The PURPLE GOLDFISH PROJECT: 1001 Examples of Lagniappe

Submitted by Nadine Cualoping

#257. AOL — value-add edit promotion for custom programs / products created for Advertising Partners
#258. Whole Foods – 10 cents credit towards grocery bill for each bag you bring in
#259. Equinox – member appreciation days with free samples, services etc.
#260. NYC MTA – 15% bonus on $8 Metrocards

262. Submitted by Kevin Sudeith

Warrug

“I’m in the Persian rug biz and ‘throwing something in’ at payment is a standard practice, which usually says ‘you overpaid’.
Almost any retail rug seller has stories about this practice.

In my case I throw in a book I wrote about the rugs I sell.”

http://www.warrug.com

#264. Submitted by Nadine Cualoping

Entertainment Weekly

“Entertainment Weekly magazine has an Advance Movie Screening program for subscribers (you have to enroll in the program and it’s first come first served, but it’s a nice perk since you and a friend can see movies for free).”

#266. Submitted by Karen Wylie

Blue Ridge Soap Shed

We are a 12 year old business and include gifts with every order we ship. We provide free samples with all web, phone and mail orders (about 4,000 orders a year), and the number of samples is based on the dollar value of the order.

First time customers were so unaccustomed to receiving something free, that we had to start labeling the gifts AS ‘gifts.’ When we didn’t, we estimate that 20-30% of new customers would call or email us worried that we made a mistake with their order. Some would ask how to return the extra product, others would state in very annoyed emails that they hoped they weren’t charged extra for it.

We quickly realized that our nice gesture had potentially negative consequences for us, because the free gift created a doubt or concern in some customers’ minds about their order, our business, or how we handled their order. So we adopted additional packaging and shipping procedures. All free items we provide now have a gold label that says ‘Thank You’ or ‘Enjoy this Gift’ or ‘With Our Compliments’ so there is NO QUESTION the item is free.

We initially started providing small samples to our web & mail customers as a marketing strategy. We would review a customer’s order, and include free samples of similar scents. Our free gifts have become quite a tradition, and something customers say they look forward to with each delivery. I don’t think this is a gesture we could ever stop making without incurring a negative or disappointing response from our very loyal customers.

Over the years, we extended our tradition to visitors to our retail shop because they asked why our mail order customers got something they did NOT. This required us to create a completely different set of procedures for providing free gifts in the face-to-face retail shop environment.”

Karen Wylie & Tim Tyndall, OwnersThe Blue Ridge Soap Shedwww.soapshed.com, 877-404-SOAP(828) 765-6001

#267. Submitted by Bill Coleman

Bill Coleman Entertainment

“We are a small variety entertainment company based in Denver, CO. We
provide ground acts, strolling acts and attractions including
interactive stilt walkers, Dancing Christmas Trees, 18 foot tall Giant
Parade Puppets, the 14 foot tall solar powered Bubble Tower Sculpture,
and group play activities with Giant Bubbles , the Bubble Petting Zoo
and dozens of old fashioned hand held wood stilts and bucket stilts.

We help build community by entertaining at fairs, festivals, parades,
promotions, celebrations and special events of all kinds within 1000
miles of Denver, CO.

From time to time, we add a “freebie” to the event.

The presenting sponsor of the Denver ST Patrick’s Parade hires us to
help add more excitement to the parade.

In the past, we included an extra Giant Parade Puppet. This year they
are getting an extra Stilt Walker.”

Walking tall and stretching imaginations!

http://www.stiltwalker.com/
http://www.bubbletower.com/

#269. Submitted by Jordan Stark

Moe’s Southwest Grill in New York City

“I thought of you the other day when I grabbed lunch a Moe’s Southwest Grill and was pleased to find that with any of the meals you order you are given free tortilla chips and then can pick from 4 or 5 different types of salsa. This may not sound like much but over Chipotle, the most comparable quick-food mexican restaurant, that would cost you $2.50. Who doesn’t love some free chips and salsa with their meal??”

#276 from Amy Kaplan

Success Tutoring

“Hi Stan, Thanks for the wonderful presentation. I send welcome cards to the parents when they choose me as a tutor. Then, I am sure to send birthday cards to each of my students (and long after they are no longer my students). I also send graduation cards.”

