Published Sunday, October 13, 2002
at The Winner
By Larissa Theodore
Herald Staff Writer
Last week's crowd jostled each other -- and some people were hurt -- in the mad dash for cash outside The Winner department store in downtown Sharon.
This week, store employees distributed envelopes that cotained cash or coupons to a smaller and better behaved crowd.
About 400 people streamed down East State Street from the Winner and across the Shenango River bridge. Most looked patriotic in their red, white and blue garb. Others carried "The Club." All were hoping to get big bucks.
It was all a part of businessman James E. Winner Jr.'s monthlong sales promotion to drum up business and bring people downtown. Adults dressed in red, white and blue picked up envelopes that contained money -- a total of $1,000 -- or gift certificates and coupons good at Winner properties. Adults who brought The Club could choose two envelopes. Sharon-based Winner International, of which Winner is chairman, markets The Club line of anti-theft devices.
Charlotte Donaldson, 45, of Sharon and her daughter-in law Vicki Donaldson, 23, of Sharpsville were decked out from head to toe in red, white and blue. Vicki wore a stars and stripes scarf and Charlotte showed off a thick patriotic necklace. Both shared material from an American flag curtain to make themselves skirts.
Viola Board, 44, of New Castle, carried an American flag as she waited near the front of the line. She said she and a friend arrived at 6:30 a.m. to wait in line. Standing in line for hours wasn't so bad, she said, because she had the chance to meet new people, and perhaps pray for a big prize.
"I'm expecting $100," she said before the give-away began. "I want the best. I have to think it and believe it."
She finally got the chance to rip open her envelope, which contained a $2 bill and several "Shop Sharon" coupons, good toward $2 off every $20 spent at a Winner business.
"I may come again next week," she said, clutching her prize.
Last Saturday the sales promotion took an ugly turn as an estimated 1,000 people crowded around the store, pushing and shoving each other and bystanders while they tried to scoop up bills and coupons floating down from the roof of The Winner.
At least three people were injured, including a Herald reporter treated for injuries after being hit on the head by people in the crowd.
But this weekend, the promotion seemed to be running much smoother, as one man pointed out "This was much better than last week."
Mayor David Ryan, who witnessed last week's melee, was downtown again to watch the second promotion. He said things appeared to be much calmer this weekend, though he thought reports of the first promotion were somewhat blown out of proportion.
"Right now it looks nice, calm and quiet. People are queuing up to see what's in those envelopes," he said. "Hopefully it will remain this way. I said the same thing last week...and people got excited. Hopefully it won't happen again this time," he said.
And it didn't. The crowd of revelers stayed calm and collected.
At 10 a.m. the envelopes were being handed out to anyone 18 and over who could show proof of identification. Envelopes contained cash prizes from $2, $10, $20, $50 and $100, dinner certificates for the Tara Inn in Clark, hotel certificates and hobby classes.
Linda Troche, 43, and her daughter Lara, 20, both of Struthers, Ohio said they were waiting even earlier -- since 5:30 a.m. -- vying for a good spot and big bucks.
"We were the first ones here," said Lara Troche, a student at Youngstown State University. "I hope we get enough to at least buy breakfast," she added.
Lara, who dressed patriotic and carried The Club, got two envelopes and a total of $12.
"This will buy me gas for the week," she gushed.
Of course, not everybody was pleased with what they received.
Michael Brooks, 43, of Youngstown, said he was standing in line since 7:30 a.m. and received only a $2 bill. He said he didn't think the drive from Youngstown nor the 2è-- hour wait were worth his time.
"This wasn't fair at all," he said.
But James Davis, 40, of Sharon wasn't complaining. He said he was only able to grab $2 last week during the first give-away. However, this time he was the first to receive a $100 bill. He said he believed it was his reward for reprimanding a woman earlier who attempted to cut in line.
"I will be back next week," he said. "But I have a better idea. Next week everybody should come dressed in costume," he laughed.
Ruth P. Bowser, 61, of Sharon, was among the stragglers to jump in line as it began to dwindle. She let out a shriek after plucking a $100 bill out of her envelope.
"I didn't even have to wait that long," she said.
Josh Jones, 61, of Masury, won a one-night stay at the Radisson Hotel, worth more than $100, which he planned to share with his friend Betty Donner, 47, Masury.
"Yeah, it was worth coming," he said, adding he thought the new method was better than last week's.
"It was crazy last week, but as long as they weren't pushing and fighting today it was good."
Winner, who appeared on the roof of the Winner building last week, was nowhere to be seen this Saturday.