Patent Publication Number: US-2006010034-A1

Title: Method for rewarding purchasing activities and a system thereof

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for selling goods and, more particularly, to a method for rewarding one or more purchases of designated goods and a system thereof.  
     BACKGROUND  
      As the marketplace becomes increasingly competitive, finding new techniques to increase sales has become more difficult. Retailers have tried to introduce a variety of different types of incentive programs to entice consumers to purchase goods from their stores.  
      For example, retailers have introduced programs which track purchases of their customers and award a specified number of points based on the purchase amounts. The customers can later redeem those accumulated points against subsequent purchases. Although these types of incentive programs provide some benefit, they do not provide any added incentive for consumers to purchase multiple products or to convince their friends and neighbors to purchase the same products they have purchased.  
     SUMMARY  
      A method for and a computer readable medium with programmed instructions for rewarding one or more purchases in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes providing an initial reward amount and providing at least one of a benchmark reward amount and a multiple sales reward amount. The initial reward amount is added to a reward balance for an identifier associated with a current sales transaction based on a value of at least one designated good in the current sales transaction. The benchmark reward amount is added to the reward balance to the identifier associated with the current sales transaction based on an accumulated total of completed sales transactions which exceeds at least one benchmark on or after the current sales transaction.  
      A system for rewarding one or more purchases in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes an initial reward system and an additional reward system. The initial reward system provides an initial reward amount that is added to a reward balance for an identifier associated with a current sales transaction based on a value of at least one designated good in the current sales transaction. The additional reward system provides a benchmark reward amount which is added to the reward balance to the identifier associated with the current sales transaction based on an accumulated total of completed sales transactions which exceeds at least one benchmark on or after the current sales transaction.  
      The present invention provides a method and system for increasing the sales of designated goods within a rewards program. With the present invention the consumer is not only motivated to purchase a designated good, but is motivated to purchase multiple designated goods within the same transaction and has an incentive to motivate others, such as relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues, to purchase the designated goods they have purchased because these other activities will increase the consumer&#39;s reward balance. As a result, the present invention will increase the sales of designated goods and my help to spur additional sales through the sales life of the designated goods. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for rewarding a particular type of purchase in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a process for registering for a program for rewarding a particular type of purchase in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIGS. 3A-3B  are a flow charts of method for rewarding a particular type of purchase in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method for determining a reward balance associated with each identifier; and  
       FIGS. 5A-5B  are diagrams of a redemption fund used in the method and system for rewarding a particular type of purchase. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      A system  10  for rewarding one or more purchases in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The system  10  includes a plurality of retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), a communications network  14 , a rewards processing system  16 , a product scanner  22 , and a card read/write device  24 , although the system  10  can comprise other numbers and types of components in other configurations. The present invention provides a number of advantages including providing a sales and marketing method and system which increases the sales of designated goods.  
      Each of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) include a central processing unit (CPU) or processor  26 , a memory  28 , a user input device  30 , a display  32 , and an input/output interface system  34  which are coupled together by a bus  31  or other link, although other types of systems for conducting the transaction comprising other numbers and types of components in other configurations can be used. The processor  26  executes a program of stored instructions for one or more aspects of the present invention as described herein, including the method for rewarding a particular type of purchase as described with reference to  FIGS. 2, 3A ,  3 B,  4 ,  5 A, and  5 B.  
