“If they shop and come buy, I’d be glad to give them money.”
Jim Gates, Harper County Commissioner
Putting His Money Where the Shoppers Are
If you’re needing groceries in Harper County, Kansas (population about 6,000), you’re in luck. They’ll pay you to shop. Jim Gates, a county commissioner, decided the county needed his commissioner’s $16,000 salary more than he did, so he’s giving it away—to shoppers. To give the local economy a boost, Gates is giving shoppers $25 for every $200 they spend at one of the four grocery stores in Harper County, and $50 for every $300. Gates says he’s doing this because he saw firsthand how devastating it can be to a community when hometowners take their shopping dollars down the road. In St. John, Kansas in the 1960s he saw the population drop from 1,832 to 1,673 as large chain stores opened in nearby towns. St. John’s population never recovered and today is 1,174. Gates says if the idea takes off he’ll expand to local restaurants and businesses. So if you find yourself near Harper County, stop and shop. Gates says he’s happy to offer the same deal to outsiders.
Lost and Found a Bargain
Now if you’re a bargain hunter, Scottsboro, Alabama (population 14,899) is the place to be. That’s where all the luggage that’s lost on airplanes and never gets reclaimed goes to find a new home. The company, Unclaimed Baggage, purchases the suitcases in bulk sight unseen. Inside the luggage employees have found everything from designer clothes to scuba gear and diamond rings to iPads. And it’s all for sale. Unclaimed Baggage draws more than a million shoppers a year from around the country. Might be worth a trip down there, but make sure you keep close tabs on your luggage.
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