24 Comments
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Stella Brown's avatar

poppi doing the most but like brand trips are also deeply extravagant and costly in multiple ways. Too much overall focus on influencers for both and less on the common consumer. But then again it is Poppi- not the average American is cracking open a prebiotic soda on the daily

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Caroline Albro's avatar

Completely agree!! I want to move away from the huge investment that brands make in influencers and towards more support for customers. Obv influencer gifting results in more reach and social chatter for the brand, but it's sometimes too much.

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Katie Erikson's avatar

This may be a bigger conversation but I'm curious your thoughts! Agreed that Poppi vending machines are on the extreme side of gifting, but if gifting is wasteful, wouldn't that mean marketing in general is wasteful, as it is promoting the consumption of excess product from consumers?

However, if gifting creators is a successful marketing campaign for brands, and the creator actually uses what they are gifted, is that still considered wasteful? There has to be a line somewhere between marketing product to sustain a business and not promoting waste/overconsumption but I ponder this often!

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Stella Brown's avatar

this is a great q and point i think about a lot- i think much of it accordingly ties back to our hyper consumerist tendencies that are mainly forced through brands. Feels like many brands think its a game of who can do the most instead of viewing this as an opportunity to stand out and show consumers that they do care in the larger sense (sustainability, etc). Consumers nowadays, for the most part, have a strong level of consciousness so meet us there lol

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Caroline Albro's avatar

Hey Katie! I'm writing my next issue, where I'll be expanding upon some of these themes. I loved your comment above – would it be okay with you if I include your comment in my post? No pressure!

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Katie Erikson's avatar

Yesss of course !! Feel free!

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Caroline Albro's avatar

Such an interesting question! Maybe a future post idea :)

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Joe Hovde's avatar

This is cool I hadn’t seen this. Reminds me of the caravana car vending machines as a statement

Also how does othership compare to bathhouse?? Have been to bathhouse several times but was considering checking out othership

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Caroline Albro's avatar

It was fun but so so packed! We did go on a Saturday so I guess that’s to be expected, but there were like 70 people crammed into one sauna

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Joe Hovde's avatar

Ooh okay not ideal

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Angie Bastien's avatar

allegedly the vending machines cost about 25k each.

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Kate Citron's avatar

INSANE

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Angie Bastien's avatar

yes!! and apparently they sent out 32 of them so that’s $800k

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Kate Citron's avatar

Wild — good for them. I did Poppi’s early email marketing strategy and even then was shocked by how large their marketing budgets seemed. It’s amazing it’s worked for them because it doesn’t always.

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zoya's avatar

I also saw this, so absurd and wasteful!!

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Dejaih Smith's avatar

I heard they have to give the machines back—I still don’t understand how this went left so fast. Smh

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Caroline Albro's avatar

I really hope Poppi is doing something useful with the machines after this!!

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Pam B's avatar

I've seen Kylie Cosmetics vending machines in the airport, I think that's great for an "oops, I forgot' moment or vacay treat.

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zoya's avatar

What did you think of bathhouse 👀 text me hehe

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Caroline Albro's avatar

Hehe texting :))

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zoya's avatar

I have been waiting for a deep dive into the poppi machines

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Caroline Albro's avatar

Hahaha I’m on it 🫡

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Kate Citron's avatar

What did you think of Othership?!

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Caroline Albro's avatar

Super fun, but so busy! There’s only one sauna and a handful of cold plunges but like 70 people crammed into that one sauna

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