The Purple Goldfish Project: Lessons in Retaining Customers & Influencing Word of Mouth

PLEASE RT —>

I need your help. I’m desperately seeking a purple goldfish. . . actually a whole school of them for the Purple Goldfish Project.

The goal is to crowdsource 1,001 stories of Marketing Lagniappe for the book, What’s Your Purple Goldfish?.

A marketing lagniappe,  i.e. purple goldfish,  is any time a business goes above and beyond to provide a ‘little something extra’.  It’s that unexpected surprise that’s thrown in for good measure.

Here are the basic ingredients / r.u.l.e.s of a purple goldfish:

Relevant, Unexpected, Limited, Expression and Sticky.

6 examples:

• Southwest Airlines – Grab you bag . . . it’s on.  Southwest doesn’t charge for bags
• TD Bank – TD Bank has a penny arcade in their lobby, a free service to all who want to exchange coins
• Five Guys Burgers and Fries – Free peanuts while you wait and extra fries with your order (lots of them)
• Stew Leonard’s – Buy $100 or more of groceries, the register MOO’s and you get a free ice cream or coffee
• Doubletree Hotels - Complimentary warm chocolate chip cookie when you check-in
• Zappos - Free upgrade of your shipping to next day

Need more thought starters? Here’s ‘The Top 100 from the first 500 stories’.

REWARD – For each of the first 1,001 stories of lagniappe I will donate a non-perishable food item to the Thomas Merton Center.  The Merton Center is a soup kitchen in Bridgeport, CT that not only provides food, but other programs that help people move out of poverty to become self sufficient.

In addition – each Purple Goldfish story will be featured on the website and the best examples will be featured in my upcoming book.

3 easy ways to contribute:

• e-mail me your Purple Goldfish to sphelps [at] synergyevents.com
• click the CONTACT button in the header above
• or write a comment on this page including your Purple Goldfish

Bonus: If your ‘purple goldfish’ makes it into the book . . . you will receive a complimentary signed copy.

Which brands have made the cut?

(here is the alphabetical list of the first 750)

[A] ABT Electronics #391, adidas #204, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital #476, Aqua Pools #80, Acura (Bridgewater, NJ) #97, Advantage Cleaners #322, AJ Bombers #152, Alaska Airlines #717, Alaska Stock Images #440, Alligator Lounge #205, Allstate #674, Amazon #51+165+441+567+695+732, American Express #297+415, American Girl #112, American Tea Room #603, America’s Tire #412,  Amica Insurance #428, Amici #708+709, Anne Perschel #350,  AOL #257, Apple #147+237+370+687+735, Arby’s #227, Aria Hotel #725, Arigato Sushi #355, Artuso’s Bakery #529, Atlantic Pediatric #613, AT&T #572+729+744, Audi #133, Aveda Spa & Salon #160, Avis #490

[B] Banana Republic #573, Bank of the Islands #244, Bar 89 #230, Bar Breton #477,  Baron Funds #73, Baskin Robbins #484+507, Beaver Creek Resort #129, Bed Bath & Beyond #85, BEEP Free Products #608, Ben & Jerry’s #4+13, Bergdorf Goodman #329,  Besito #238+239, Bespeak Presentation Solutions #270, Best Buy #474, Bigelow Tea #378, Bill Coleman Entertainment #267, Biosphere #520, Bistro Montage #226, Blimpy Burger #281, Bloom Processing #217, Blues City Memphis Cafe #292, Blue Ridge Soap Shed #266,  BLT Market #734, BLT Steakhouse #182, BMW (Circle NJ) #72+150 (Bridgeport CT) #190 (Darien, CT), Blue Salon #326, Blue Star #526, BMW #562, Bob Magruder #298, Bob’s Discount Furniture #126+398+399+676, Body Evolution #343, Bold Chat #678,  Bolt Bus #278+564, Bona Bros #356, bosc Marketing Muscle #139, Bose #421, Boston Market #581, BP #703, Brandeis University #242, Bridgeton Hotel #89, Broadview Hotel #442, Broadway Diner #713, Brock University #346, Broo Beer #723, Bruster’s #419, Burger Bar #746, Busse Automotive #331, Hotel Burnham #141, Butler’s Dry Cleaning #405

