and infrastructure projects, but also did not state a position on a controversial road user

VOLUNTEER charge. Under that proposal, motorists would be charged 3.3 cents per mile.

In December 2021, the SANDAG board directed staff to remove the charge from the transportation plan. After staff missed its summer deadline, the removal of the charge was pushed to the spring. Opponents believe the inaction by SANDAG staff is a decoy pushed forward by the Democratic board majority.

Franklin said Contreras should have recused herself from the vote due to her alleged financial and lobbying conflicts through her role as a policy advocate at the Climate Action Campaign, a primary sponsor for the failed half-cent tax measure last year.

If Contreras had recused herself from the vote, Franklin would serve as the primary SANDAG representative due to a 2-2 split.

Franklin argued he was the best choice for the SANDAG role based on his experience and role as mayor.

JOIN THE NORTH COASTAL SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SENIOR VOLUNTEER PATROL

The Senior Volunteer Patrol of the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station performs home vacation security checks, assists with traffic control, enforces disabled parking regulations, patrols neighborhoods, schools, parks and shopping centers and visits homebound seniors who live alone for the communities of Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar.& portions of the county’s unincorporated areas. Volunteers must be at least age 50, be in good health, pass a background check, have auto insurance & a valid California driver’s license. Training includes a two week academy plus training patrols. The minimum commitment is 24 hours per month, & attendance at a monthly meeting. Interested parties should call (760) 966-3579 to arrange an information meeting.

CANNABIS RETAILER Ecrencinitas4 plans to open a new storefront at 211 N. El Camino Real in Encinitas, next to Cotixan Mexican Food. Screenshot/Google

CANNABIS

CONTINUED FROM 3 retailers once they begin operations.

“It’s a good way to ensure that licensees are working to prevent underage use,” Walker said.

Some were also concerned with the sale of “black market” or unpermitted products in the dispensaries that are not part of the state’s Cannabis Track and Trace system, which follows the movement of cannabis products throughout the state.

“Sales of black market cannabis in these retail facilities should be a one strike you’re out kind of thing,” Kranz said. “We cannot tolerate that particular violation of their permit.”

Measure H gives the city discretion to either revoke or suspend a business license, though staff would still need to consult with the city attorney on what is allowable.

All of the businesses must be at least 1,000 feet away from schools, playgrounds, daycares and other cannabis retailers including each other.