Pies in July

In the hyper-competitive business of commercial printing, graphic design and direct mail, Linda Manci has a unique edge: apple pies.

Customers who surpassed a certain threshold of orders last month at the Tampa Allegra marketing, print and mail shop Manci runs with her husband, Sam Manci, got a free, hand-delivered, fresh apple pie. It's part of the Pie in July campaign, created by the Allegra franchise network.

The pies are made by a local bakery. Manci and her team delivered about 80 pies last month, a slight drop from July 2016. But every pie delivered was warmly received. “Our customers really look forward to this,” says Manci, whose Allegra franchise unit is on Falkenburg Road, near Interstate 75 and the Florida State Fairgrounds.