Chatham Woman Game To Take On The Cape

by Tim Wood

            CHATHAM --- If Chathamoply, a variation on the popular but unnamable (due to copyright purposes) board game, can be successful, imagine the possibilities of CapeCodopoly.

            That was the thinking of two Chatham women who have formed a company and begun promoting the concept among local businesses.  They’ve already convinced several large companies to become sponsors, and struck a deal to donate 20 percent of the sales of the game to the Cape and Islands United Way.

Julie Eldredge-Dykens, left, and Deborah Cole-Harry with Chathamoply, a game they helped develop and sell to benefit the Chatham PTA.  The two moms have formed a company and are now prompting a new game, CapeCodopoly. TIM WOOD PHOTO

         Now Julie Eldredge-Dykens and Deborah Cole-Harry have to find sponsors for the rest of the board’s squares.  Because they are longtime residents here, selling Chathamopoly was like falling out of a dory (their company is Double Dory Productions).  Getting close enough to sell the idea to businesses Cape-wide is another story.

            Thus, the orange waders.

            “We need to have some sort of entree to sell ourselves,” Eldredge-Dykens explained.

            “It’s definitely fun,” said Cole-Harry, referring to the nautical gear.  “Cold calling is definitely not fun, but we’re not under pressure. We don’t have a boss.”

            So far, the duo has sent letters to and approached what they consider “iconic” Cape businesses and organizations for initial sponsorship.  The board has 43 squares, on which businesses can have both their name and logo, and space will be available on the center of the board for other businesses, organizations or individuals who wish to purchase sponsorships.  To date, they’ve sold one corner square on the game board to Cape Cod Beer, and the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank will sponsor (what else?) the money.  The United Way is sponsoring the Community Chest cards.

            “What’s really neat,” said Eldredge-Dykens, “is that the United Way used to be called the Community Chest.”

            They are working with a company called Late For The Sky, which produces specialty board games based on almost any theme imaginable, including animals, food and colleges.  Their custom games are used for promotion and fundraising, which was what the Chatham PTA had in mind when it produced Chathamopoly a few years ago.  The game is still available locally, although two-thirds of the stock has been sold to date.

            Taking on Chatham was one thing.  Eldredge-Dykens and Cole-Harry were both active in the PTA, and as long-time residents, they had many contacts here.

            “In Chatham everyone knows us,” said Eldredge-Dykens, an artist.  “This is a much bigger market.”

            They hope to enlist at least two sponsors from each Cape town.  Specialty spaces might go to similarly themed businesses.  The Steamship Authority, for instance, could sponsor the transportation square.  The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce could take the Chance cards.  For the board and box design, they hope to use a lighthouse, similar to what appears on the Chathamopoly game.

            The concept pretty much sells itself, they say.  “People are pretty quickly won over,” said Eldredge-Dykens.  “We haven’t really had anybody say no,” added Cole-Harry.

            They hope to have the game sold, manufactured and available for sale by the summer season. 

            “The market really is tourists, or people who visit Cape Cod,” said Cole-Harry.