Amy L. Kaplan
Success Tutoring, LLC

http://www.SuccessTutoringLLC.com
Amy [at] SuccessTutoringLLC.com

Submitted by Rob Gallo via a superb article on TripAdvisor:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/InfoCenter-a_ctr.amenities

#282. Hotel Gansevoort, New York, NY – Fun and games at the Gansevoort. Free Sony PSP and Nintendo Wii use for guests. Or, check out a Digital Book Reader.
#283. W South Beach, Miami Beach, FL – The Whatever/Whenever® service gives you a free lift about town in the hotel’s Acura MDX.
#284. CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla, Caribbean – “You might just find a bottle of great rum in your room…and a bowl of their home grown cherry tomatoes.”
#285. Hotel Max, Seattle, WA – “I loved the “pillow menu” with such options as “body,” “reading,” and “U-shape,” along with the more conventional soft, firm, medium firm, etc. I also liked the “spiritual menu,” with a list of religious reading matter they would provide.”
#286. Lisloughrey Lodge, County Mayo, Ireland –
“..a Wii room, Wellies, umbrellas and walking maps for guests, which I thought was a really nice touch.”
“child-sized bathrobes, and gourmet cookies with names iced on each for all 3 kids!”
#287. Hotel Erwin, Los Angeles, CA – “‘Ink & Stay’ package, with a $100 tattoo voucher to use at a neighbourhood tattoo shop. I even got a free bottle of Patron tequila…”
#288. Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston, MA – “The Fairmont Copley has something that no other hotel in the area has – the beautiful dog (black lab) named Catie who hangs out in the lobby to greet guests – what a sweet dog.”
#289. Opus Hotel – Vancouver, BC – “The room had some fun and funky features that included a peek-a-boo window from the bedroom into the washroom, brightly painted walls, and comic books for reading. It also had unusual minibar amenities that includes a logo’d hat and plastic-wrapped novels. Best of all, our dog was welcomed with a surprise package that included treats, accessories and Modern Dog magazine. The hotel oozes personality.”
#290. Hotel Monaco – Chicago, IL – “The staff is friendly and helpful, even going so far as to hand us umbrellas as we headed out the door on a rainy day. Rooms are clean, and boast a hip decor. I especially loved the plush animal-print bath robes, available to each guest. Turn down service was a bonus. We arrived back to the hotel each evening to find ice in our ice bucket, the bed turned down with chocolates on our pillows, relaxing jazz music playing in our room, and the lights dimly lit. WOW! In addition, the wine hour each evening made our stay over the top.”

#297. Taken from a blogpost by Ken Lempit at http://www.homeesp.com

American Expres

“If you carry one of the many American Express charge and credit cards, you should think twice before purchasing an extended warranty on most purchases. The majority of the AMEX cards provide a free one-year extension to manufacturers’ warranties of five years or less (so, for example, that really nice camera you bought your niece now has a two-year warranty built-in). While there are tems and conditions (as with most things in life) Amex seems to be very generous in how it treats cardmembers in good standing.

Getting back to my niece, I bought her a $240 camera and it lasted just over a year before it seized up (with its lens extended as if in “perpetual zoom”). I called AMEX, described its condition, and promptly recieved a statement credit for the full purchase amount. In this case, my result was actually better than a manufacturer’s warranty, where you would usually receive your repaired camera or a refurbished unit is response to a warranty claim. You should expect that for costlier items, Amex will likely repair the item instead of issuing a credit.

It appears that this coverage is included with every card issued by Amex, including credit cards (its charge cards require balances to be paid in full each months, credit cards can carry a balance from month to month).

Since extended warranties can cost 15 to 20 percent or more of the original purchase price, this is a great benefit of holding an American Express Card. Many friends have questioned the value of a card where you still have to pay a membership fee. This card benefit has worked well for me over the years and is another reason why I still carry “the card.”

#301. Submitted by Brad Bossow

Chipotle

Brad shared that he encountered a unique experience at Chipotle in New Jersey. While waiting in a long line he was offered a cup for a complimentary drink from the restaurant. A little something extra while you wait.

#303 From Jack Campisi

Boston Market

Jack was confronted with having to wait 5 minutes for the next batch of chicken. Solution: Boston Market offered a free drink while he waited. Nice touch.

#307. Heineken

Heineken Experience

For 15 euros you can tour the Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam. The tour is called the Heineken Experience. It’s a tremendous value as your tour includes a few beers. Before you leave you are treated to a little lagniappe. Each person receives a limited edition gift. During my days in Amsterdam they handed out a limited edition Heineken glass in a branded tin can. Now they allow you to personalize a bottle of Heineken. Very cool.

#311. Submitted by Mana Ionescu

Lightspan Digital’s Fortune Cookie

“Hi! I love your purple goldfish project and I’d like to share with you my purple goldfish.

I recently started a small social media and email marketing business in Chicago, Lightspan Digital. I work with small businesses to get them started with social media, or to help them find that big idea that will take their digital marketing to the next level. Most of my clients aren’t technical at all, may be a bit skeptical about Social Media and are looking for very clear, simple and direct guidance. To help them I developed the Daily Twitter Workout and the Twikies(r), which I give out for free.

The Daily Twitter Workout is a simple checklist of five daily activities, such as retweet two tweets, chat with two new tweeps, always say thank you, etc., to help any beginner get into a Twitter routine.

