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HANCOCK - Members of the Hancock Business & Professionals Association are regularly looking for ways to encourage shopping in the city, and they're currently working on another promotion they hope will do that.

Jen Murphy, president of the HBPA, said the idea for wallet-sized "Shop Hancock" business cards was the idea of association member Jack Eberhardt, owner of the Book Concern print shop.

"He brought it to me about a month ago," Murphy said.

The idea was presented to the full membership at their July meeting, Murphy said, and it was enthusiastically greeted. Initially 2,500 cards will be printed.

Murphy said it was decided a minimum of 25 of the 75 HBPA members would be needed for the initial attempt for the promotion, and so far 15 have signed up. It's hoped the remaining 10 will sign up by Friday.

"I have no doubt we'll have all 25," she said.

Murphy said although there has been an unofficial, loose-knit business association in Hancock for 30 or 40 years, the HBPA just became certified by the state at the beginning of 2008. Being an official organization will give them access to various grants.

Eberhardt said the idea for the card is to present a promotion that gives value to the HBPA membership and as a way to reach out to customers.

"It sort of came up as a year-round promotional campaign," he said. "We thought this would be something of lasting value."

Of the initial run of 2,500 cards, which he will print in his shop, Eberhardt said 1,200 to 1,500 will be given to incoming students at Finlandia University and Michigan Technological University. Each participating business will get 25 cards to give to their customers. The HBPA members will discuss what to do with the remaining cards.

"We want to try to not exclude anybody in our community," he said.

There will be no cost to customers for the cards, Eberhardt said, and the participating businesses and the HBPA will split the cost of producing them 50/50.

Exactly what kind of deal the cards will offer customers will be up to the individual businesses, Eberhardt said. They could offer a percentage discount, two for the cost of one or a free item with purchase.

Murphy said the HBPA will have a presence at the Finlandia registration and Tech Expo Days to give out cards to students.

"We'll easily pick up a thousand people at our tables," she said.

Whatever offer each business will present for the cards will be available even if the cards are used every day, Murphy said.

"The idea is we want people to come into the businesses," she said. "The sky's the limit."

Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie@mininggazette.com