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Laura doesn’t want to look like she’s using any little piece of news or information as an excuse to brant, but on Friday she got a really nice short email from Darryln Leikauskas, the VP of Marketing at Brigham’s:
Laura,
I just checked your link below and I’m sitting here laughing! I am a woman, so your assumption was correct.
Darryln
Laura was thrilled both because she has now developed an actual correspondence with Brigham’s — !! –and because her instincts about gender assignment were correct regarding the nebulous name of “Darryln.”
Anyway, Laura is finally starting to feel the positive effects of branting! The main one being: If you brant, they will respond!!
The first bit of news is that at Wendy’s a friend’s suggestion, Laura wrote to Brigham’s to tell them about her brant last week. Specifically, she emailed Darryln Leikauskas, V.P. of Marketing for Brigham’s (there was a partial corporate listing on the Brigham’s website) that she’d branted about Just Jimmies and how many people sent back comments either about the flavor in particular or Brigham’s in general. Laura mentioned this amazing “brand loyalty” (she just learned this phrase in Branding for Dummies — not to be confused with Branting for Dummies which she plans on writing but which of course she hasn’t even started isn’t finished yet) and she also mentioned the collective state of panic that many Massachusetts-ites seemed to be in given the uncertain future of Just Jimmies. Laura begged suggested that they make it a permanent flavor and also suggested they check out her brant to see all the pro-Brigham’s comments.
Unbelievably, later that night (this was Sunday) the Brigham’s executive emailed Laura back, which, for one thing, was an incredible example of excellent Public Relations and for another thing was great news since this is what the email said:
Dear Laura,
Just Jimmies is soon to be a regular flavor. Look for it with a bright blue lid in the coming weeks/month. I’m glad you like it and I will definitely check out the webite tomorrow.
Thank you!
Darryln
Laura wants to thank Darryln from Brigham’s for such a quick response and for the good news!
p.s. In case anyone noticed Laura’s lack of usage of personal pronouns in relation to Darryln Leikauskas’ name, it’s because Laura isn’t sure if Darryln is a man’s name or a woman’s name. Laura sort of assumes it’s a woman’s name but isn’t at all certain so if anyone knows for sure — or if anyone has any strong opinion about this question — Laura would love to hear from you.
Laura would like to report a recent shortage of “Just Jimmies” in the Newton, Massachusetts area. Last night, Laura’s husband Brendan did a quick food shop and was unable to find “Just Jimmies” in either of the two stores he checked (Store 24 and Shaw’s). In his exact words, the Brigham’s sections were “picked clean” of “Just Jimmies.”
Laura is glad that she helped spread the word about this amazing flavor but is concerned now that her generosity and spirit of sharing has backfired. Will these stores restock? Will Brigham’s continue to make this “Special Flavor” long enough for Laura to find it again? Laura doesn’t know. And more importantly, Laura shouldn’t care. Because the last thing she should be doing is eating ice cream….
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Laura is thrilled to see that the nationally syndicated column “Ask Amy” has mentioned Laura’s website and brant after running a letter about breast cancer. Laura is already getting lots and lots of really positive comments about her “Breast Brants” and about her new book on Failure, and, oddly enough, about her “Just Jimmies” post (who knew there were so many rabid Brigham’s Ice Cream fans out there who still remember the days of yore?)
To all her new readers — Welcome! And please bookmark the brant! Or, if you’re just here for the day, thanks for passing through! For her regular readers, click here for the link to the “Ask Amy” column:
