Note that last week's newsletter had the word Gift (Batch Gift Cards) in the subject line of the email. So if you missed that article, it is probably in your Junk Mail folder. Of course you can always go to the Lessons from the Pro link on our web site to see any of the newsletters (http://www.ClubProphetSystems.com).

Our Spring install season is finally winding down. We actually had more people in the office last week than were out traveling to customer sites. That's the first time that happened this year. Even so, we are still actively searching for more employees for tech support and project management to improve our customer support service.

Today, I want to review a new hidden gem that you could use to solicit some long lost corporate business. As those of you who have been around awhile know, changes in the tax laws back in the 90s killed off the corporate country club memberships. More specifically, businesses were no longer permitted to deduct golf memberships as a tax expense "write-off". Today "entertainment" is capped at a 50% deduction. However, "promotions" are still a full expense deduction. Armed with this knowledge, you could approach local businesses and offer to sell them a package of rounds that they could use to "promote" their business. For those that do not want to push the envelope of the tax laws, you could sell them a package of golf rounds to award a group of employees, customers or vendors. This could also work for local organizations like a VFW, Elks or Eagles club -- even a local Pub. In addition, instead of selling at a discount, think more along the lines of adding value (throw in either a free breakfast, a round of drinks, or a sleeve of balls, etc).

Ok, enough of the free marketing advice. Let's assume you find a way (alright, one more marketing tip - use targeted email blasts) to sell a package of 50 rounds of golf to that company in the funny looking building down the road - Clowns R Us. Clowns R Us is a small business with 10 employees (and one very small company car). KC the Clown (aka, King Clown) is the owner of Clowns R Us and has provided you with a list of employees and their email addresses that he has graciously permitted to use the 50 credits, thus "promoting" his business.

First thing we want to do is add Clowns R Us to our customer database. From the Customer screen, click the Add New Customer button and fill out the profile for Clowns R Us.

Next, we are going to enter each of the 10 clowns (employees).

Now go to the Other tab for Bozo and find the Shared Smart Card Acct. Set this to the company account you set up for Clowns R Us.

Repeat this step for each of the 10 clowns that are permitted to use the package of rounds.

If you have not done so already, you will need to set up a Smart Card product for the package of 50 rounds of golf. Set the Item Type to Smart Card. To complete the rest of the Product Setup screen, refer to the circled items below and click Save.

Next, enter the Smart Card Qty (50 in this case) and click Save.

Now sell this product to the Clowns R Us corporate account using a Smart Card transaction.

Now you're all set up and have $3,750 in the drawer. The next time Bozo or one of the other clowns comes in, you select their name in the Sales screen. You will see the Smart Card button (in the top right hand corner of the screen) turn green as a visual indicator that they have Smart Card Credits. Using a normal Sales transaction, you can either select the GF18-50 product from a Quick Sale button or by entering it into the product search, OR you can just click that SC button in the top right hand corner (circled below).

This will open a pop-up screen showing all the Smart Card items to which Bozo is authorized to use. In this case, there is only one -- double click the Green Fee 18 - 50 Pack.

This will return you to the Sales screen where you can add any other items and Finalize the sale. The Smart Card Qty for the Clowns R Us corporate account will be reduced; and the next thing you know you will have a bunch of freaking clowns juggling balls and lining up putts while standing on their heads promoting the Clowns R Us empire.

Enjoy :)