Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

33° Evanston, IL
Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Advertisement
Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive our email newsletter in your inbox.



Advertisement

Advertisement

Northwestern alumna Mindy Wallis sells coupons for Evanston community

While attending Northwestern, Mindy Wallis, Weinberg ’88, felt so at home in Evanston that 22 years later, she is selling coupons from local businesses to give back to the community.

Wallis, who has lived in Evanston since graduation, said she established the group Positive Sum Communities to promote ties between local businesses, non-profit organizations and civic institutions.

Wallis named the group after a game theory term that describes a win-win situation. Profits from selling the coupon books are split equally between the groups who sell the books and Positive Sum Communities, which gives funds to local PTAs.

She came up with the idea for a coupon book years ago after observing that her children’s schools sold products that were neither used by many buyers nor benefited local businesses. After her husband was laid off by the city of Evanston last winter, she decided to implement the idea as a source of income for her family. She also saw how local businesses were suffering from the poor economy.

“One of the things that troubled me as I walked all over town to talk to business owners face-to-face is how many empty storefronts I saw,” Wallis said. “I don’t want to see one more business leave town.”

Early this summer, Wallis walked all over Evanston for six straight weeks to talk to business owners while contacting more through calls and e-mails to promote her idea. She said business owners were willing to talk to her, and even those who didn’t participate complimented her idea.

In addition to contacting 85 Evanston businesses, Wallis spoke with NU and received help from various departments. The books include coupons for NU volleyball events, concerts at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall and shows at the Theatre and Interpretation Center.

NU’s Lambda Theta Alpha sorority agreed to sell 25 coupon books because they can get the books for free and do not lose anything, even if they cannot sell all the books, said fundraising chair Beatriz Gomez .

“We’ve been advertising to the Evanston community and throughout campus as well,” the SESP senior said. “We have yet to see how it will turn out.”

The coupon book is likely to succeed because, under the current economy, many people are looking for ways to save money, said Laura Folkl, marketing and communications manager of non-profit marketing and management group Downtown Evanston. The group helped Wallis spread her idea to local businesses.

“We liked the idea of it being an Evanston-only opportunity,” Folkl said. “It focuses on shopping locally.”

The coupons could encourage Evanston and Skokie residents to shop at local businesses, said Susan Frischer, owner of Market Fresh Books, 700 Church St.. Frischer put a coupon in the book after being contacted by Wallis through a connection at a local PTA.

“I think it’s a positive way to build a bridge between the schools and the community businesses,” Frischer said.

Wallis said she hopes this continues to be a regular fundraiser for local community groups. After speaking to many local businesses and residents to put her idea to practice, she is even more encouraged to stay active in Evanston.

“I have to say, it just confirmed for me what I already sort of knew – that Evanston is a town of warm, committed people,” Wallis said. “I’ve met an awful lot of NU alumni all over town, and I’m sure the feeling is the same.”

[email protected]

More to Discover
Activate Search
Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881
Northwestern alumna Mindy Wallis sells coupons for Evanston community