Computerized merchandising system

Claim 1

A computerized merchandising system useable by a corporation associated with stores selling goods to consumers, the system being adapted to promote the sale in these stores of shares of stock issued by the corporation, said system comprising: A. a satellite computer installed in each store provided with a printer, which receives data relating to a buyer entered into the computer, and prints out and supplies to the buyer who pays to the store its face value, a certificate which identifies him and entitles him when the certificate is redeemed within a specified period running from the date on which the certificate was purchased, to either of the following: (1) the right to acquire from said store at the time the certificate is redeemed, goods whose total selling price is equal to the face value of the certificate; or (2) the right to acquire from a transfer agent shares of said stock whose value at the time the certificate was purchase is equal to said face value, whereby should the buyer elect to acquire said stock he stands to gain if the stock has appreciated in value, and should the buyer elect to acquire said goods, he will have already paid for them and, therefore, suffer no loss; and B. a central computer linked to each satellite computer and to said transfer agent to monitor the operation of the system and validate the transactions.