[color=#999999]The Star: Monday April 24, 2006 [/color]
Story and photos by GEETHA KRISHNAN

THE long drive to another state to shop at a popular department store paid off for an art teacher, who walked away with the grand prize in the contest organised by the store.

When Nazli Hamzah, 49, drove his family to the Parkson Grand Megamall in Kuantan from their home in Kuala Terengganu, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine winning prizes totalling a whopping RM178,000.

“The distance is about 150km but we didn’t mind as there is no Parkson in Kuala Terengganu. After shopping, I decided to participate in the Shop, Win & Win contest,” said the father of six when met at the prize-giving ceremony at Parkson Grand Alamanda Putrajaya on April 15.

“As I already own an MPV, I am ecstatic about winning an SUV that would benefit my family even more. I intend to use the Nissan and give my wife the Toyota Unser,” he said.

Nazli, who received his prizes from Parkson Corporation Sdn Bhd general manager Raymond Teo, won the second tier of the Parkson Shop, Win & Win Contest.

The contest, launched in 2002, aims to reward lucky Parkson shoppers with instant prizes in tier 1 and grand prizes in tier 2. Shoppers were given a total of 2.3 million tic-tac-toe scratch cards for tier 1 that entailed prizes like notepads, hand fans, pens, polo-tees, branded bags, office essentials and home furnishing.

In his speech, Parkson Corporation marketing manager Chok Choon Fui said close to 700,000 entries from nationwide were received for tier 2 of the contest that ran over three months.

“Nazli’s entry was among the 150 entries short-listed from our 21 stores by a panel of six judges. Parkson will be organising another Shop, Win & Win contest in the fourth quarter of 2006 with more prizes,” he added.

Other winners for tier 2 received lifestyle products, hotel stays and shopping vouchers.

Forum thread: http://www.mycontestcentral.com/dotmy/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?1557.post