      The memory  28  stores the programmed instructions for one or more aspects of the present invention as described herein, including a portion the method for rewarding on or more purchases as described with reference to  FIGS. 2, 3A ,  3 B,  4 ,  5 A, and  5 B, for execution by the processor  26 , although some or all of the programmed instructions could be stored and/or executed elsewhere, such as in memory  36  by processor  34  in V-Bucks processing system  16 . A variety of different types of memory storage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM) in the system or a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, or other computer readable medium which is read from and/or written to by a magnetic, optical, or other reading and/or writing system that is coupled to the processor, can be used for memory  28  to store the programmed instructions described herein, as well as other information.  
      The user input device  30  enables an operator to generate and transmit signals or commands to the processor  26 , such as a request to print or display a reward balance associated with an identifier assigned to a customer. A variety of different types of user input devices could be used for user input device  30 , such as a keyboard or computer mouse. The display device  32  displays information for the operator of the particular one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), such as a reward balance associated with an identifier assigned to a customer. A variety of different types of display devices can be used for display device  32 , such as a CRT display.  
      The input/output interface system  34  is used to operatively couple and communicate between the particular one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) and other devices and systems, such as the product scanner  22  and the card read/write device  24  associated with that one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) and the rewards processing system  16 . A variety of communication systems and/or methods can be used for the communication network  14  to operatively couple and communicate between the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) and the rewards processing system  16 , such as a direct connection, a local area network, a wide area network, the world wide web, modems and phone lines, and wireless communication technology each having their own communications protocols.  
      The product scanner  22  is used to scan a bar code  21  on a designated good  20  to indicate to the associated one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) that the designated good  20  is part of a current sales transaction, although other types of devices and/or techniques for indicating that a good  20  is part of a current sales transaction can be used. A variety of different types of devices can be used for the product scanner  22 , such as a bar code scanner.  
      The card reading/writing device  24  is used by the associated on the of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) to read information from and/or to write information to a card  18 . Although a card reading/writing device  24  is shown, other types of devices, such as a card reader, a card writer, or other system for entering identification information could be used. The card  18 , known as the identification card or V-card in these embodiments, is used to store unique identification information associated with a particular consumer and may also be used to store information related to the particular consumer&#39;s reward balance. The card  18  may include a magnetic strip or may have another device or technique for storing the data.  
      The rewards processing system  16 , also referred to as a V-Bucks processing system herein, includes a central processing unit (CPU) or processor  34 , a memory  36 , and an input/output interface device  38  which are coupled together by a bus  35  or other link, although other types of systems comprising other numbers and types of components in other configurations can be used. The processor  34  executes a program of stored instructions for one or more aspects of the present invention as described herein, including the method for rewarding one or more purchases as described with reference to  FIGS. 2, 3A ,  3 B,  4 ,  5 A, and  5 B. The memory  28  stores the programmed instructions for one or more aspects of the present invention as described herein, including a portion the method for rewarding a particular type of purchase as described with reference to  FIGS. 2, 3A ,  3 B,  4 ,  5 A, and  5 B, for execution by the processor  26 , although some or all of the programmed instructions could be stored and/or executed elsewhere, such as in memory  28  by processor  26  in one or more of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ). A variety of different types of memory storage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM) in the system or a floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROM, or other computer readable medium which is read from and/or written to by a magnetic, optical, or other reading and/or writing system that is coupled to the processor, can be used for memory  36  to store the programmed instructions described herein, as well as other information. The input/output interface system  38  is used to operatively couple and communicate between the rewards processing system  16  and one or more of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ).  
      A method for establishing a reward system for one or more purchases will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 2, 3A ,  3 B,  4 ,  5 A, and  5 B. Referring more specifically to  FIG. 2 , in step  60  a consumer registers for the rewards program, also referred to as the V-Buck&#39;s program herein. The consumer can register for this program in a variety of different manners, such as through an on-line registration form at a participating retailer&#39;s internet web-site, by mailing in a completed registration form, or by completing a registration form at a participating retailer.  
