Promotional Pets

Kudos to 401k2 (401 K squared) for doing something I haven't yet seen: using pets as promotional products. In this case, beta fish were mailed to prospective clients with the metaphor that a 401K is a living breathing entity, just like the fish.



Personally, I'm not really a fan of this idea. Mailing any type of animal is usually frowned upon in my book. Granted, the case has been made at Ads of the World that Siamese fighting fish (aka beta fish) are extremely tough and can survive in difficult conditions, including little to almost no water being present in their bowl. Doesn't mean that they should be subjected to these conditions though. Not to mention the fact that should one beta fish die, think about that for the effectiveness of the promotion. Opening up a package and seeing a dead fish from an investment firm claiming to "live and breathe" your investments?

Apparently, Microsoft did the same sort of promotion, except instead of mailing the fish they hand delivered them to their clients. While fish are definitely unconventional corporate gifts, the way Microsoft did their promotion seems much more humane. Additionally, this promotion would probably be a dream come true for the art department's Michael Jolly. He's been pushing for a fish tank in here for over a year now.