Marketers and PR-folk take note, free bike rides just might be the next “pop-up shop” for their universal ability to lure in the general public and it appears retailers are finally starting to catch on. Topshop and Whole Foods recently gave their customers more reason to turn to the alternative mode of transportation, with two bike-centric store events held in NYC.
Over the weekend, Anglophiles everywhere took notice when Topshop rolled out their new bicycle club concept, parking a small fleet of blue beach cruisers (decked out with baskets and cupcake stickers) outside their flagship store and making them available for free daily rental to the public. In exchange for leaving a credit card and signing a liability waiver, would-be cyclists were granted access to a curated experience that included a bike, customized helmet, U-lock and map of Topshop-endorsed destinations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
Another instance of the NYC’s branded bike frenzy was a recent promotion executed by Whole Foods. The healthy-living corporation temporarily offered free pedicab rides around the city. The drivers would take customers anywhere within a ten block radius of the store, making it that much easier to justify purchasing that extra bag of groceries.
