National Clothesline

I am like most folks… I am reluctant to donate to a charity for fear they will put me on a list and every organization, although worthy or not, will be forever contacting me and asking for another donation.

It’s certainly possible that may happen, but so what? You can just say “not now” and refuse a

whatever cause is calling.

Let me tell you how Zack Anderson of Crowne Cleaners in Des Moines, IA, instigated a program that randomly refunds customers’ drycleaning bills with the suggestion that they donate the money to someone who is in need or to a worthy cause of their choosing.

The company randomly selects a period during one day every month to give approximately $600 worth of drycleaning bills back to its customers.

For example, if a customer pays $30 on a drycleaning order, Crowne puts $30 into an envelope, gives it to the customer and asks them to donate it to a person or organization that needs it.

The choice is entirely the customer’s. They can even choose to keep the money for themselves, or hold onto it waiting for that special appeal.

The gifts are given completely at random with ten customers or more selected each month until the total reaches $600. Then it is closed until the next month.

This generosity was reported in National Clothesline in January and caught my attention. Zack Anderson reports Crowne does little advertising but they have received a tremendous number of favorable compliments from those who receive the awards.

One customer reported that she bought a hearing aid for an elderly friend who could not afford such a needed gift and was so very thankful. Another gave the money to a young woman whose purse had been stolen. In each case, the recipients were totally surprised by the generosity.

There should be more such acts of kindness, especially in these difficult times where many are suffering hardships and are too proud to disclose their misfortune.

Needless to say, the word-of-mouth has been beneficial for Crowne as they help neighbors help neighbors.

Often when I think of the cost of advertising, I have to believe that there is no such thing as even bad advertising. But this particular way of generosity has a long-lasting effect. And what a good image the firm has. It lets people know that you care and that you want your customers to care, too. As they go about spreading your generosity, they will surely tell people about it and perhaps bring more business and new customers to your store.