Hot Cross Buns go social in T&T

Yesterday afternoon when I left work, I did not intend to make any pitstops. But I had promised myself some ice cream. Then as I sat in traffic, the ice cream stop evolved into an ice cream/hot cross bun hunt. I am not sure why people make such a big deal about hot cross buns on Good Friday. Yes, I know all the stories and traditions, but it's really the same bun you can buy the other 364 days of the year, just it comes with an accessory. The icing sugar cross. So why all the hoopla?

This is what I asked myself as I walked into Hi-Lo and was greeted by about 15 people at the bakery counter haggling for buns. Great! But since I was there, I decided I could withstand the bumrush for a half dozen buns and in less than a minute, much to the chagrin of the dude next to me who seemed to have been there a while, I had my box of buns.

But then I read the paper this morning and was tickled to read that a bakery here used Facebook to control and build their sales of the sticky bunny goodness. Using their Facebook Fan Page, they managed to maximise their returns this year on their buns and build a nice little following, even offering free samples to fans. I think this is awesome and kudos to them for giving it a go. And fans I am sure were guaranteed of getting their buns instead of facing a literal beatdown and cut eye (the guy I out-bunned gave me dirty looks every time he saw me after that) from desperate bun seekers.

Happy Good Friday to my 3.5 readers! I'll have a bun for you.

Posted in: facebook,hot cross buns,marketing,sales,social media