Back in July, I received a great package of freebies sent to drum up publicity for the new TV show "Rizzoli and Isles," based on books by Tess Gerritsen. The show stars Angie Harmon as a tough Boston cop and Sasha Alexander as her brainy and beautiful coroner friend. The package included a copy of the book on which the first episode was based, a DVD of the first episode, a T-shirt, some bookmarks, a puzzle, and my favorite, this cup and saucer and tea bag featuring the show's logo. A teacup figured into the plotline of the first episode, so this was a very clever freebie they designed.
Now I don't really like to promote a show until I've seen a few episodes, but I have to say I have really enjoyed "Rizzoli and Isles," mainly because the two female leads are strong characters who are great at nailing the bad guys, and it's a very witty show as well. Also, I have a friend who is a police officer, and Angie Harmon's character reminds me of her a lot!
Most of the freebies I've received through the years have come because I'm a journalist, and marketers will go to interesting lengths to try to get you to write about them. I'll never forget the time the morning mail arrived and I was handed a manila-colored padded envelope that weighed a ton! Inside was a black iron skillet promoting a new Turner South cooking program, and this was one of my favorite freebies ever! Other goodies I've received through the years have ranged from the yummy (boxes of new flavors of Girl Scout cookies) to the strange (plastic eyeballs promoting "Fright Night" at Halloween) to the whimsical (a Norman Rockwell floaty pen in honor of an exhibition of his paintings) to the wearable (t-shirts, flip-flops, aprons). The other day a colleague received an empty ice cream carton containing plastic raspberries and a coupon for her to try the new berry flavor of their ice cream for free. Of course plenty of other companies and consumers get freebies as well, so I'm curious. What's the best (or perhaps the weirdest) freebie you've ever received?
Back in July, I received a great package of freebies sent to drum up publicity for the new TV show "Rizzoli and Isles," based on books by Tess Gerritsen. The show stars Angie Harmon as a tough Boston cop and Sasha Alexander as her brainy and beautiful coroner friend. The package included a copy of the book on which the first episode was based, a DVD of the first episode, a T-shirt, some bookmarks, a puzzle, and my favorite, this cup and saucer and tea bag featuring the show's logo. A teacup figured into the plotline of the first episode, so this was a very clever freebie they designed.
Now I don't really like to promote a show until I've seen a few episodes, but I have to say I have really enjoyed "Rizzoli and Isles," mainly because the two female leads are strong characters who are great at nailing the bad guys, and it's a very witty show as well. Also, I have a friend who is a police officer, and Angie Harmon's character reminds me of her a lot!
Most of the freebies I've received through the years have come because I'm a journalist, and marketers will go to interesting lengths to try to get you to write about them. I'll never forget the time the morning mail arrived and I was handed a manila-colored padded envelope that weighed a ton! Inside was a black iron skillet promoting a new Turner South cooking program, and this was one of my favorite freebies ever! Other goodies I've received through the years have ranged from the yummy (boxes of new flavors of Girl Scout cookies) to the strange (plastic eyeballs promoting "Fright Night" at Halloween) to the whimsical (a Norman Rockwell floaty pen in honor of an exhibition of his paintings) to the wearable (t-shirts, flip-flops, aprons). The other day a colleague received an empty ice cream carton containing plastic raspberries and a coupon for her to try the new berry flavor of their ice cream for free. Of course plenty of other companies and consumers get freebies as well, so I'm curious. What's the best (or perhaps the weirdest) freebie you've ever received?
What a neat cup & saucer! I will check out that tv show.
ReplyDeleteRacetrack (the gas station) has had 'Mother's Day' and 'Father's Day' promotions, where they give out a special refillable cup & the Mom's and Dad's get free coffee / soda refills for that week. I thought that was pretty nice.
Have a great day, Joanie
I have never recieved a promotional freebie in the mail. But the ones I have been given that I use the most are: a mini tape measure, a large white tea mug, and one of those round gripper things that you use to open jars.
ReplyDeleteI like that cup and saucer and your other freebies. I'll have to watch for that new show - it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat cool freebies! I like the iron skillet, too. I did receive a mini Whole Foods cookbook one time but that is not even close to your freebies. I really do need to watch that show, too. I think it would be a good one. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWow, I must not be on the freebies list. The only thing I have gotten is a book on Portland. What fun freebies you do receive.
ReplyDeleteWhat nice freebies. Before I had my son, when I still worked, we would get freebies at work from time to time. But they were always things like ink pens. One time I was one of the first howevermany people to enter the new Super Target and got a nice cloth bag and a travel coffee mug.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I do to become a journalist so I can get those cool freebies!? I Love getting free stuff!! I get a Freebies newsletter and request free samples all the time. For several years, I have gone to the Coweta-Fayette EMC’s annual meeting because we have gotten some nice things, like two coolers that we still use, among other things. One of the coolers has a built-in radio on the outside. We missed it this year. I wonder what they gave away. Anyone know? So, Angela, if you get any freebies you don’t want, just pass it on to me! I’ll come and pick them up! LOL
ReplyDeleteOh, and I love Rizzoli & Isles. It has been a great program from the start!