Student Government is partnering with the ZSpotCard to bring deals and discounts to N.C . State students for a fraction of the card’s regular cost.
ZSpotCards are $40 to the general public and provide discounts for over 150 businesses in the Raleigh area. The program is quickly expanding and is constantly adding further deals to their list.
The ZSpotCard has been a subsidiary of ZSpotlight for three years now. ZSpotlight has been in business for the past ten years and is rapidly growing.
“Our mantra is trying to help restaurants and area clubs and bars get customers,” Frank Melchior , spokesman for ZSpot , said. “I want this card to be a win, win, win for everybody — for the students, for the restaurants, for the company. We want restaurants to get more business, and they can do that by offering deals to students who could really use the help.”
Melchior has been working closely with Student Government to try and introduce the card to the Wolfpack by the end of the month. Arrangements have been made with the help of Student Body President, Chandler Thompson, and Community Outreach Chair, Collin March, to design a card especially for students that will make available the same discounts as the original card.
The Wolfpack card will not only be decked-out in State colors, but it will also be sold for 75 percent of the normal cost. Starting Sept. 14 in the brickyard, cards will be sold at the Student Government tent for $10. This buys students and entire year of savings on a variety of products.
Local businesses such as Moe’s, Bruegger’s Bagels, Chick-fil-A , Port City Java, Hot Box Pizza and many more are offering significant discounts on purchases. The discounts don’t stop at dining opportunities, however, and there are many offers involving local gyms and salons. Even the Carolina Ballet is participating by offering buy one, get one free tickets to their show.
March thinks the program is an excellent idea and that it will be a great way to build better relationships with businesses in the area. March is also excited about all the benefits students will receive from the cards.
“So many students stay on campus with their meal plans but this card gets them out in the community and supporting local business,” March said.
The ZSpot group is funded entirely by the money they receive selling cards, and does not accept any money from the businesses with which it collaborates. ZSpot is donating one dollar for every card sold to the Coaches Corner program, which is trying to add another statue in front of Reynolds Coliseum.
March said Student Government is going to be doing a special program during the week of the Shack-A-Thon.
“We’ll be selling cards the week of the Shack-A-Thon and will be forwarding all our profits from the week to Habitat for Humanity,” March said.
Students are excited about the upcoming opportunity and seem to think that the card will be a great tool for them.
“I think the card is an awesome idea,” Morgan Piner , a sophomore in marine science, said. “Real food at affordable prices will be such an upgrade from ramen.”
The discounted price of the card will only be available to students, which especially appeals to Aaron Cook, a sophomore in human biology, who said broke college students need all the help they can get.
The card will be available every Wednesday after Sept. 14 in the Brickyard at the Student Government tent. Businesses and deals are added almost daily. More details can be found at www.zspotcard.com .
