SPONSIBLE CHALLENGE #1

Here at SPONSIBLE we practice what we preach. If we didn't this whole blog wouldn't make much sense really. So here's what we're gonna do:

Periodically we will be issuing something called the SPONSIBLE CHALLENGE. Whenever we see something that we believe needs to be changed for the betterment of the world, we'll come up with a simple, practical solution to the problem. Then we'll present the solution to whomever it may be who's responsible for the situation, be it a corporation, a politician or a private organization and notify them that we will be following up within 30 days to see whether they've taken steps to improve the matter. If they have we will award them with a Sponsible Seal of Approval, which they can display proudly for all to see. Or they don't have to do anything with it at all. But our hope is to set a standard of excellence that a business would be proud to reach. It's all about doing good and getting noticed for your efforts, basically.

THREE FEET OF RECEIPT

Our first sponsible challenge is issued to CVS/Pharmacy and has to do with a wasteful practice. On a recent visit to the Woodland Hills, CA location of this chain we purchased three items and in return were issued a receipt that spans an incredible and incredibly wasteful 37-3/4"! The actual sales portion of the receipt was only 7" long (still seemingly excessive), which means we received over 30" in coupons that we won't use.

This is prime example of target marketing at its most wasteful. And even the targeting is off base, as we have no need for Huggies or acne medication, two of the five coupons.

THE SPONSIBLE CHALLENGE

We propose that CVS/Pharmacy adopt a system of distributing customer-specific coupons that is both less expensive for them and less wasteful of paper, not to mention more accurate than that which they currently have in place.

Include a code at the bottom of the receipt that the customer can enter into the CVS website, one which will bring up a comprehensive list of online coupons, sorted by proximity to the items they purchased earlier. Then the customer will have the option of printing out the exact coupons they want, or not printing any at all. Our bet is that the majority of customers will not take advantage of this option, but that it will not affect the number of stops they make at a CVS/Pharmacy in the slightest. However, for the coupon hounds out there, this will provide an option to save on exactly the products they need.

We'll place a call to CVS/Pharmacy corporate, followed by a draft of proposal and follow that up with another call. We'll keep sponsible readers posted as to our transactions. Should CVS express interest in eliminating the three feet of receipt for their customers we'll award them the SPONSIBLE SEAL OF APPROVAL and include the in our SPONSIBLE HALL OF FAME, which will be accessible over on the clumn to the right.

Here's to working with CVS/Pharmacy. We're counting on their sense of sponsibility.

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LINK OF THE DAY
Witness.org

Their mission statement: WITNESS uses video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations. We empower people to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change.

Hear, hear!!!

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