Is this the cheekiest media request yet?

[SillyJokes]

I've just turned down the opportunity to supply £1800 worth of free fancy dress accessories to the Big Brother end of show party to be help on Monday night.

They said I would be able to distribute flyers and put up posters on Monday and advertise to all the people there.

But where do I get all that done at 3.30 on a Friday afternoon? Sheesh.

[Jayne]

Write to the papers! Tell them the Big Bro house producers are tight and unorganised and if the pay you 50k, you'll give them a scoop :D

Jayne

[Alpha]

Not having watched a single episode I cannot fully comment on it however I believe that there are a lot of saddo's out there who take in many hours of the rubbish. (Thats the social/political comment out the way)

:D :D

The only way that it would work for you is if you got National Exposure via the tv media in return for supply the outfits.

Just being able to put posters up would only be of use if they appear prominantly on the tv, I'm sure that most of the people attending will either be too distracted by the celebrities? coming out, being too drunk or both.

And the flyers will be just more litter to clean up in the morning.

All in all with the above caveat best not to waste good stock!!

[SillyJokes]

This is not even going to be on TV!!! It's the end of show party for staff and anyone else that they can get along.

They wanted 600 off of one small item to put in a goody bag. It's not even a SillyJokes exclusive - you can get them at any old joke shop.

"We don't have any money," they bleat.

I have loved watching the show but I'm not prepared to subsidise Endemol's profits. Let some desparate newbie start-up do it! I've been muggins to Big Brother in the past (but not to the tune of nearly two grand) and I'm not their biatch any more.

[clairemackaness]

I like Jaynes idea. They make a fortune yet they still want free stuff.

[bwglaw]

I think they are exploiting their position because unfortunately some new business is going to fall for that trap and realise it was not worth the time or money spent.

Its a disgrace on them, if you ask me.

[DuaneJackson]

I'm with Jayne!

[Robert]

I know the bloke who makes the diary room chair. It's good publicity for him, but not for you.

[SillyJokes]

That's my point - it would be fantastic exposure if you manufactured a product and were trying to get it marketed and it appeared on screen lots and lot but if it is just common or garden generic item then it is a wretched cheek to try and ponce it off small companies. Endemol is a massive multinational. Now you know why.

They did also offer a link from their website.

HELLO! The show is OVER! Who is going to bother dredging through the website now to find out who provided a cheap plastic trinket?

I really feel like they abuse their positions but they are not the only ones to do this. TV shows call us up all the time looking for freebies.

The one time we got a product on a show (the tattoo sleeves) I could count the number of sleeves we sold as a direct result on the fingers of one hand and still have digits left to give an appropriatelly derisive gesture.

[fastfences]

Good on yer, Jokes. Even though I sneek an occasional glance at the show :wink: , I havew to agree; what's in it for you? SFA.

£1800 from their budget and revenue wouold be a pittance. The only place I don't agree with you is about the newbie.

It would be a shame if a start-up, through their own enthusiasm, got caught out by a corporate giant such as Endemol.
Cheers, Nigel

[Claire B]

I can't believe they don't have the budget! The revenue they generate from all that text and telephone voting alone, would pay for the stuff 100's times over.

tell em Asda do cheap party bag fillers.

[10 Yetis]

hmm... not so sure about writing to papers... you may not benefit in long term??

You would get short term hit of Publicity about it, but... you may lose them from ordering from in the future. Whilst it is only one production team, it is part of a huge company, Endamol... and the researchers move around from company to company quite a bit.

Defo don't give it them for free, but don't have a publicity pop at them either...

The researchers now know about your site and your products and they may well look at it again for purchases for the next series when it comes to buying props and costumes for tasks etc etc. As i say, they move about loads as well.

Once you have them on board you can use this as a marketing tool for attracting other production companies and then onwards and upwards... etc etc.

As people know, I am all for writing to papers and all that... but on this occasion I don't know if it would get you anywhere, especially as you already have a high profile... which is about to get even bigger :wink:

[Rachael]

I'd agree with Andy. Endelmol make some top quality programs and the fact they've already discovered your site is good news!

Maybe do them a deal..state whilst you can't give them the stuff for free you could arrange a discount for them. They may take you up, they may not but at least you'll come across as trying to find a solution and obviously show yourself in a good light for the next time! :D

[MarkPearson]

I was also approached to supply personalised roses with the celeb housemates images on the petals and the big brother eye.

This was for the reunion part on Sunday, which I do believe is on TV.

In the end the short time frame and sunday delivery did not make it ideal.

While the possible TV coverage of our personalised roses would benefit us. It is far from the This Morning Feature which talked about our product for 30+ seconds on prime time popular day time show and then give our business name out.

If they can write our personalised roses into the story line of the next big brother. e.g using the roses to give a message or take to the housemates with the massages on the petals then that would interest us.

Do you agree?

[10 Yetis]

agree 100%... the endorsement that gives you is a great opportunity.

[Rob Holmes]

Interesting I wonder if they've been around the forums - maybe they need hosting too ;)

Rob

[SillyJokes]

Andy, I did not write to the papers and I don't want to. besides, it isn't really a big story, is it?

I have already supplied Endemol in the past for various other shows BB included, but also the one where they had to stay awake.

I did offer them a generous discount on the order but that was when they said they have no money.

I simply don't beleive they have no money. they always say that, together with offering a link on the website which is so deeply buried on a non ranking page that it is not worth having.

I truly beleive they think all small businesses can be blagged for freebies and they obviously get away with it.

Incidentally, why do they cover over the von dutch logo on Dennis Rodman's hat (among others) is it because Von Dutch wouldn't supply them with freebies?

I appreciate it is a good thing to keep in with these guys, maybe one day it will lead to 'the big one'. Meanwhile I feel like a soft touch.

At one point I even started to believe that TV researchers were simply getting their Christmas shopping done for free. Afterall, they are very transient, untrackable and you never do see your stuff used.

[10 Yetis]

i think if a group of small companies got together and moaned about TV people blagging free stuff then it would be an interesting story... too much to risk for an individual company to have a bash.

Sorry, was not saying I thought you were going to write to media, I was just saying generally, out loud, that people should maybe think again about going to the media about things of this nature.... :)

Oh and yeah, you are spot on, researchers do blag free stuff for themselves. Very cheeky...

[creative-keyrings]

Its bad of them to ask you for this but you gotta look at the good side!!!

Big companys are finding your site so i would take it as a compliment and its good news.

top stuff!

[fridayteam]

Silly - you did the right thing. Sounds like you would have lost out.

They contacted you at very short notice - in which case perhaps there wasn't any money in the budget, but then, any staff working on such a production should at least be organised!

Perhaps in time for the next one, this summer is it? You can let them know in advance what you have to offer and see if that is lucrative...

Good luck!