Sam's Club offers $10 memberships

BENTONVILLE, Ark. Sam's Club is offering a $10 membership good for 10 weeks for families and businesses not currently members. The promotion is the first of its kind for Sam's Club, which is holding weekend events this month to encourage customers to sign up for membership.

Sam's Club launched a national radio campaign this week and plans newspaper advertising to support the $10 for 10 weeks campaign, which features 10 reasons for joining. USDA choice meats and $4 generics along with generous food demos at Sam's Club were called out in advertising. Seasonal merchandise and all the decorations required to trim a tree for less than $100 as well as holiday photo cards as low as 35 cents a piece also made the list.

"We know we can easily demonstrate the value at Sam's Club in just one shopping trip," said Mike Turner, vp of membership at Sam's Club. "With a temporary 10-week membership we'll be able to give those who sign up a good chance to see what we can do for them everyday, and through the holidays."

With the weak economy forcing consumers to be more careful with their spending, Sam's Club is in a good position to promote its membership program as a real value. Recently, the company offered college students a year-long membership for $40. The deal also included a complimentary add-on card so other students could share the savings.