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Freebie Frenzy

Companies giving out gratis goodies to boost brand loyalty

Implications - In a time of economic recession, people eagerly clamor to goods or services that are free, even if they’re not really interested. This offers the opportunity to get a leg up on the competition, the hope being when the economy stabilizes, they’ll have customer loyalty and therefore their money.
Trend Themes
1. Freebies to Boost Brand Loyalty - Companies are giving away gratis goodies to increase customer loyalty and gain competitive advantage in times of economic recession.
2. Incentivizing Customers Through Free Products - Businesses are offering free products to customers who buy their rivals' products, creating brand appeal and boosting sales.
3. Wage-free Recruitment - Unpaid employee recruitment strategies are now being used by organizations to reduce manpower costs and improve profitability.
Industry Implications
1. Marketing and Advertising - Creative marketing and advertising tactics are being used to promote free products and services, incentivize customer behavior, and reduce marketing costs.
2. Retail - Retailers are offering free products to attract and retain customers, differentiating themselves from competitors in a price-sensitive market.
3. Education - Unpaid employee recruitment strategies are being used in the education industry to reduce labor costs and minimize expenses.
4.4
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
12 Featured, 56 Examples:
1,969,619 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Jan 09 — Mar 09
Trending:
Warm
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Free Tattoos for Athletes
Free Tattoos for Athletes
Vancouver Tat Artist Offers Free Ink for 2010 Olympic Medalists
A Vancouver-based tattoo artist is such a big fan of the Olympics that he's offering free ink for any Olympian who scores a medal in 2010. "Thomas Lockhart, of West Coast Tattoo in Vancouver, has designed… MORE
Free Products On Demand
Free Products On Demand
Boobox Vending Machine Spews Out Free Samples
We’ve seen vending machines that give dispense goods if you watch a 30 second commercial, but now there’s a model for vending machines that give you goodies for free, without having to sit through any… MORE
play_circle_filledInaugural Fragrance Relaunches
Inaugural Fragrance Relaunches
Calvin Klein's CK One Promoted on 1/20 with Free Song
Calvin Klein kicked off a relaunch campaign for the iconic CK One fragrance on January 20, the same day Barack Obama officially became the new president of the United States. The new CK One campaign includes… MORE
Giving Away Cars for Buzz
Giving Away Cars for Buzz
Ford Recruits Drivers for Free Fiestas
Fort is recruiting drivers to join what it's calling the Ford Fiesta Movement, and they've implemented a promotion that epitomizes timeliness. They're giving away 100 Ford Fiestas, and for a period of… MORE
play_circle_filledFree Foodvertising
Free Foodvertising
Gratis Grub at Denny's Feeds 2 Million Patient People
The free breakfast at Denny’s campaign is only a small portion of a much bigger trend. Theirs was one of the most viral Super Bowl ads of the year, but it was also an insightful glimpse into how to innovative… MORE
Tuition Free High School Diplomas
Tuition Free High School Diplomas
'Insight' Offers Online High School Education
For two years now my two teenage daughters have been students at one of the Insight High Schools. The experience has changed their lives and the life of everyone in our family. I travel a lot in my work… MORE
play_circle_filledTrend Hunter Leaks a Sneak Peek of Groove Armada's New Album
Trend Hunter Leaks a Sneak Peek of Groove Armada's New Album
Free Groove Armada MP3 Download
Any electronic music follower knows that Groove Armada is synonymous with innovative dance music; through their partnership with Bacardi B-Live, the duo has upped the ante for their fans worldwide. In… MORE
Messy Marketing
Messy Marketing
Adidas Originals & The Ting Tings Paint Fans for Free Gig
In a rather unusual but artistic and creative marketing approach, Adidas collaborated with the band The Ting Tings on a free music gig in their hometown, Manchester, on February 27th. The unique gig was… MORE
Recruiting Wage-Free Workers
Recruiting Wage-Free Workers
LightFair Seeks Unpaid Employees With Promise of Gratis Entry
Forget the fact that this is an educational conference: LightFair International is looking for students to provide free, as in non-paid, labor at the Light Fair. OK, they will waive the $525 conference… MORE
Freebies For Rival Support
Freebies For Rival Support
Coca-Cola Gives Out Free Drinks to People Who Buy Pepsi Products
Another recession-busting trick has emerged in the food and beverage industry, this time from Coca-Cola. This is definitely not the time to be classed as the No. 2 brand for anything; only being at the… MORE
Free Pet Adoptions
Free Pet Adoptions
'Change a Pet's Life Day' Aims to Re-Home 3000 Animals
Around 3,000 pets will be available for free adoption at animal shelters throughout the United States as part of the Change a Pet’s Life Day initiative to be held on January 24. Organized by pet food… MORE
play_circle_filledFree Coffee for Activism
Free Coffee for Activism
Starbucks 'Shared Planet' Gives Tall Cup of Joe for 5 Hours of Service
After five hours of work, few would deny the pleasures of a cup of hot coffee. “So how about it?” says Starbucks, and throws in a social twist. The 'Shared Planet' initiative of the popular barista giant… MORE

