Today I found an interesting story from New Zealand. Apparently a young man, whose wedding proposal was flatly rejected by his girlfriend, held a scavenger hunt on Twitter. The young suitor couldn’t return the ring purchased in Hong Kong and didn’t want to hold on to the ring for obvious reasons. So, he held a scavenger hunt on Twitter.
It took roughly 100 people seven hours to find the ring after posting 14 hints on Twitter. Remember, the city of Wellington has an urban population of over 385,000 and has an urban area measuring 171.4 square miles.
Imagine if a retail jeweler held such a scavenger hunt event on Twitter. With the right promotions, the event would be a great way to attract Gen X and Y’ers.
Off the top of my head, the benefits to a retailer would be:
* Huge gains in getting followers to a retailer’s corporate Twitter account
* Hosting what I’m sure would be a hugely successful event that would garner much media attention
* Gaining access to many Gen X and Gen Y customers in your market
* Establishing yourself as THE tech-savvy jeweler worth following on Twitter
Just a thought on a Monday afternoon. Read on:
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_35160.aspx
Scavenger Hunt Story Not Quite a Fairytale Ending
Monday June 8, 2009
CityNews.ca Staff
If life were a Hollywood movie, this would have a pretty predictable ending. A lover spurned decides to hold a treasure hunt for his pricey diamond ring, and the man who finds it gives it to his girlfriend, and the couple lives happily ever after.
Hold the sappy music and the credits, because this script didn’t quite work out that way.
We told you last week about a jilted man’s quest to get rid of his $3,500 diamond engagement ring (top left) by holding a Saturday scavenger hunt using the online social networking site Twitter.
Wellington, New Zealand resident Anthony Gardiner tried to propose to his lady love using the bauble he bought in Hong Kong, but she turned him down. With no way to return the jewelry and no desire to keep it because of its bad memories, Gardiner hid the ring somewhere in his city and then used Twitter to give out clues to its location.
It took seven hours and 14 hints, but someone finally found it. His name is Ryan Roselli, and he’s a 21-year-old architecture student at Victoria University. He was one of about 100 people who spent part of their weekend in the search. It was finally located on a helipad in Wellington.
But alas, there’s not a lass for the winner. Roselli is solidly single and has no current love interest.
Gardiner had publicly stated he hoped the ring would go to someone with a “cool chick” who could give them something they couldn’t otherwise afford. And if you read that sentiment right, at least there’s a chance you can say he got his wish.
Roselli hasn’t yet made up his mind what to do with his sudden windfall, but says he might just give it to his mother, who could well be a “cool chick.”
Another possibility: he’ll try to sell it and get as much as he can for it.
It’s not quite the ending some were hoping for. But it definitely has a familiar ring.
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