stuff4restaurants

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Doughnut makers Krispy Kreme have come up with with an ideal solution to those ’stuck-in-the-office-blues’ by offering stressed out city workers the chance to have the feeling of a summer lawn beneath your bare feet all day long. Not to mention the fact that a few pairs of these being worn around busy city streets will guarantee they get noticed.

O.M.G. You Must Be Joking!!!!!!!

Whilst words fail me (Well almost)

The ones that do come to mind are: Gratuitous, Ugly, Insensitive and BLOODY STUPID!!!!

Please, PLEASE, tell me this is not real…

These pics require no words from me they appeal to basic human instincts that can not be ignored…

I’m not quite sure what they are all selling, but I think I should get some.

Well these people did…

And just look at the result. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on the face of everyone who sees it, and most importantly, be remembered.

The Question now is…

What could you do with your product to bring it alive in this manner?

This Advertising stunt is very clever and unique…

And could be easily adapted to suit many different product offers.

MacDonald s in Chicago wanted their customers to know they serve fresh eggs.

So, the creative gurus at Leo Burnetts came up with this animated sign. Apparently it opens at six and closes again at 10:30 (the hours they serve breakfast)

It’s a bit kitch for my liking, but I’m sure it got its fair share of attention as it certainly captures eyeballs.

Chefs from around Australia are being invited to strip off all in the name of charity (yeah right! we all know about chefs)

I am glad to say, in order to protect the sensitive and the morally indignant, today’s posting will not include photographs.

Sydney patisserie business Nepean Patisserie has joined forces with Diabetes Australia to create a cheeky calendar that will see chefs shed their whites to raise funds for the cause.

Twelve chefs will be chosen to appear in the 2009 calendar. Each chef will represent a month, be photographed in a “tasteful” scene and share their restaurant name plus their own diabetes-friendly recipe for the month with readers.

Jason Poles of the Nepean Patisserie said he decided to create the calendar for charity after one of his own chefs came up with the idea to raise money.

And after witnessing his father suffer from diabetes, the choice of charity was obvious; “I wanted to do something about it and it’s so appropriate for the food industry and chefs to get behind such a great cause,” Poles said.

Poles is keen for chefs around the country to become involved and says that it is especially timely considering July 13-19 is National Diabetes Week. “It’s a time when all of us will be thinking about what we can do to help; and it’s an opportunity for restaurants and chefs to do something fun and worthwhile at the same time.”

Chefs prepared to donate their bodies to such a worthy cause can apply via email to [email protected].

Applicants are asked to give a quick description as to why they want to be involved and attach a full length photograph of themselves.

Their restaurant will be asked to donate $1000 to cover the costs of printing and in return will receive coverage alongside their chef’s photograph and on the back page of the calendar.

All funds raised will go to Diabetes Australia.

Head to www.nepeanpatisserie.com.au for more information.

These tags from popptag.com look fantastic…

and (with a bit of customization) offer many of us a great promotional opportunity to add value to the sale of Gods own other nectar. (other than coffee)

As you may already have guessed I really like the idea of turning trees and lamp posts into clever marketing devices.

So here is another idea that I think is brilliant and worth adapting to your message. This low cost stuff really grabs attention and gets people talking.

Never underestimate the power of the “un-ordinary” to grab attention.

Our brains are programmed to disregard the predictable (if everything got through, there would be no processing power left to concentrate on the really important stuff) The problem is, most Advertising fails to interrupt this survival reflex, long enough to deliver its offer or “pick me” message.

So when you do something as simple, but UNPREDICTABLE as the photo below, you break through and earn the opportunity to deliver your Advertising message.

Opening your 400th store is a major landmark in any companies growth

So, to celebrate this enviable milestonePollo Loco enlisted the expertise of Robust Promotions to devise a competition that would encourage their existing and potential market tovisit more frequently and experience a broader range of their products.

Beginning July 7 through August 3, every person who makes a purchase at El Pollo Loco will receive a “Chicken Scratch” game card. Every card is a winner. Some prizes embrace the “400″ theme in celebration of the chicken chain’s journey across the country, such as a FREE 4-piece chicken meal and a $400 El Pollo Loco gift card. Other prizes include a FREE small drink, FREE 2-piece meal, FREE crunchy taco and a FREE Churro.

In 2004, the company announced expansion east of the Mississippi as part of a nationwide plan to increase its units by more than 70 percent over the next several years. Since that time, national brand recognition for El Pollo Loco is becoming a reality. El Pollo Loco has entered several new markets, including Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Portland, and most recently, Utah and Virginia. Throughout 2008, El Pollo Loco is continuing expansion into other markets around the country. Locations are set to open over the next year in California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Virginia, New Jersey, and New England.

El Pollo Loco, a leading franchise of 400+ fast casual restaurants, is famous on the West Coast for its signature citrus-marinated, flame-grilled chicken served with warm tortillas, assortment of delicious sides and fresh salsas, along with a wide variety of fresh, contemporary Mexican-influenced entrees.

Founded in Guasave, Mexico in 1975, El Pollo Loco, pronounced “L Po-yo Lo-co” and Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken,” opened its first U.S. restaurant in 1980 and is famous for the unique preparation of its award-winning “pollo”- fresh chicken marinated in a special recipe of herbs, spices and citrus juices passed down from the founding family. The marinated chicken is then flame-grilled, hand cut and served hot off the grill with warm tortillas, freshly prepared salsas, and a wide assortment of side dishes. Rounding out the menu are fresh flavorful entrées inspired by the kitchens of Mexico, including signature, grilled burritos, Pollo Bowl® entrees, Pollo Salads, tacos, quesadillas, Chicken Tortilla Soup, and more.

About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco® currently operates 406 restaurants (242 franchised locations and 164 company-owned restaurants) located in California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, El Pollo Loco, Inc. is a privately held company owned by Trimaran Pollo Partners, LLC and management. The principal investors in Trimaran Pollo Partners are funds affiliated with Trimaran Capital, LLC and Freeman Spogli & Co. For more information about El Pollo Loco, visit the company’s website at www.elpolloloco.com.

What have you done recently to promote the frequency of purchase of your customers? maybe your should give Robust Promotions a call right now and get started. Who knows, it could be the shot of adrenalin you need to get your 400th opening on target.

I really like the idea of turning ordinary, common place items into promotional devices

And this is a great example of exactly that. Most napkins are thought of as a purely functional commodity, grabbed and discarded without a second thought. but this great idea turns it into an attention grabbing smile creator, so all you have to do is add your branding and you have an instant low cost marketing tool.

I can’t find any other details on this product, so, if you can, please let me know.

With the U.S. Presidential campaign season in full swing, Denny’s, America’s iconic dining chain, is asking consumers from coast to coast to submit their best impersonations of the 2008 Presidential candidates for the chance to win one free meal a month for a full Presidential term.

This is a great example of how to use YouTube, Bloggers and your customers to generate bucket-loads of FREE PUBLICITY.

Here’s a couple of examples of early entries.

Street artist Joshua Allen Harris is creating some real great attention grabbing devices with common garbage bags

His blow up rely on the air that is driven up through gratings in New York by passing subway trains.

The thing is, these fun artworks grab everyone’s attention, so why not use the same concept, with the help of a couple of small fans, to draw some attention to your business.

It is a fun idea, but somehow I don’t think you will be able to purchase a pair of these in the very near future.