[C] Cafe Ibis #409, Cafe Luxemborg #496, Cafe Metro #656, Caledonia Golf & Fish Club #575, Calise’s Delicatessan, Campus Advantage #464+465+466+467+468, Canine Fence #513, Canyon Cafe #159, Capital Grille #122+438+504, Capitol Photo Interactive #274,  Caribou Coffee #2, Carnival Cruise Line #64+208, Carter’s #27, Cartridge World #249, Chaffin’s Plumbing #360, Changi Airport #508, Chegg #235, Chicken Delicatessan #127, Chick-fil-a #125 + 641, Chipotle #301, Chirpin Chicken #548, Chobee #261, Chocopologie #406, Cinnamon Bar #680, citi #693, Citizen’s Bank #33, Classic Barber of Greenwich #157, Classic Shine Detailing #82, Clayton’s Automotive #372, Clement Marketplace #209, Club Fit #738,  Coca-Cola #186, Cole Haan #534, Comcast #381, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico #616, Conference Call Unlimited #339, Cosi #32+206, Costco #216+606, Courtyard by Marriott #57, Criterion #689, Croc’s #184, CuisinArt Resort & Spa #284, Cum Laude #243, Customer Connection Co. #420

[D] Dallas Ft. Worth Airport #559, Dancing Elephants #247, Danny Meyer #403, Dave Carroll #340, David Yurman #327, Dedrick’s Pharmacy and Gifts, Del Frisco’s Steak House #118, Del Taco #451, Delta #361+724, Demas #173, Denny’s #7, Desert Moon #601, Descend Salon #394, DIAGEO #413, Diamond Cabs #81, Discount Tires #408, Disney #12+149+171+228+#537+604+653+660+702, Distinctive Homes #254, Dogfish Head #530, Domino’s #237, Donna Spears #325, Doris & Ed’s #318, Doubletree Hotels #5+#16+30+276+500+510, Dove #634, Dr. Alan Stern DDS #612, Dr. Drysdale #197, Dr. Greg Preston #169, Drury Inn #671, Dr. Yeh #635, Dr. Yudell #515, Dry Cleaning Factory #90, Dunkin Donuts #338

[E] El Bandito #400, Emirates Palace #516, Eleven Madison Park #571, EMI #692, Encoded #679, endless.com #181, Enterprise Rental Car #105+551, Entertainment Weekly #264, Enviro Express #84, ESPN Zone #334, Ethan Allen #102, etsy.com #188, Equinox #259, Exclusive Resorts #119

[F] Facebook Marketing for Dummies #309, Fairfield Granite #59, Fairfield Inn #387, Fairmont Copley Plaza #288, Fairfield Lumber #448, Family Diner #698, Fat Cat Pie Company #231, Father & Son’s #43, Fjeldheim #268,  FIG’s #473, Fiji Water #462, Fillmore San Francisco #37, Finger Nail Salon #28, Firebox.com #70, First Watch Cafe #643,  Fiskars #353,  Five Guys Burgers & Fries #94, Foam + Wash #121, Ford #155+741, Fort Wayne International Airport #176, Four Seasons Hotels #192+218, Four Seasons #304+669+730, Fresh Direct #359, Friendly’s #75+418, Fromagerie Rumson #163, Frontier #222, Fuddruckers #280, Functional Fitness #263

[G] Gallery Furniture #62, Gans Ink #501, GAP #55, Garden Catering #471, Gina DiMascio Salon #652, Gold to Go #516, Good Giving #21, Google #46, Graegle Hardware #354, Grand Central Racquet #63, Grateful Dead #310, Great Harvest Bakery #383, Great Wolf Lodge #509, Green Dragon Herbals #255, Grooming by Debbie #104,  Ground Round #53, Gumba’s #336

[H] Hallmark #617, Hamilton College #588, Hampton Inn #599, Hard Rock #26+737, Harley Davidson #178, Hashable #745, Heights Restaurant #31, Heineken #307, Herbndvelopment #630, Herman Miller #158, Highland Cafe #532, High Voltage Tattoo #151, Hilton #624+743, Hilo Hattie #524, Holiday Inn Express #740, Home Warranty #201, Honda #533, Horizon Air #78, Hotel Erwin #287, Hotel Gansevoort #282, Hotel Max #285, Hotel Mela #470, Hotel Monaco #290+395,  Hotel Murano #185, Hot Springs Village #736, HSBC #594, HUB Plumbing & Mechanical #324, Hotel Vitale #194, HSBC #145+511+594, Hyatt #10+146+690, Hyundai #728

