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Weird PR Email
March 25, 2008
We receive a lot a press releases via email everyday, much of it relevant and important to producing the editorials for the magazine, the web site and the e-newsletters. But today takes a prize for some pretty weird releases of no relevance to gift retailers or the gifts and decorative accessories industry that we write for. These press releases come from "pr flaks" who either don't do their homework and tailor their "sends" or who just don't care and who, like direct marketers, do mass mailings in hopes of getting a certain percentage of response or in this case coverage. (I wrote on this subject once before in "
Love/Hate Relationships"). So since they sent them, I thought that I would share, because as my friend Nancy always says, "Sharing is Caring."
The first one was headllined: "Rite Aid Rolls Out First-Ever Nationwide DNA Paternity Test Kit" and continued "Beginning March 25 shoppers across the country will be able to purchase DNA paternity test kits the same way pregnancy tests are sold: off-the-shelf at their corner drug store." After further explanation, it ended with an offer
to arrange an interview with the company's COO. What made them think that we would possibly be interested?
Yes, indeed, perhaps we should feature this as great gift idea for Mother's Day ... or better yet, Father's Day! No, I don't think so.
But speaking of Mother's Day ... At least this one refers to "gifts" but these are not the types of gifts that would generally be of interest to the audience of
Gifts & Decorative Accessories; even if they were, it would be too late to promote them for Mother's Day. This release pitched "Experience Gifts Redefine Mother' Day 2008"
and offered everything "from photo safaris to hang gliding, from llama treks to glass blowing." They nicely broke down some of the suggestions according to the type of mom. For example, for the Adventurous Mom, a Vintage BiPlane Barnstormer Experience. Whoo-hoo! Hand me the airsick bag and sign me up!
Posted by Caroline Kennedy on March 25, 2008 | Comments (1)
