The Couch?! loves a freebie. Whether it’s the try-before-you-buy at the local deli or hostelry or a buy one get one free offer (BOGOF) that leaves the cupboards groaning, we just can’t resist something for nothing. In fact, a quick scan around the Couch?! desk shows not a pen, coaster, mousemat or sticky note without somebody’s branding all over it.
According to the National Incentive Survey, the Couch?! is not alone. In fact we are a nation of addicted freebie hunters, with 79% of us completing promotional competitions each year and 75% having three store loyalty cards.
It seems we’ll go to any lengths to get our mitts on the goodies. Respondents confessed to faking a pregnancy to get an upgrade, dancing in shopping centres, pretending to be an OAP, posing as royalty while travelling in the US and even pretending to be a journalist (the lengths some of us will stoop to…)
And who can blame us with such tempting incentives as:
* branded condoms;
* a five foot tall advent calendar;
* a signed picture of David Hasselhoff;
* a piece of land on the moon:
* a lion taming training session.
Scary big cats aside, all this talk of freebies has got the Couch?! thinking about it’s own little incentive show up in Harrogate next month. Last year’s CIPD exhibition highlights included a set of juggling balls, a pair of day-glo sweat bands and matching baseball cap and some flower bulbs. The Couch?! also remains eternally grateful for the small mountain of mints, mugs, mousemats and pens – although our doctor has recommended we take it easy this year or risk serious back injuries carting them all back from Yorkshire.
We’d love to hear your bizarre or bountiful freebies. Maybe an office away-day from a generous employer, a gift from a HR consultancy hoping to do business, or have you been one of the lucky souls to win a car/ holiday/ night out with a celebrity after opening a tin of beans? Let us know by posting a comment below.
Mindful of doctor’s orders, the Couch?! is also looking for fellow magpies to help us to… erhem… assess the quality of this year’s Harrogate give-aways. To take part, please drop a line to editor@hrzone.co.uk.
