Folks,

I have to disagree with those who discourage the use of stickers to identify paid admissions and members. While I was working at Pamplin Historical Park in Petersburg, Virginia, we used stickers to identify visitors who paid admission. One of the benefits of the 3-inch square sticker is that it was printed by the POS system for each individual with the name of their city and state (provided by asking the visitor to supply their zip code as they were being admitted). This proved to be very useful information as it provided one means by which our staff could “break the ice” with our visitors. When we started a membership program, the POS was programmed to print “MEMBER” on the sticker as well. This allowed staff to easily recognize members and thank them for supporting the Park.

As far as residue left on garments, we did have some problems with leather or plastic and the adhesive, particularly in the heat of the summer (it is an outdoor museum). We contacted the company and asked them to print the stickers using a less aggressive adhesive and instructed our admission staff to warn the few visitors wearing leather or plastic clothing to place the sticker on another piece of clothing (pants, shirt, etc.), or to attach it to their park map while visiting. All problems ceased at that point.

As far as littering was concerned, we found the occasional tag on the ground, but the stickers rarely fell off. Trash cans at the exits successfully encouraged visitors to place the tags there. We didn’t have any problems with litter in our entryway as a result of people divesting themselves of the sticker. The Maintenance crew at the Park was very good and kept the site looking very clean all of the time. Visitors often commented on the upkeep of the site, and perhaps the fact that it was obvious we worked hard to maintain a litter-free environment helped coerce them into not littering.

Whatever litter or logistical problems we encountered were more than made up by the good customer service we were able to provide as a result of using the stickers.

Just my two cents,

Andrew H. Talkov

Exhibit Coordinator for Virginia's Civil War

Virginia Historical Society

428 N. Boulevard

P.O. Box 7311

Richmond, Virginia 23221-0311

Phone: 804-340-2276

Fax: 804-355-2399

Email: [log in to unmask]