Category
Business
Assisted Conversion
Trend cluster
Category
FREEconomics
Corporate acts of goodwill to keep consumers loyal through a recession.
4.1
Trend score
Trend
What is the FREEconomics trend?
FREEconomics: With many people cash poor due to the economy, companies are striving to endear themselves to consumers by giving away products. Though it may seem economically detrimental to the vendor, these acts of goodwill are meant to create a connection with customers in a tough spot.
Trend themes
Themes within the FREEconomics trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Promotion through freebies
Companies are enticing customers by giving away products, creating a connection with customers in a tough spot. Business professionals can leverage the power of giveaways to attract more customers and generate brand recognition.
02
Social media promotions
Companies are using social media to promote their products through giveaways and targeting influential tweeters who are willing to host tweetups. Business professionals can explore social media promotions to reach a wider audience and generate buzz about their products or services.
03
Freebies during economic downturns
As the recession trudges along, fast-food retailers are offering freebies to attract more customers and compete with each other. Business professionals can leverage this trend by offering promotions during economic downturns to generate more sales and gain market share.
Industry implications
What the FREEconomics trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Fast food industry
The fast food industry is leveraging the power of freebies to attract more customers and build brand loyalty in a highly-competitive market.
For
Fashion industry
The fashion industry is using free clothes as a means of advertising, targeting millennials and Gen Z, while also competing with luxury brands.
For
Hospitality industry
The hospitality industry is offering unique promotions like free cruises for women who get pregnant on board the ship in order to generate buzz and attract more customers.
Trend signals
Trend signals for FREEconomics
Trend score 4.1 out of 10, from popularity 59%, activity 58%, freshness 8%.
Popularity59%
Activity58%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Evidence
Examples of the FREEconomics trend
8 featured examples from Apr 4 to Jun 16, 2009CategoryBusiness
Fashionable Clothes For Free
FreeFashionTees.com Gives Away Sponsored Tees to Young Adults
The free fashion trend challenges traditional business models of the fashion industry by offering a new way to promote and distribute clothing.
CategoryMarketing
Free Hot Dogs
Oscar Mayer Gives Away $1 Million in Wieners to Celebrate Taste Test Victory
Food and beverage retailers could benefit from hosting similar promotional offers in order to boost foot traffic and customer engagement.
CategoryWorld
Free Trips for Pregnancy
TUICruises Offers Refund for Women Who Get Knocked up on Board
The travel industry can benefit from offering refund incentives for pregnant passengers, attracting more customers and promoting customer loyalty.
CategoryLifestyle
Free Food Frenzies
Arby's Offers Freeby Wednesdays for the Summer
Fast-food chains like Arby's are using free food promotions as a marketing strategy to attract customers and boost sales.
CategoryLifestyle
Twitter Pizza Promos
Kraft's DiGiorno Delivers Free Flatbread Pizza to Tweetups
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrating social media strategies to enhance brand visibility and engage with customers, offering unique promotional experiences.
CategoryLifestyle
Free Fast Food
Harvey's Celebrates 50th Birthday With Edible Gifts for Customers
The fast food industry can use free incentives to gain potential loyal customers and increase brand recognition.
CategoryMarketing
Credit Crunch Caffeine Promos
Tim Hortons Gives Out Free Iced Coffee in Canada
Restaurants and cafes can leverage free coffee promotions to attract customers and increase sales during economic downturns.
CategoryMarketing
Gratis Sandwiches for Goodwill
On April 8, Denny's Will Give Out Freebie Breakfasts Once More
Restaurants can explore the potential of offering free meals or limited-time promotions to attract new customers, increase brand loyalty, and generate buzz.
