Characters of the season add excitement to HBA promotions

HBA members have enlisted the help of scarecrows, ghosts and goblins, in addition to snowmen, in helping with two of its seasonal campaigns this year.
The snowmen are selling the Christmas Cash promotion this year.
Not that it needs much of an introduction or a sales pitch, HBA members said this week, but as they say in the business world, if you’ve got a good product sell it, don’t shelve it.
It’s certainly not the time to think the campaign will sell itself.
“And we’re certainly not shelving the Christmas Cash promotion,” Neil Nelson, HBA president and Hillsboro Banner editor, assured organization members meeting this week.
“We’ve had Santa Claus, his elves and his reindeer pitching Christmas Cash in recent years. The snowmen, who were the lead salesmen one year, are back in the saddle again this year.”
All in good fun, says Nelson.
HBA’s Christmas Cash advertising campaign plays a big part in the success of the promotion, HBA members know and understand.
“More importantly,” Nelson said, “more and more people are taking advantage of the interest-free loans by participating in the program.”
The bottom line, say HBA members, is the investment the people are making in their community.
“By shopping at home you’re investing in Hillsboro.”
The snowmen, pitch men in the 2007 promotion, are simply saying Christmas Cash is a “Snowman’s Delight.”
On the lighter side, HBA members this week are telling the community of their “Scarecrows, Ghosts and Goblins” Halloween decorating contest that starts in two weeks.
An insert in this week’s Banner has the details.
Two cash prizes will be awarded the best Halloween scenes.
In previous years, the local business association offered “Land of the Scarecrows” decorating contests, which were planned early in October each year.
This year, HBA members scheduled the contest closer to Halloween, giving businesses, homes and the schools the opportunity to feature ghosts and goblins with their scarecrows in the fall displays.
“The scarecrows, of course, can stand alone,” suggested Gail Mooney, HBA vice president.
That said, families who participated in the Land of the Scarecrows contest can still feature scarecrows and friends, Mooney said.
“But if they want to add scarecrows to the mix, the more the merrier.”
More homes in recent years, however, have added Halloween displays to their front yards, which prompted the Hillsboro Business Association to consider a later date for scarecrow and friends.
“It’s all in good fun. And people have come to expect Hillsboro homes and business to be decorated this time of the year.”
The two cash prizes — $75 and $50 — will be awarded in Hillsboro Bucks to the winners in the “Scarecrows, Ghosts and Goblins” decorating contest.
For homes, businesses and school classes to be considered in the judging, entry forms must be completed.
The entry blanks are included in the insert accompanying each Banner delivered and mailed to Hillsboro residents.