I want to feature 3-4 local restaurants on my card to ensure it is "sticky" and also to help build up my own email list ... so this is how I reached out today. Got a quick reply from the first one and waiting to hear back from the others ... My email pitch: I've dined at [restaurant name] several times with friends and family and I'm also on your email list. I stopped in yesterday and left some information about the local marketing co-op I'm putting together to help us all get more business from local Alexandria residents ... I also am the owner of the [facebook group I'm starting] which is a project I'm launching to connect local area residents with great local businesses like [name] Restaurant .. I invite you to join our growing Facebook group there. Right now I'm looking for 3-4 local family-owned restaurants/pizzerias/bakeries to feature on the Best of Alexandria mailing I'm sending out to 5,000 local Kingstowne residents in the [named] neighborhoods. I'd love to include [restaurant] as one of our favorite local restaurants and I'm wondering if you'd be open to being featured in exchange for providing me with eight $25 Gift Cards I can use as Giveaway incentives for local residents to join the Best of Alexandria email list. I know the restaurant business is a tough one with slim margins which is why I'm open to bartering a space for gift cards in lieu of requesting payment. Spaces are filling fast and I"d like to get this completed and off to print ASAP .. so if you could possibly let me know by Monday if this is something you're even interested in, I'd appreciate it! ======= And their reply within the hour of sending my inquiry: Hi Yvonne, Thank you so much for stopping by yesterday and for following up again today. I truly appreciate your support and the way you promote small, family-owned businesses like ours. It means a lot to us. I’m also very grateful that you’re offering this opportunity in exchange for gift cards — that is incredibly thoughtful and genuinely helpful for small businesses like [name]. I will have the eight $25 gift cards prepared today. You’re welcome to pick them up anytime, or I can mail them to you if that’s easier.

It's awesome to have are membership narrowed down to 11 founding members that are the action takers. Welcome. If you do not have my cell. Dm me for it. You signed an NDA so you are bound not to share it.

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