Recess was a “favorite” to many during their childhood years. The 20-minute interval each day gave everyone a break from the, well what we thought of it as back then, “rigorous” school day. As soon as the recess bell rang, kids sprinted out of the back doors of the school building as if they were about to hit the finish line of a 10-mile race, running towards that one playground toy they just couldn’t wait to come across; for many, it was the tire swing, but for me, the rope ladder.
The rope ladder, although a child’s toy back then, is actually built a lot like some things we see in life today: The numerous rope squares the figure makes for one’s feet to go into and one’s hands to grasp onto give the climber many choices of direction, and although almost falling from the shakiness on the way up, the climber can always find a way to make it to the top, no matter which direction he or she chooses.
Many of you may be confused as to how this whole rope ladder concept plays a part in our everyday lives. It’s somewhat puzzling to think how a simple playground toy can exhibit actual life entities, but that’s when your customers come in. Think of your consumers as the rope-ladder climbers. Today, these climbers are buying and using those products that will “get them to the top”, and more importantly, at an affordable cost. With a most current and very popular trend, the Free Love trend, you don’t have to wait for that 20-minute bell to ring for a break in order to draw consumers’ attention, instead you can easily use it to become that rope ladder for many of your consumers, giving each and every one of them a break, a simple “recess”, from this overly-exhausting and most definitely, “rigorous”, recession.
The Free Love trend is most popular in retail and advertising and proves very successful in both departments as it rewards customers with other offers in addition to the actual product. In short, it is known as the “freebie” trend, as those companies that utilize this trend attach coupons and discounts with those most popular items that consumers buy.
A store familiar to many, FedEx Office (once known as Kinko’s) adapted easily to this new, generous trend. Because of the overwhelming number of people seeking employment, FedEx Office offered free resume printing, where customers had the ability to print up to 25 black-and-white copies of their resume at any of the store’s locations.
According to springwise.com, a marketing/advertising website, “FreePaperCups works with advertisers to provide the cups to companies for free in exchange for branding them with sponsors’ messages.” The result is as good as one can imagine: “Advertisers get their brands in front of consumers and business decision makers in offices, conference rooms, break rooms and corporate dining facilities across the nation; companies get to eliminate the expense of buying the cups themselves; and participating coffee services get to offer more competitive pricing.” Free Love is a winner for all.
Even though a “recess” from the recession will never compare to the childhood recesses we shared when we were younger, the Free Love trend utilized around the world helps give consumers a break, no matter how long it lasts, from the “rigorous” day-to-day expenses. It is not only beneficial for your company, but it is also morally good to know that through this trend you are helping your customers “get to the top” even if it’s not on a school’s playground. So spread the love, after all, it is free.
-Liz Gravier