      In step  62 , the data from the consumer is entered into the rewards processing system  16  and is stored in memory  36 , although the data can be entered and stored at other locations, such as in one or more of the memories  28  in the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ). When the data is entered, the rewards processing system  16  assigns a unique identifier comprising identification data that is associated to the registering consumer and this identifier is stored in memory  36 , although the identifier can be entered and stored at other locations, such as in one or more of the memories  28  in the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ). The identifier is also written into the magnetic strip of the card  18  by the card read/write device  24  at one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ), although the identifier could be entered on the card  18  in other manners and mailed to the consumer and other manners for providing the identifier to the consumer can also be used. In step  66 , the rewards processing system  16  activates the identifier to allow activities, such as monitoring transactions and providing reward amounts to a reward balance associated with the identifier.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3A , in Step  70  a consumer at a participating retailer that wishes to make a purchase presents a card  18  which is read by the card read/write device  24  at one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) to provide an identifier. The one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) communicates with the rewards processing system  16  via the communication network  14  to confirm the identity of the consumer based on the identifier obtained by the card read/write device  24 , although other manners for obtaining the identifier from a consumer can be used, such as by manually entering the identifier at the user input device  30  at one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ).  
      In step  72 , the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) that obtained the identifier from the consumer, communicates with the rewards processing system  16  via the communications network  14  to determine the reward balance, also referred to as the V-bucks balance herein, associated with the identifier obtained in step  70 .  
      The process for determining the reward balance associated with the entered identifier and also for other identifiers is described in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 4 . In step  96 , the rewards processing system  16  monitors the sale of each designated good  20  by one or more of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ). For ease of illustration, only one designated good  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , but typically there will be a large volume of designated goods which can be purchased and are part of this program. Although in these embodiments, the sale of a particular designated good  20  is monitored, other types of accumulated total sales transactions after the current sale transaction of the designated good  20  can be monitored to determine when to reward the benchmark reward amount. By way of example only, an accumulated total of completed sales transactions for a brand of goods which correspond to the brand of the designated good  20 , an accumulated total of completed sales transactions at an individual store where the designated good  20  was purchased, or an accumulated total of completed sales transactions at a chain of stores where the designated good was purchased from one of the stores in the chain could also be monitored.  
      In step  98 , the rewards processing system  16  continually monitors the sale of each designated good  20  in subsequent sales transactions and compares the total number of sales of each good  20  against one or more benchmarks for sales set for each good  20  to determine if the benchmark has been reached. The benchmarks used in these comparisons are stored in memory  36  in rewards processing system  16 , although the benchmark or benchmarks for each good  20  can be stored in other locations, such as in the memory  28  in one or more of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ). Although in this example the benchmark is a total number of sales, other types of and numbers of benchmarks can be used. If in step  98  a benchmark for the good  20  has not been reached, then the No branch is taken to Step  104 . If in step  98  a benchmark for a good  20  has been reached, then the Yes branch is taken to step  100 .  
      In step  100 , the rewards processing system  16  identifies each identifier stored in the memory  36  that is associated with the purchase of the good  20  prior to reaching the benchmark with subsequent sales transactions involving the designated good or goods. The rewards processing system  16  also determines the benchmark reward amount, also referred to as the V-Buck amount herein, for reaching each of the benchmarks for each of the goods. The amount of each benchmark reward amount can be stored in memory  36  in the rewards processing system  16 , although the benchmark rewards amount can be stored in other locations, such as in memory  28  in one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) or the reward balance amount could be calculated in other manners. By way of example only, the benchmark reward amount for different designated goods is illustrated below:  
     BENCHMARK REWARD AMOUNT EXAMPLE 1  
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Jay-Z The Black Album 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 500,000 Sold 
                 Additional Benchmark Reward Amount = 15 
               
