The History:
People are often surprised at Capon’s “No Advertising” tradition. As our grandfather Lou Austin explained in his book, You Are Greater Than You Know (YAGTYK), our word of mouth tradition began out of necessity. After working to acquire bottling rights to Capon Springs Water, Lou Austin found himself with a semi-abandoned resort on his hands. It was in the midst of the Depression, and money was very scarce.
“If we had had money, we would have done what is considered the correct and orthodox thing to do when a summer resort seeks business: advertise. If the advertising had been successful it would have changed the whole character of our place….Being without the means to advertise did this for us: it drew our guests closer to us; in their kindness they did the advertising for us.” It is these personal connections, developed through generations of sharing Capon, which created and now sustains the unique, caring atmosphere of “friends among friends”. p. 35 YAGTYK
The Sharing:
Over the years, guests have used some very creative ways of letting their family and friends know about Capon….
Indirectly: Simply wearing a Capon sweatshirt around town, using a Capon mug at work or displaying a wooden replica building in your home. These all can spark conversations about your “unique West Virginia getaway.” It’s also a great way to meet other “Caponites”— you might be surprised to find out that someone at work comes to Capon, too!
More Directly: Passing along a printed brochure, lending one of Lou Austin’s books to a friend, referring people to our website, forwarding on our monthly email or handing out the new Capon DVD! (To request your copy of our DVD -- to keep or share, click here.) Send your family and friends an e-copy of our 2010 Welcome Letter (the one we mailed to previous guests in February).
Some have decided to share Capon on a bigger scale: Host a neighborhood house party as many guests have done in Maryland (Bethesda, Kensington, and Silver Spring) and Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Richmond, Charlottesville, Williamsburg and Virginia Beach). Invite Capon family member, Jonathan Bellingham, to come speak at social organizations, church and retirement community functions. These Capon Road Show presentations are always a lot of fun with fabulous Capon goodie giveaways! They provide not only a great way to introduce new people to the fuller Capon story, but a chance to meet other “Caponites” in your area.
The Sampling:
Still for some, seeing is believing and there is no substitute for actually being here and experiencing Capon. That’s why we invite you to bring your friends over for the day to show them around, either while you are here on vacation or as a daytrip during weekdays in the spring or fall. Day packages for enjoying a round of golf or a spa treatment can often be arranged as well. Remember, outdoor meals such as Monday dinner, Wednesday lunch and Thursday dinner are great times to showcase Capon.
Whenever and however you would like to introduce someone to Capon, just call the Main Office at (304) 874-3695 to make any arrangements or email us at caponsf@mountain.net (For Spa services only, call the Hygeia directly at (304) 874-3004.) We would also be happy to send your family and friends our current literature and DVD, just fill out the contact form.
Whatever the means you choose to introduce someone new to Capon, we look forward to meeting them! We thank you for helping us continue the tradition of sharing Capon “friends among friends.”
