Attracting attention

Press release contains shocking gimmick!

[Syzygy]

Thought I'd share this with you.

Sitting in the editors office we receive hundreds of press releases a week.

Sometimes companies send out all sorts of things with these press releases in order to attract a bit more attention to themselves. These can be samples of new products, or just gimmicks.

Today my opposite number in the office received something that is just plain weird - an office stapler.

However, this is no ordinary stapler. Get this; use it and it gives you an electric shock - deliberately! It's a 'trick' stapler!

It doesn't relate to anything that the company who sent it out does and the info that came with it is obvously part of a press teaser campaign (so perhaps we'll get to see similar gimmicks as the weeks go by).

So far no-one in the office who's been tricked into using the stapler (and there's been a few) has died of heart failure..:-)

This must surely be the weirdest gimmick we've ever received in a press release (oh, perhaps apart from an onion...), and whoever came up with the idea must have a warped sense of humour.

Bbbbzzzzz... haha; just got another unsuspecting victim!

Received any unsolicited promotional goodies/gimmicks that are weirder?

Syzygy

[rocknbil]

I received a bag of 20 logo-stamped mini flashlights. Can't figure out if the customer was telling me I am his light in the darkness or if he thinks I'm in the dark and need illumination. Afraid to ask. :-)

[Milamber]

I got some aluminum decking samples out of a link exchange once...

[trillianjedi]

Attracting attention

Did it work?

TJ

[wheel]

Hey, thanks for sharing. As you're in the press, I'd love to hear about gimmicks you've seen or received that *did* work.

[Syzygy]

Did it work?

TJ, let's put it this way; the press release has already been, er, 'filed'.

;-)

Syzygy

[Macguru]

Did it work?

I bit! ;-)

We did a trick last year for a "community" client trying to help drug addicts to get off the hook. I was also quite 'shocking'.

Along with the release, we sent fake 'used syringes' in decorated [loep.state.la.us] plastic bags.

It had quite an impact...

[Syzygy]

^^That's a powerful image...

I'd love to hear about gimmicks you've seen or received that *did* work.

I've been thinking about that, and it's hard to actually recall those that made a lasting impact. Can I come back to you on that?

(20 flashlights is, erm, odd. What did you do with them? As for the aluminium decking...lol!)

I still want to know more. What it is that anyone's received as a freebie/promo that's weirder than an office stapler that gives you electric shocks...

Syzygy

[Jon_King]

I once recieved a Michael Bolton Christmas album in July. It was an early order reminder - real early. I threw it away.

[Macguru]

- Macguru, why did you send me a Corduroy pillow?

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- Cause we want to make headlines.

[vincevincevince]

That's really funny macguru

[Automan Empire]

There is a dentist in town who sends out, via UPS, these boxes with a bit of floss, toothpasts sample, propaganda, and enough toothbrushes for every friend, relative, neighbor, and some left over after that. I still have some of his brushes, but never called for an appointment.

It really gets you going, to have the UPS guy walking up with a not-very-small box you weren't expecting; and kind of a letdown finding it overflowing with toothbrushes.

I understand that sending REAL $2 bills is a good promotional.

The stapler is interesting... my visitors have learned to be wary of what they touch around my place, though the shocking gag wears off at a young age (and a good drubbing or two.)