               
                 1 Million Sold 
                 Additional Benchmark Reward Amount = 5 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     BENCHMARK REWARD AMOUNT EXAMPLE 2  
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Scarface 20 th   
                   
               
               
                 Anniversary DVD 
               
               
                 500,000 DVD&#39;s sold 
                 Additional Benchmark Reward Amount = 15 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     BENCHMARK REWARD AMOUNT EXAMPLE 3  
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Rush Hour 2 DVD 
                   
               
               
                 1 Million DVD&#39;s sold 
                 Additional Benchmark Reward Amount = 20 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     BENCHMARK REWARD AMOUNT EXAMPLE 4  
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Avant “Private Room” 
                   
               
               
                 500,000 CD&#39;s Sold 
                 Additional Benchmark Reward Amount = 15 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
      In step  102 , the rewards processing system  16  upgrades a reward balance for each identifier which purchased the good  20  prior to the good reaching the benchmark with the additional benchmark reward amount. The rewards processing system  16  stores the reward balance for each identifier in memory  36 , although the updated reward balance can be stored in other locations, such as in the memory in one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ). To help entice the sales of particular goods, participating retailers may mark the goods with an indicator, such as a gold or silver seal, to indicate that the good is close to reaching a benchmark. A consumer may be more likely to purchase a good  20  which is close to a benchmark to get the additional benchmark reward amount.  
      Next, in step  104  the rewards processing system  16  tracks time for each reward balance from a starting or resetting point. The rewards processing system  16  also determines if a time period which has passed for any reward balance from the starting and resetting point exceeds a set time period for using the reward balance, such as a one year time period, although other time periods and manners for monitoring an expiration of a reward balance could be used. The rewards processing system  16  continually checks all of the stored reward balances, although other arrangements could be used. If in step  104  the time period for using the reward balance has not expired, then the No branch is taken back to Step  96 . If the time period for using the reward balance has expired, then the Yes branch is taken to step  106 . In step  106 , the reward balance which has not been used in time is reset to a base value, such as zero, although other manners for resetting the reward balance can be used.  
      Referring back to  FIG. 3A , in step  74  during a current sales transaction any goods that the consumer is purchasing are scanned in using the product scanner  22  at one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) (  1  ), although other manners for entering the information about the goods being purchased can be used.  
      In step  76  the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction determines whether any designated goods, such as good  20 , are part of the current sales transaction. Designated goods are products or services, such as good  20  by way of example only, that are participating in this program. Good  20  includes a bar code  21  which includes information that indicates that the good is participating in the program, although other manners for indicating that a good being purchased is a designated good can be used. If the current sales transaction does not include any designated goods, then the No branch is taken to step  86 . If one or more designated goods are being purchased in the current sales transaction, then the Yes branch is taken to step  78 .  
      In step  78 , the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction determines an amount to set aside for a redemption fund which is used to cover the costs. In these embodiments, the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) sets aside four percent of the total sales price for designated goods in the transaction for the redemption fund.  
      Referring  FIGS. 5A-5B , diagrams illustrating one example of how a redemption fund can be broken down are illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 5A , the redemption fund is further broken into four portions: a multiple purchase per transaction portion; a sales benchmark rewards portion; an initial reward amount; and overhead costs. As shown in  FIG. 5B , an example of how the redemption fund is determined and broken down is illustrated. In this example, for the sales of one designated good for $12.50, $0.50 is designated for the redemption fund and this is further broken down to: $0.05 for multiple purchases; $0.15 for the sales benchmark reward amount; $0.25 for the initial reward amount; and $0.05 for the overhead costs. The redemption fund illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5B  is by way of example only and the redemption fund can be determined and broken down in other manners.  
      Referring back to  FIG. 3A , in step  80  the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction determines an initial reward amount earned for each designated good in the current sales transaction. By way of example only, when a single designated good, such as the “The Black Album” by Jay-Z is purchased as part of the current sales transaction, the initial reward amount is:  
     INITIAL REWARD AMOUNT EXAMPLE 1  
     (Single CD Purchase)  
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Jay-Z 
                 “The Black Album” 
                 15.99 
                 initial reward amount 
                 32 
               
               
                   
                   
                 TOTAL 
                   
                 32 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
      The initial reward amount is transmitted from the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) to the rewards processing system  16  and is added to the reward balance associated with the identifier for the current sales transaction in the rewards processing system  16 , although other manners for maintaining and updating the rewards balances can be used.  
      In step  82 , the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction determines whether or not multiple designated goods were purchased. If multiple one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) that scanned in the good or goods for the current sales transaction goods were not purchased, then the No branch is taken to Step  86 . If multiple one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) that scanned in the good or goods for the current sales transaction goods were purchased, then the Yes branch is taken to step  84 .  
      In step  84 , the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction determines the multiple sales reward amount for purchasing multiple designated goods. This multiple sales reward amount is in addition to the initial sales reward amount that is earned for purchasing designated goods. This provides the consumer with an added incentive to purchase multiple designated goods. By way of example only, a determination of the initial reward amounts and the multiple sales reward amounts is illustrated below:  
     MULTIPLE SALES REWARD AMOUNT EXAMPLE 1  
     Multiple CD Purchase  
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Jay-Z 
                 “The Black Album” 
                 15.99 
                 Initial reward amount 
                  32 
               