But my most successful purple gold fish is the Twitter cookie, aka the Twikies(r). These are custom-made chocolate-dipped fortune cookies that contain marketing messages. They are fun to look at, tasty, and informative, plus they get people excited to discuss and know more about their marketing tips. People absolutely love them.

Here are some of the Twitter reactions:

RT @liraluis: A Take-Away Message fr #ChiTwestival came inside a fortune cookie fr @manamica “Email #marketing still drives the highest ROI”
Mar 26 2010, 16:00 UTC from HootSuite

RT @refrigeration: Thanks for fortune cookie! “The word you in tweets gets most retweets!” @manamica
Mar 26 2010, 13:00 UTC from HootSuite

RT @el_chorizo: @manamica Looks like it’s already been said but awesome job with the fortune cookies! You’re a rock star in my book
Mar 26 2010, 3:25 UTC from TweetDeck, in reply to manamica

RT @liraluis: Love your custom designed fortune cookie @manamica! Fantastic colors #ChiTwestival http://twitpic.com/1ax57t
Mar 26 2010, 2:40 UTC from HootSuite

I am really looking forward to reading your book, regardless of whether my purple goldfish makes it in or not ;P.

The best of luck to you!

Thanks!

Mana
manamica.com
@manamica

#313. Jerry Remy’s Bar and Grill from Ron Reisman

11 foot TV’s and some little extras with your season passes (taken from NESN.com)

Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar and Grill opened Sunday — just in time to toast a cold one to Opening Day and, more importantly, the Red Sox’ first victory over the New York Yankees. The restaurant, a block away from Fenway Park on Boylston Street, opened its doors for the first time to the bar’s season-ticket holders and fans who weren’t fortunate enough to score seats to the sold-out game.

For $500, fans can purchase “season passes” for a guaranteed table for the Red Sox’ 81 home games. The passes offer a nice perk when you think of the lines trying to get into Cask’n Flagon or Bleacher Bar on a mid-July afternoon. With the pass also comes a free drink and $25 worth of food.

Fans also can buy away game season passes for the same price. Pass holders are allowed to bring as many friends as they’d like. One customer brought 17 people, but as the restaurant’s general manager Don Bailey saw it, 17 happy friends equals 17 new customers and brand ambassadors who can spread the word.

According to The New York Times, as of Sunday, all 150 home game passes had been sold, and 60 were still available for when the Sox are out of town.

Jerry Remy, Bailey and John Mascia, a managing partner at the restaurant, all agreed that the opening night for the Red Sox and the Grill were a success.

The restaurant has the feel of Fenway Park with brick and exposed columns, but the best features are two 11-feet-long high-definition televisions, costing $225,000 each, that hang over the bar. And for those who drank too many Sam Adams, fear not: The men’s room has a television.

Remy, who is beginning his 23rd season as NESN’s Red Sox color commentator, hopes the restaurant will attract a year-round fan base celebrating all Boston sports.

“There’s no question that we’re looking at more places, probably not on the scale of this, but the same idea,” Remy told the Times.

On Monday, Mayor Thomas Menino christened the restaurant by throwing out a ceremonial pitch, The Boston Globe reports.

The new spot is a great alternative to expensive seats and crowds. And not to jump the gun, but it is a perfect location to view the duck boats.

#315. Submitted by Claire Gallo

Whole Foods

Claire shared the story of shopping at her local Whole Foods in West Hartford, CT. She decided to buy a metal water bottle at the store as they were on sale for $9.99. As the cashier was ringing up her purchase Claire noticed the bottle came up as $19.99. She brought it to the attention of the cashier and inquired about the mistake. The cashier quickly apologized for the error. Instead of fixing the price she told Claire that it was the policy of the store was to give the item for free if there was a price discrepancy. It just so happened that the Whole Foods was also collecting money for Haiti. Claire promptly donated the $10 dollars she just saved to the cause. A win-win situation.

[Editors Note: Kudos to Whole Foods for taking that extra step when they've made a mistake. A nice example of lagniappe]

#317. Submitted by Mary Ann Baehr

Wawa

WAWA (after the Canadian bird…..not a baby crying)
It’s a regional convenience store (570 stores), sells 195 MILLION cups of coffee sales per year

HERE’S why I like it and visit it so much….. NO ATM FEE

Tomorrow will celebrate its BILLIONTH such transaction!

I ALWAYS avoid ATM fees by using theirs…..they are consistently clean and quick.

From WAWA web site
“Our Core Values…”

Value People
Delight Customers
Embrace Change
Do the Right Thing
Do Things Right
Passion for Winning

#319. Submitted by Kelly Ketelboeter of http://www.theexperiencefactor.com

Zappos

“Zappos delivers a purple goldfish to customers by upgrading their shipping for next day arrival. I also think that offering free shipping back for items you don’t want, like or don’t fit is a purple goldfish. Not many companies pay for shipping back.”