CRANFORD NEW JERSEY STREET FAIR

Without an advertising budget – and with Neal Boortz retired - we need to be resourceful in our efforts to get the word out for the FAIRtax. Many of us are exploiting social media, and our President Steve Hayes is appearing on podcasts, TV, and radio. But now that the pandemic has subsided, live appearances at fairs and other public events get us closest to the people.

  At the end of August, our New Jersey Team had a canopy and table at a street fair in the northern New Jersey suburb of Cranford. A company called StreetFairs.Org sponsors about thirty street fairs in Northern New Jersey from April through November. Our team signed up and paid for space at three.

The picture below shows an inquirer named Phyllis with Jim Bennett and Tom “Sarge” Haschuck at our table.
 

We had display items, pocket cards, business cards, buttons, stickers, and custom-printed pieces about Student Loan Forgiveness and the New Army of IRS Agents. The official items are available at The FAIRtax Store.

Other exhibitors on our street were home improvement companies, a physical trainer, and a raffle. One exhibitor from three years ago had complained because we stood outside our area. However, he was silent this year because we behaved ourselves and stayed within the confines of our exhibit.

We found the best way to draw people in was by offering stickers to kids. The roll pictured here is three inches wide with bold colors.  They serve as walking advertisements as the kids move about the fair. When we handed stickers to the kids, we handed pocket cards to Mom and Dad. Unfortunately, stickers are currently out of stock at The FAIRtax Store, but Mike Simmons is ordering a new run.  The new stickers will be similar to the ones in the picture, but with the current logo design. Be sure to order your stickers from the FAIRtax Store.





We did not get as many signups here as our Florida Team typically gets, but we do not find that disappointing. The environment in New Jersey is different, highlighted by the fact that no one here has heard of talk-show host Neal Boortz. Boortz was never in the New York-Philadelphia Market, so New Jerseyans had to build their knowledge of the FAIRtax from scratch. Getting pocket cards into fairgoers’ hands makes a difference. 

The few signups we did get went into a spreadsheet and then on to our volunteer, Adam Yomtov, who is the lead on  IT and donations. Once the person who signs up is in our system, he or she receives weekly notifications of the Chairman’s Report, Grassroots Corner, and the FAIRtax Guys podcast. Research indicates that the average adult needs about seven exposures to a message before it registers. Those who sign up get those exposures.

In New Jersey, we send a follow-up email to those who sign up. We then seek maximum exposure after the event through the local press and social media.

Now that the pandemic has subsided, the time has come to resume local FAIRtax activities such as street fairs.  I would encourage anyone who has a FAIRtax presence at a public event to get liability insurance.  It’s available at no cost to you, but coverage is not automatic.  I need to know ahead of time when and where your public event will take place.

I would love to hear from you about anything you do in your community to promote the FAIRtax. Nothing you do is insignificant. AFFT Grassroots Coordinator & Secretary

 

🇺🇸   Call For Pictures & WriteUps - When others see your activity, they are inspired, the process snowballs and Representatives, Senators and, yes, even the President start to listen to you and me. Please send your material to me at Jim.Bennett@FAIRtax.org.

🇺🇸   The Official FAIRtax Store - Don’t forget to order your FAIRtax gear from the FAIRtax Store.

🇺🇸   We've Got You Covered, If You Let Us Know - If you are planning an event, we have event insurance coverage available for you. Email me the "who-what-where-when" and I will obtain for you a COI. Once the event is underway, it's too late.