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Slides in the Work Place
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Portable Work Spaces
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The Pop-Up 'Standby Office' Gives You Mobility and Privacy
Soft Drink Adbusting
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Abandoning Currency
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Trade in Skivvies for a Car With Russia's Credit Crunch Bartering System
46 Clothes-Free “Workers” to Celebrate World Nude Day
46 Clothes-Free “Workers” to Celebrate World Nude Day
Super Bowl Freevertising
Super Bowl Freevertising
Denny's Uses Prime Commercial SlotTo Promote Free 'Grand Slam' Breakfast
Trend Hunter Launches Groove Armada's Latest Album
Trend Hunter Launches Groove Armada's Latest Album
Groove Armada Free MP3 Download
20 Vending Machines That Don't Sell Snacks
20 Vending Machines That Don't Sell Snacks
You Won't Find Sodas, Chips, Candy, Or Cigarettes Here
Political Sodavertising
Political Sodavertising
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play_circle_filledCross-Promotional Fails
Cross-Promotional Fails
Burger King Un-Friends Facebook Over 'Whopper Sacrifice' Snafu
20 Spiffy Global Offices and Headquarters
20 Spiffy Global Offices and Headquarters
Workplaces Around the World
Inked Activists
Inked Activists
The Rescue Ink Crew Has a Soft Spot for Animals
Digital Tattoo Covers
Digital Tattoo Covers
Michael Phelps in ESPN Magazine
Theatrical Car Reviews
Theatrical Car Reviews
‘Top Gear' Drives Ford Fiesta in Mall, Brings in Royal Marines
Break-Up Service Clothing Ads
Break-Up Service Clothing Ads
Safevertising for Adidas Originals
Celebrity Sneaker House Parties
Celebrity Sneaker House Parties
Adidas Originals Commercial
2 for 1 Truck Sales
2 for 1 Truck Sales
Extreme Dodge Dealer Incentives
Tugging Presidential Heartstrings
Tugging Presidential Heartstrings
Pedigree's Obama Dog Adoption Campaign
play_circle_filledTreats to Bribe Voters II
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Free Cup of Starbucks Coffee
Soup Kitchens for Pets
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The Animal Board
Free Donuts to Entice Voters
Free Donuts to Entice Voters
Political Bribery at Krispy Kreme
42 Amazing Vending Machines
42 Amazing Vending Machines
Free Clothes From Human Vending Machines
Free Clothes From Human Vending Machines
Uniqlo Heat Tech Innerwear Campaign
Rugs from Dead Pets
Rugs from Dead Pets
DogCarpets
Free Diamonds to Sell Deodorant
Free Diamonds to Sell Deodorant
Secret Flawless Promotion
Superstar Perfumes
Superstar Perfumes
Britney Spears Shares Her Scentual “Hidden Fantasy”
Trading Car Keys for a Soda
Trading Car Keys for a Soda
Pepsi Ads Feature Bizarre Barters
13 Creations to Honor the Ford Model T's 100th Birthday
13 Creations to Honor the Ford Model T's 100th Birthday
play_circle_filledChallenging Educational Standards
Challenging Educational Standards
The Unschooling Movement
22 Things You Can Sample, Taste or Try Before You Buy
22 Things You Can Sample, Taste or Try Before You Buy
Hip Hop Models
Hip Hop Models
Erykah Badu for Tom Ford's 'White Patchouli' Perfume
Pepsi Beats Coke to Stevia Drinks
Pepsi Beats Coke to Stevia Drinks
PureVia vs. Truvia
China Fashion to Hype Beijing Olympics
China Fashion to Hype Beijing Olympics
China International Fashion Week
Eau de Pop Stars
Eau de Pop Stars
Justin Timberlake in Play by Givenchy Fragrance Ads
play_circle_filledEducational Virals
Educational Virals
Shift Happens by Karl Fisch
Freeconomics & Food
Freeconomics & Food
McDonalds Gives Out Free McSkillet Burritos
Car Commercial With No Cars
Car Commercial With No Cars
Ford Uses Acrobats To Pose As Fusion & Edge
Automakers Create Buzz with Ltd Editions
Automakers Create Buzz with Ltd Editions
2008 Corvette Z0-6 427
New Concept in Pet Adoption
New Concept in Pet Adoption
MyPetWhale.com
Paying to Volunteer
Paying to Volunteer
Samba Party at Rio Carnival
$1 Starbucks + Free Refill
$1 Starbucks + Free Refill
Starbucks Fights to Keep up with McDonalds
DIY Virtual Music Fest
DIY Virtual Music Fest
Adidas Originals Festival
Fuel-Saving Ford
Fuel-Saving Ford
Explorer America Concept (NAIAS 2008)
Olympic Fashion
Olympic Fashion
The Original Games Collection by Adidas
Backpacking for Rum
Backpacking for Rum
Bacardi Murmansk Route
Free Tacos To All US Citizens
Free Tacos To All US Citizens
Taco Bell Offer If Base Stolen in World Series
Making Eco-Awareness Fun
Making Eco-Awareness Fun
Starbucks Planet Green Game
Free Cars (With Billboards)
Free Cars (With Billboards)
Paid Vehicle Advertising
Bacardi's Exotic New Flavour
Bacardi's Exotic New Flavour
Dragonfruit & Raspberry Breezer
Free Drink Vending Machines
Free Drink Vending Machines
Pay By Watching Commercials
Free University Education
Free University Education
Yale Joins MIT, Berkeley and Stanford With Free Courses Online
Starbucks To Give Away 500,000 FREE Cups of Coffee
Starbucks To Give Away 500,000 FREE Cups of Coffee
Voluntourism
Voluntourism
Volunteerism + Tourism
Hackable Beer / Free Beer
Hackable Beer / Free Beer
Simplifying Donations
Simplifying Donations
Charity Vending Machines
Your House Shaken and Stirred by BACARDI
Your House Shaken and Stirred by BACARDI