Product promotion methods and associated systems

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a product promotion method. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a product promotion system. In one specific example, the present invention provides a product promotion method, comprising: selecting at least one winning prize for the product promotion; selecting a time period over which the product promotion will be run; selecting a number of prize-winning items that are sold in a store; and providing at least a portion of the winning prize to a person who purchases from the store, during the time period over which the product promotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winning items.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A product promotion method, comprising:
 selecting at least one winning prize for the product promotion;   selecting a time period over which the product promotion will be run;   selecting a number of prize-winning items that are sold in a store; and   providing at least a portion of the winning prize to a person who purchases from the store, during the time period over which the product promotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winning items.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entire winning prize is provided to the first person who purchases from the store, during the time period over which the product promotion will be run, all of the selected prize-winning items. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the entire winning prize is provided to the first person who purchases from the store, all at one time, all of the selected prize-winning items. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the winning prize is provided by an underwriting entity. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the underwriting entity is distinct from an entity that owns the store. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the underwriting entity is an insurance company. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the winning prize is between $1,000 and $1,000,000. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the time period over which the product promotion will be run is between one week and one year. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of prize-winning items selected is between 3 and 10. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the store is a retail store. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the store is an online store. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the underwriting entity selects the prize-winning items. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the underwriting entity randomly selects the prize-winning the items. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the underwriting entity selects the time period over which the product promotion will be run. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the store selects the prize-winning items. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the store randomly selects the prize-winning the items. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the store selects the time period over which the product promotion will be run. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a promotion entity distinct from the store selects the prize-winning items. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the promotion entity randomly selects the prize-winning the items. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a promotion entity distinct from the store selects the time period over which the product promotion will be run.