Tuesday night, March 30, 2010, we hosted our first-ever Meet & Greet for Pocket Your Dollars’ readers. What started out as a suggestion from readers when Carrie asked what they’d like Pocket Your Dollars’ 2010 goals to be became this event. It certainly won’t be the last of these face-to-face gatherings where we get to know other readers and Carrie a little more.
Get a sense of the event through this short video, put together by a very gracious reader.
If you can’t see the video or to watch the video clips I showed that night on our You Tube channel and see all the photos on Flickr. If you’ve got your own photos from the event, upload them to the Pocket Your Dollars’ Facebook fan page or Flickr.
Guests got a great swag bag with goodies and were entered into a drawing for well over $1,000 in door prizes. Many of those companies have extended offers, discounts and promotions to the entire Pocket Your Dollars’ community. Check out who gave what and which deals you can still get in on.
Swag bags were filled with goodies donated by:
Vanns.com gave each guest one of these digital camera accessory kits including two rechargeable AA batteries. Did I say that Consumer Reports ranked Vanns.com its #1 top-rated electronics retailer? I bought a Sony Vaio laptop from them earlier this year and had a great experience. Check them out next time you need consumer electronics.
Cub Foods provided reusable grocery bags to hold all the other goodies.
SC Johnson provided a four-pack of Shout Wipes.
WeeEssentials gave homemade soap bits and lip balm. Order $25+ in product to get free shipping when you use the code GoGreen.
LeMire Consulting, the folks that helped us buy our paid-for-with-cash mini-van, gave air fresheners and magnets.
The Power of W Real Estate provided pens, notepads and a $200 credit on closing costs for everyone. You can get that same $200 closing cost credit by mentioning Pocket Your Dollars.
CRAVE Restaurant donated coupons for $5 off any entree. (We only had 100 of those, so not everyone got one)
Many other business gave coupons and discounts. I’m happy to tell you that most have extended the offer to the entire Pocket Your Dollars’s readership.
Inflatables. 25% off a weekday rental, 10% off a weekend rental when you mention Pocket Your Dollars. Good through 12/31/2010
Face to Face Solutions, the direct marketing arm of the Star Tribune, has a great offer on newspaper subscriptions that I am going to share in a separate post. I’m excited about it!
Mary Kay Consultant Whitney Souza donated samples and coupons.
My Candid Moments photography will give $25 off a photography session if you book before April 15 and mention Pocket Your Dollars. (Shannon, of My Candid Moments, donated her time and talent to photograph the event and did a fabulous job. She is also my family’s photographer of choice. Look at these cute pics of my kids and you’ll know why)
Moms Turn Minnesota invites mom’s to join their community.
New Again Deck Renewal of Eden Prairie, MN. 15% off wood cleaning and refinishing.
Norwex Consultant Pam Iverson. Get 10% off any $20+ purchase through June 15. Contact Pam at 952-454-2707 and mention Pocket Your Dollars to get your discount.
Premier Designs Consultant Shelley Scholtes. Select $40 of jewelry and pay just $19.95 plus tax and $2.50 for shipping. Contact Shelley at 612-840-2938 or premierjewels@earthlink.net to order.
Travel Leaders. Receive up to $200 off your travel package when you mention Pocket Your Dollars. Discounts vary by vacation package price.
Many of the businesses that gave swag also gave generous door prizes. A few additional companies just provided door prizes.
Fantastic Sam’s donated a $50 gift certificate and 100 full-sized bottles of hair product, handheld mirrors and carabeaners. (This is where I publicly acknowledge that I get my hair cut and colored at Fantastic Sam’s)
TJ Maxx donated two $25 gift cards
Living Word Christian Center – Angel Food Ministries donated three food boxes. I personally donated another three food boxes because I believe that strongly in Angel Food.
Ardyss International Consultant Michelle Yangwel gave a free custom-fit garment that provides back support, improves posture and tucks the tummy.
Penny’s Bibs and Burps donated two hand-made bibs and a set of two fleece burp cloths. (This is my mom’s budding business and when she gets her Etsy site up and running I will let you know about it because her bibs are adorable, but also super functional. They are the only things I’ve used for both my girls).
Your turn: If you were there, what would you like others to know about the event? Highlights? Take away thoughts? Interesting moments? Other comments or feedback on the event?
**Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read Pocket Your Dollars’ disclosure statement for more information.
About Carrie Rocha
Glad it was a success. Was my son’s birthday so I couldn’t attend. Looking forward to continued savings with pocketyourdollars!
It was my daughter’s birthday, too!!! :) I’m also glad it was a success – and I’m also looking forward to hearing about the newspaper deal!! The Star Tribune had a postcard in last week’s paper – a special going on for 99 cents per week (Sunday paper only) for 26 weeks. Wondering if this is going to be better… I had the postcard ready to mail but I think I’ll wait until I see what you post, Carrie!
Jenn- Yep – wait until you see what I post. You’ll like it better, promise :)
Some people also got a $5 off coupon for Crave. I’d be wiling to trade my digital camera kit if someone has a Crave coupon they won’t use.
i have one i won’t be using, e-mail me at areweallweird AT yahoo DOT com.
Feeling a little sad….would have loved to be there.
The Meet & Greet was wonderful!! Carrie you are such a Great speaker!! I brought my husband (who is seeing how excited I get when I save money or get free stuff), he had a great time too, really wants to try the Angel Food Ministries program. The Swag Bags are awesom, we are going to put some of those coupons to good use (my son wants me to use the inflatables cpn, like yesterday LOL). It was a really great week – Getting a Spring Makeover on Twin Cities Live – Getting to attend the Meet & Greet and experiencing Carrie and all she has to offer (sending us in the right direction!!)…. :>)
Thank you Carrie and all who help work on PYD, can’t imagine life without ya now…. :>)
Bummed that I didn’t make the lottery to attend the first “Meet & Greet”
Hope to attend the second one….hopefully soon!
I was just wondering what the WeeEssentials GoGreen code is for. It says something about ordering $25 + but doesn’t really say what the code does. Was that just for the people that attended?
Erica – No anyone can use it. Sorry for leaving off the most important detail! Whoops! It’s free shipping on a $25 purchase.
It sounds like a wonderful success! I can’t wait for the next one to be planned – I would love to go!
It sounds like a very fun event. I hope that next time – those of that didn’t win the lottery wil be able to attend. bummer to miss such an event….. but thanks again Carrie to all your help.