I called GSK hotline and tried to talk to the operator, but nobody was answering, and so on my 3rd try, I pressed a random extension number and asked for the brand manager, then magic, i got connected to his office! Wonderful I thought to myself, so i started talking about how we wanted them to be our sponsor, told them how speed dating was related to their product line. The brand manager was excited, he was very, very interested; and so we got them as our sponsor, they gave us P375 worth of products for each participant on their first support. We were so glad to have such a big company sponsor our event. At that time, it was for our Astoria Event.
Our next event came, when we asked for support, they said, "sure, come and pick it up!" and our driver came back with a sando bag filled with small bottles of mouth wash, we thought "hey great, at least they still supported us." We put up their tarpolins inside the event, gave away bottles of mouth wash and put them in the rest room for everyone to use before the date.
A month after that an advertising agency contacted us, apparently, affiliated with Astring-O-Sol, said they are now looking for speed dating companies that could create events for them.(I remember the brand manager telling me that when he pitched that idea to the bosses, they liked to be related to the speed dating market.) We said, Oh! ok.. so you mean you're looking for other speed dating event companies even though the idea came from us? They said yes, as a matter of factly.We sent a proposal, as they requested, and no response came. 3 months later, Elaine saw on a TV advertisement, oh! Astring-O-Sol dating marathon! oh wow, what great idea! and wait! we did not help them organize this event for them. So someone else benefited from our idea. Just as we thought, a competitor.
So I texted the brand manager, "saw you have a speed dating event now, congrats ah!" No reply. Next day, the ad agency called me again, asking for our schedule, they're looking for other speed dating companies again, coincidence?
So i tried visiting their website http://www.astringosol.com.ph/ and saw WOW! my tagline, manipulated:
Left is my poster for the event sent to the brand manager when I solicited for sponsorship. My tagline: Single? Mingle!
Right, Astring-O-Sol's website with a bit of twist on my tagline: Mingle with other singles.
How original!
And then I browsed through their website and saw, guess what! they are holding an event in Moomba!!! Where I held my first event! Moomba is a secluded restaurant that is familiar only to the people who lives near Timog, but the ambiance? perfect for speed dating! Of course they saw our photos in our website!
What can we do then? People who needs to climb the corporate ladder needs to do this. I guess we'll just have to come up with better ideas and not tell people who can benefit from it.
2 comments:
BOOOOOOOO SA MGA NAGNANAKAW NG IDEAS AT MASYADONG CHEAP PARA BAYARAN ANG MGA DAPAT BAYARAN!! Babalikan din kayo ng Karma!!
What a bummer! Can't believe a big company/corporate would do such a thing! Can't their Marketing department come up with some originality? You guys should publish this shameful act in the papers or something! Title of this blog is PERFECT!
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