November 19, 2015: Well, as noted in this recent sales pitch email, our friend Rick Steves is showing his friends (maybe customers a better word?) that he wants to help spend your travel gift dollars and clear out some inventory too. His guide books are very good and mostly up to date — and along with his tour programs and paid speaking engagements offers a selection of travel gear and other non-essential items — many that if you have to have them you can find a better quality and maybe even better price? Steve’s is using his public broadcasting platform — and guidebook reputation — to aggressively expand himself (marketing folks would call that his brand) to other profitable travel “stuff.” He has a large mostly older following so why not. Hopefully when he lands it won’t be too hard — his guidebooks are very good!