[I] IHOP #561, IKEA #41+147 + 191+657, Ikedas #35, Insomnia Cookies #29, ITHF #240, iTreadmill #371, Izzy’s #582

[J] J Crew #625, J-six #207, Jaguar #655, Jansport #435, Jason Deli #199, Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar #313,  Jesse’s Toys #212, Jet Blue #19+352+375+414+579+621+622+623+715, Jim n Nicks #700, John Allen’s #68, Johnny Cupcakes #636, John’s Barber Shop #77, John’s Pizzeria #316, Joie de Vivre Hotels #492, Josh Early Candies #225, Julien McRoberts #253

[K] Kaiser #733, Kid City #88, KidsSocks.com #749, Kiehl’s #528, Kimpton Hotels #109+#110+704, King Won Ton & Noodle #600, KLM #595+#596, K-Mart #366, Krazy Al’s Mega Music #Krispy Kreme #18

[L] Lacoste #673, Lady Gaga #503, Laguardia Airport #644, La Mela #470, Landers Chrysler Jeep #347, Landmarc #546, Landmarc Restaurant #495, Land’s End #128, Langhorne Hotel #24, Lanyapi #556, La Pirogue #664, Las Ventanas al Paraiso #236, Le Foret #494, Lenscrafters #312,  Les Schwab #17+156+302, Le Touessrok Hotel #665, Lexus #1+23+48+69+200+348+367+427+434+628, Lightspan Digital #311, Lisloughrey Lodge #286, Listel #99, Little Nell #98, liveGLOCAL #432, Lolita #701, Los Cabos #87, Lotus #688, Louisiana Lagniappe #469, Louisiana Territory #379,  Lou Mitchell’s #83, Lowe’s #491, Lovefilm.com #108, Lozano Car Wash #130, Lulu’s #626, LUSH #189

[M] Macy’s #328+#584+620, Maison de Macarty #683, Maker’s Mark #640, Mall of America #677, Market Basket Supermarket #519, Maroni Cuisine #223, Mario’s Barber Shop #47, Marriott #685, Martin + Osa #86, Max Motor’s #224, Marriott #410+#547+642, Mary’s #618,  Martin Guitar #60, Maxwell House #183, McCarron Airport #558, McCurly’s Tours #522, McDonald’s #8+44+100+114, McLellan Marketing Group #136+137+138, Mealey’s #214+215, Mermaid Inn #429+550, Merrell #554, Metropolis Performing Arts Center #332,  Midwest Airlines #142, Milk Bar #699, MIP #168, Mitchell’s #450, Moe’s Southwest Grill #269, Mountain View Tire #605, Mount Gay Rum #488, MTA #260, Mystic Pizza #535

[N] Nagasaki #553, Nagoya #512, Nails Plus #685, Nanalulus #661, National Car Rental #330, Native Eyewear #58, Neiman Marcus #475+517+518, Netflix #445, New Belgium Brewery #162, New Horizons #499, New Jersey #132, NINJA #111, New York Sportimes #463, Nine Inch Nails #566, Nordstrom #314+430+436+667, North Pole Express #627, Northwest Airlines #106, Norwegian Cruise Line #697, Nurse Next Door #437

[O] Odwalla #198, Ogori Cafe #203, Ola Granola #291, Olive Garden #279 +536, 1-800-Pet-Meds #479, On the Ball Parent Coach #607, Opus Hotel #289, Orbitz #482, Oscar Mayer #362, Oxford Stuff #135, Outagamit Airport #180, Outback #294, Overstock #166

[P] Pacific Cafe #143, Palomino #489, Pampered Hand Salon #396, Panera #45+#50 + #154, Papa Murphy’s #647, Paradise Music #251, Paste Magazine #34, Patriot Bank #61, Peabody Hotel #113, Pepperidge Farm #134, Peet’s Coffee & Tea #299, Penn State #580, Penzey’s Spices #718, People’s Bank #570, Perpetual Kid #549, PHD #219, Peter Millar #446+461, PGA Tour #483, Pixar #470, Philadelphia Airport #542, Philadelphia Cream Cheese #485, Piercing Pagoda #577, Pizza Express #363+721+722, Pizza Shuttle #221, Plaza Cleaners #123, Port Chester Coach Diner #543, Port Columbus Airport #179, Porter Airlines #300, Post Road Diner #555+585, Pot Belly Sandwiches #480,  Powell Books #552, Prince #385, Principled Profit #248, Publix #96+117+633, Puente Aereo #433, Purchasing Power #196