               
                 Beyonce 
                 “Dangerously 
                 13.45 
                 Initial reward amount 
                  27 
               
               
                   
                 in Love” 
               
               
                 Alicia Keys 
                 “The Diary of 
                 15.99 
                 Initial reward amount 
                  32 
               
               
                   
                 Alicia Keys” 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Added to rewards balance for two additional designated goods 
                  10 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 purchased 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total reward amount earned 
                 101 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     MULTIPLE SALES REWARD AMOUNT EXAMPLE 2  
     DVD and CD Purchase  
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Scarface 20 th  Anniversary DVD 
                 19.99 
                 Initial reward amount 
                  40 
               
               
                 Rush Hour 2 DVD 
                 16.99 
                 Initial reward amount 
                  34 
               
               
                 Avant “Private Room” 
                 15.99 
                 Initial reward amount 
                  32 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Added to rewards balance for two additional designated goods 
                  10 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 purchased 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total reward amount earned 
                 116 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     MULTIPLE SALES REWARD AMOUNT EXAMPLE 3  
     Consumer Goods Mixed  
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Sony Walkman 
                 49.99 
                 Initial reward amount 
                 100 
               
               
                 50 Cent “Get Rich or Die Tryin” 
                 15.99 
                 Initial reward amount 
                  32 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Added to rewards balance for one additional designated good 
                  5 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 purchased 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Total reward amount earned 
                 137 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
      In step  86 , the multiple sales reward amount is transmitted from the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction to the rewards processing system  16  and is added to the reward balance associated with the identifier for the current sales transaction in the rewards processing system  16 , although other manners for maintaining and updating the rewards balances can be used. The retail processing system  16  determined the new reward balance associated with the identifier which is forwarded back to the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3B , in step  88  the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction makes an inquiry on whether or not to apply the reward balance associated with the identifier for the current sales transaction against the current purchase price. If the reward balance is not going to be applied against the current purchase price, then the No branch is taken to step  94  where the transaction is completed in a conventional manner. If the consumer associated with the identifier desires to apply the reward balance against the current purchase price, then the Yes branch is taken to step  90 .  
      In step  90 , the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction determines deducts the reward balance from the current purchase price. The reward balance is converted from a reward value to a monetary value by the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction and is then subtracted from the current purchase price, although other manners for handling the reward balance can be used. For example, the reward value may be accumulated in a manner which is equivalent to a monetary value and thus would not need to be converted. By way of example only, current sales transactions where the reward balance is applied against the current purchase price are illustrated below:  
     Redeeming Against a Single Product Purchase  
     EXAMPLE 1  
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 DVD “Scarface: The 20 Year 
                 Total 
                 19.99 
               
               
                 Anniversary” 
               
               
                 Current Reward Balance = 180 
                   
                 −1.80 
               
               
                   
                 Price After Redeeming 
                 $18.19 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Redeeming Against a Multiple Product Purchase  
     EXAMPLE 2  
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 DVD “Scarface: The 20 Year 
                   
                 19.99 
               
               
                 Anniversary” 
               
               
                 DVD “Rush Hour” 
                   
                 19.99 
               
               
                 CD Jay-Z “Black Album” 
                   
                 15.99 
               
               
                   
                 Total 
                 $55.97 
               
               
                 Current Reward Balance = 850 
                   
                 −8.50 
               
               
                   
                 Price After Redeeming 
                 $47.47 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
      In step  92 , the one of the retail processing systems  12 ( 1 )- 12 ( n ) associated with the current sales transaction signals the rewards processing system  16  that the reward balance has been used. The reward processing system  16  resets the reward balance for the identifier associated with the current sales transaction which applied the reward balance to zero, although the reward balance could be reset to other values. In step  94 , the current sales transaction is completed in conventional manners.  
      As the above discussion and examples have illustrated, the present invention provides a consumer with an incentive for purchasing one or more designated goods, to purchase a greater quantity of designated goods, and convince others to buy the designated goods they have purchased so they can receive added reward amounts if a benchmark is reached. As a result, the present invention will help to increase sales of designated goods.  
      Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it will be rather apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.