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The Battalion
Page 3 • Tuesday, March 30, 2004
Zippity-doo-da
New service allows students to be in tune with events, specials at local venues
By Amber Gray
THE BATTALION
bebil During the week, choosing which scene to make an appearance
land ^at can be difficult for many students, but for James Bondi, the deci-
ion just got a lot easier.
“One of the quickest decisions I’ve made was to stop by Fox
and Hound the other night,” said Bondi, a senior physics major. “I
lad happy hour all night. Who wouldn’t take advantage of such a
promotion?”
VIPzip Central Inc. is a new marketing technique using an online
iromotions engine that allows members to receive specials and
nformation about businesses they choose. Exclusive VIPzip mes-
booiiagescan be delivered to a person’s cell phone, PDA, e-mail or any
estsoljother Internet-enabled device of his choice.
“Text messaging is about to become a huge market,” said
Michael McMillen, a senior business management major and
egional executive account manager for VIPzip. “This service is a
:ompletely new and innovative marketing technique geared to what
individuals want.”
For an easier explanation of VIPzip, McMillen suggested com
paring the service to radio. While the radio is free to its listeners,
VIPzip members receive free “tickets,” ranging from drink specials
to coupons for free food. Similar to how advertisers sponsor radio
programs through commercials, businesses are paying VIPzip for
promotions, he said.
“Only with VIPzip, advertisers are reaching its targeted audience,”
McMillen said. “And consumers are only receiving promotions and
infomiation from the businesses they choose to hear from.”
Consumers create an account online to choose how and when to
receive informational and promotional messages from the business
es they select.
“VIPzip filters out the advertisements you don’t want, while
allowing you to choose when and if to respond to them,” said Josh
Cunningham, a sophomore business management major whose
father created VIPzip. “The service offers a universal gateway for
businesses and consumers to communicate.”
Over the next few months, the company hopes to sign up as
many businesses and industries as possible to reach a more
diverse audience.
“From restaurants to golf courses, VIPzip wants to get anybody
and everybody in the entertainment industry involved,”
Cunningham said.
Recently, The Groove and Fox & Hound joined the service, pro-
■ moling local entertainment information as well as daily incentives
I and specials for members. Additional businesses using the service
[ are Outback Pub and the Rhythm Room in Houston.
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“This is a good way to educate
people about what’s happening
during the week,” said Steven
Wright, Fox and Hound’s general
manager. “We hope to get more
people in during lunch and bring
in new faces every night of the
week.”
Wright said the pub had toyed
around with the idea of sending
promotions through an e-mail
list, but was concerned with the
public’s fears of spam and selling
their infonnation.
“VIPzip seems to use better
technology and an easier com
munication tool,” Wright said.
“I think giving the customers
the ability to choose the market
ing they want to receive is a
good idea.”
With a 60-40, male-female
clientele at Fox and Hound and
similar statistics at most other
bars, it can be expected that more
men will be using the service —
at least at first.
“Whenever I’m out, I usually
take advantage the promotions,”
Bondi said. “The more specials
and deals I receive, the less
money I have to spend.”
In addition to those promo
tions, VIPzip offers information
on bands and other entertain
ment events occurring around
town,
“VIPzip allows bands a
communication portal with
their fans,” McMillen said.
“Text messaging allows indi
viduals to receive performance and event information about
their favorite bands easier and more conveniently.”
In the near future VIPzip hopes to add other Northgate business
es to its list of clientele. Cunningham said the next main goal for
VIPzip is to get into other markets as soon as possible.
Chris Griffin • THE BATTALION
“In six months, we hope to be in the 13 most local areas,” he said.
“And eventually we want to be nation- and even worldwide.”
Cunningham said the company is growing through word of
mouth.
“I’ve told a lot of my friends about it, to get them set-up with the
deals I receive,” Bondi said.
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