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Pizza Hut jumps on Witherspoon’s comment

Kudos to Pizza Hut for jumping on celebrity Reese Witherspoon’s innocent, but not-so-nice, comment about pizza delivery drivers and turning it into some fun publicity.

The actress told a journalist that her 4-year-old son, Deacon Phillippe, wants to be a pizza delivery driver when he grows up.

“Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it’s hard to see how it could be a career as such,” she said.

Pizza Hut responded immediately. Sandi Karrmann, identified as the “Chief People Officer” for the pizza chain, wrote a letter to the boy, offered him a job when he’s older, and even sent him a package of gifts. It included a Pizza Hut uniform “that’s just your size,” writes Karrmann, and a mini-delivery car “for you to polish your driving skills.” She also sent gift cards for Pizza Hut pizzas.

“We have delivery drivers who have worked for us for 10, 15, even 20 years!” says the letter. “And the same Pizza Hut drivers who deliver hot, fresh pizzas right to your door have gone on to become successful business people, doctors, lawyers and, yes, actors.”

That, my fellow Hounds, is brilliant.  As I stated in “Special Report #50: How to Piggyback onto Celebrity News to Promote Your Product, Service, Cause or Issue,” tying anything you’re promoting to the stars is one of the very best ways to generate publicity because the public’s appetite for celebrity news is insatiable.

Thanks to Publicity Hound Andrea Swinton of Toronto for pointing it out and sending the link to the article.

by Joan Stewart on November 15, 2007

Filed Under: Public Relations Tagged With: News & Events, Publicity Stunt

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather Mortgage Modification says

    September 5, 2009 at 11:49 am

    That is just adorable. Kids say anything these days. Mine says she wants to be 5 things at once, a veteranarian, teacher, scientist, songwriter and actress and I say good for you. Now if she said she wanted to work at McDonalds because she is seven would be okay with me. The other day asked me does she have to go to college to do all those things above and I said yes and you will may make a big impact on the world when you do. Thanks for sharing the comment.

    Reply

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Publicity expert Joan Stewart, a PR mentor aka The Publicity Hound, works with small business owners who need free publicity, and with PR pros who tell their clients' stories to the world. She shows you how to establish your credibility, enhance your reputation, position yourself as an expert, and sell more products and services. To receive her free DIY publicity tips twice a week, subscribe here. See all the ways you can work with Joan. Or contact her and ask a burning question about PR, self-promotion or social media.

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