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TheBuzz Erika Engle |
‘Perry and Price’ a
shortcut for corporate
party plannersCOMPANIES and organizations are increasingly making one call to plan it all. "Groups that would typically rent a hotel ballroom for their own event ... are finding that they can bring their group to the Saturday morning show hosted by (Michael W.) Perry and (Larry) Price," said Jamie Hartnett, director of marketing and promotions for Clear Channel Radio Hawaii. Texas-based Clear Channel Communications Inc. owns KSSK-AM 590/FM 92.3 and five other Honolulu radio stations.
For about $25 a person, John Dominis restaurant and the "Perry and Price" party-in-a-box provides a pig-out, potables, professional entertainers, prizes and parking -- plus a panoramic perspective of Point Panic.
The Gas Co., First Insurance Co. of Hawaii Ltd. and Bank of Hawaii have all partied with "Perry and Price," said show producer Sweetie Pacarro. The American Red Cross Hawaii Chapter reserved the whole venue for an awards presentation on Saturday.
John Dominis is netting greater revenue from its dinner and Sunday brunch service since it began hosting the Saturday morning show in December, said General Manager Al Yim. The broadcast had previously been from the Sheraton Waikiki's Hanohano Room for nearly two decades until renovations forced a move.
"We're becoming synonymous with 'Perry and Price,'" Yim said. "That's the reason we felt this would be such a great partnership." There's no way the restaurant could pay for the value of advertising it receives from the station, Yim said. "The name recognition is immeasurable." The restaurant serves about 250 breakfasts each Saturday, for shows that sell out a month in advance.
"We're not looking for a scenario where we sell it out (to one party) all the time," said Hartnett. The station's enthusiastic listeners are VIPs, such as "the person with the baby shower. It's so much fun to have those events," she said.
Disclaimer: Your columnist worked at KSSK for 14 years, 12 of them as news director. This weekend, she and Pacarro will be among the hosts for the Easter Seals Taste of Honolulu broadcast on KHON2.
Honors and an anniversary
Maui Divers of Hawaii Ltd. is celebrating its 45th anniversary amid gemstones and milestones.Its debut on National Jeweler magazine's list of the top 50 North American retail jewelry chains has it at No. 24. It opened its 44th store last week at Kualoa Ranch. It also will open its first store at Ala Moana Center in August.
The ranking is based on a chain's number of stores. Another Hawaii jeweler, Na Hoku, formerly known as The Sultan Co., was tied at No. 16 on the list with 58 locations.
"This was the first time we submitted data to National Jeweler," said Bob Taylor, president and chief executive of Maui Divers. His nefarious scheme is, "to overtake Zales with their 2,000-plus stores," he chuckled.
Maui Divers operates stand-alone stores and stores-within-stores, trading as Maui Divers Jewelry, Island Pearls and Pick-A-Pearl in Hawaii, California, Nevada and Florida.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com