[Q] Queen Victoria Hotel #586+#587, Quinta Real #305, Quizno’s #576

[R] Raffles #668, Rainforest Cafe #684, Ralph’s #167, Redbox #380, Redeye Grill NYC #79, Reef Sandals #277, Reno – Tahoe Aiport #177, Rich Life Marketing #256, Rimsky Korsakoffee #229, Rita’s Water Ice #384, Rite Aid #364, Ritz Carlton Hotel #443+565, Rochester, MI #597, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory #557, Rod Oglesby Realty #153, Roger Smith Hotel #174, Rubio’s Tacos #610, Russell Speeder’s Car Wash #321

[S] Safelite #706, Sage Valley Country Club #120, Saladworks #425, Salute #401, Salvatier Studios #611, Sam Adams #487, Samsung #560,  Sanderson Group #246, Schering Plough #373, Schlesinger + Associates #590, Scooter’s Coffee #342, Scrub a Dub #6, Sears #365, Seaworld #344+345, See’s Candy #417, Sephora #101+505, Shelter Harbor Inn #481, Sheraton #411, Shui Tea #593, 6pm.com #407, Skin Perfect #265, Skooba Design #389, Skullcandy #525,  Sky Lake Hospital #187, Skyline Chili #540, Skype #662, Slay’s on Main #172, SNY #296, Snip-its #404, Sonic #459, Solar Refrigeration and Appliance Repari #714, Southwest Airlines #93+670+691, Spa Atlantis #545, Sparks Steak House #651, Speck #175, Splash Car Wash #67+453, Sports Illustrated #497, Sportsvite #282, Staples #241, Starbucks #9+20+36+40+351+376+648+663+719, Stew Leonard’s #91+124+431+632+731, Stripsteak #658, Subaru #675, Subway #39, Success Tutoring #276, Sun Chips #335, Surf Unlimited #506, Super Food Town #71, Susan Wendy Salon #357, Sushi Time #164, Swanky Franks #602

[T] Tahari #578, Taku Sushi #629, Tantra Imports #707, Taos Resort #423, TD Bank #49+76+92+454+455+456+457+458+574+716, TGI Friday’s #213, Tiffany #232, Thai Basil #306, The “21″ Club,  Thomas Boston #445, Thomas Gadbois & Sons #639, Thomas J. Walsh Contracting #250, Timbuk2 #392, Tim Coffey #65, Tipsy Parson #388, T-Mobile #563+727, Tom Quick Inn #210, Tom’s Shoes #3, Tony’s #382, Tony’s Market #649, Tory Burch #393, Town Fair Tire #452, Toyboat Desserts Cafe #144, Toyota #654, Toys R Us #15, Toyzam #115+131, Trader Joe’s #42+161+320+374+591+592, Tradewinds #514, Trek of Fairfield #541, Trucchi’s #609, Two Urban Licks #523

[U] Umpqua Bank #295, United Airlines #386+422+439+646+710+711, Universal Studios #750, UPS #211+486, USAA #56, US Postal #14

[V] Vazzy’s #694, Velocity #174, Verizon #720+744, Via Rail #341, Village Market #233, Vinny’s Deli & Pasta #424, Virgin #358+#527+#538+#539+696, Viva Zapata #447, Volvo #564, VW (New Country Greenwich) #193

[W] Waldorf Astoria #402, Warrug #262, Wayzata Dental #369, Wawa #317+568, Webster Bank #502, Wegman’s #116, Wells Fargo #38, Wendy’s #739, Westin #672+747+748, Westminster Hotel #74, White Castle #686, White House Custom Colors #637, Whole Foods #11+22+258+315+645+742, Wickstrom Auto Group #521, William Austin’s Antiques #308, Wilson’s #333, WineLibrary.com #170, Wine Experience #650, Wiz Wheels #619, Wordsmith Writing #390, W South Beach #283

[X] XTRA Mart #598

[Y] Yahoo #631, Yankee Candle #659

[Z] Zane’s Cycles #460, Zappo’s #107+195+319+349+397+493, Zea Rotisserie & Grill #478, Zenni Optical #531, Zumba #589