The year 2017 presented a variety of freebies, promotional deals, and no-cost offers across multiple sectors, including food and beverage, retail, and entertainment. These promotions were often tied to specific dates, seasonal changes, or cultural events, requiring consumers to act within limited timeframes and at designated locations. The availability of these offers was typically restricted to participating franchises, specific geographic regions, or required certain conditions such as a purchase or proof of eligibility. For UK consumers, while the specific promotions detailed in the provided sources are predominantly US-based, they illustrate the common structures and methodologies brands use for seasonal giveaways, which can inform how similar offers might be structured in the UK market.
First Day of Spring Promotions
The first day of spring in 2017, falling on 20 March, was marked by several food and beverage brands offering complimentary items to celebrate the seasonal transition. These promotions were characterised by their limited duration, often valid only on that specific day, and were available at participating physical locations.
Dairy Queen participated in the seasonal event by offering a free small vanilla soft-serve cone to customers. This promotion was available at non-mall Dairy Queen locations. The offer was intended for in-person redemption, with one free cone permitted per person. Alongside the giveaway, the company was also collecting donations for the Children's Miracle Network. Participating locations included areas within the Hudson Valley and Long Island, such as East Northport, Massapequa, Shirley-Mastic, Medford, and St. James.
Rita's Italian Ice and Frozen Custard continued a long-standing tradition by giving away a free 6-ounce Italian ice. This offer was valid from noon to 9 PM on 20 March 2017 at participating locations. The promotion was limited to one free item per person. Specific participating outlets were located in Deer Park, Franklin Square, Great Neck, Lawrence, and Oceanside. The company's website indicated this was part of a tradition spanning over 25 years.
Outback Steakhouse provided a different type of offer: a free Bloomin' Onion with a purchase. This deal required customers to mention the promotion to their server when ordering. The promotion was valid on 20 March 2017.
Other businesses also joined in the celebration. Kismet Coffee, a coffee shop in Bay Shore, offered a free hot, iced, or cold brew coffee on 21 March 2017. This promotion was part of a partnership with Canine Companions of Long Island, a non-profit organisation that provides trained service dogs to people with disabilities. The event featured service dogs in training on-site from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., alongside other giveaways and raffles. The coffee was available in various sizes: 12- to 16-ounce for hot coffee and 16- to 24-ounce for iced or cold brew.
The Dirty Cheesecake, Made by Lili's, offered a free cookie of choice (excluding stuffed cookies) with any purchase of £20 or more. This promotion was valid on both 20 and 21 March 2017 to celebrate the first day of spring. This offer required a minimum purchase, making it a conditional freebie. The bakery had locations in Smithtown and North Babylon.
Hampton Coffee Company ran a "buy one, get one free" deal on beverages from its new fruity refresher menu. The flavours included mango dragon fruit and lavender lemonade. This promotion was available on the first day of spring, Thursday, 20 March, at multiple locations across Long Island, including Aquebogue, Center Moriches, Hampton Bays, Montauk, Southampton, Water Mill, and Westhampton Beach.
Tax Day 2017 Deals and Freebies
Tax Day in the United States, typically in mid-April, is a common period for retailers and restaurants to offer promotions. In 2017, these deals were primarily focused on food items and were valid on or around 18 April 2017. The offers often required specific actions, such as presenting a coupon or making a purchase.
Cinnabon offered two free Classic Bites without the need for a coupon. This was a straightforward, no-purchase-necessary offer available on Tax Day. Great American Cookies provided a free Birthday Cake Cookie to all customers on 18 April 2017. Hot Dog on a Stick offered one free Original Turkey Dog to all customers, also requiring no purchase.
Several pizza chains offered discounted deals rather than entirely free items. Cheese’s offered two large one-topping pizzas for $22. Hungry Howie’s offered a medium one-topping pizza for 18 cents with the purchase of a large one-topping pizza at regular menu price. The promo code TAXDAY was required for the Hungry Howie’s offer, which was valid for online and carry-out purchases from 17 to 19 April.
Other participating brands included Firehouse Subs, which offered a free medium sub with the purchase of an additional medium or large sub, chips, and a medium drink. This coupon was valid through 20 April. Schlotzsky’s offered a free Original sandwich with the purchase of a medium drink and a bag of chips on 18 April. Sonny’s BBQ offered its Irresistible Ribs Special (IRS), providing Sweet & Smokey or House Dry-Rubbed Rib Dinners with two sidekicks and homemade bread for half price.
McDonald’s participation varied by franchise location. Some locations offered BOGO (buy one, get one) Big Macs and Quarter Pounders with Cheese for a small fee (1, 15, or 25 cents), while others gave away free small French Fries or offered 59-cent hamburgers. Noodles & Company offered $4 off online orders of $10 or more using the promo code TAXDAY17.
National Coffee Day Freebies
On 29 September 2017, numerous brands participated in National Coffee Day by offering free or discounted coffee products. These promotions were available at various national chains and regional retailers, often requiring specific redemption methods.
Cinnabon provided a free 12 oz coffee to all customers on 29 September. Chick-fil-A in Garner offered a free small hot or iced coffee, limited to one per person. Dunkin' Donuts offered a free Medium Hot Coffee with the purchase of a Medium or Larger Hot Coffee at participating locations.
Veterans Day 2017 Free Meals and Discounts
On Veterans Day 2017, 11 November, numerous restaurants and retailers offered free meals, snacks, and discounts to active duty military personnel, veterans, and their families. These offers typically required proof of military service.
Restaurant free meals included: Applebee's offered a free meal; CiCi's Pizza offered a free pizza buffet; Hooters offered a free meal with the purchase of a beverage; Little Caesars Pizza offered a free $5 Hot n Ready lunch combo; Outback Steakhouse offered a free Bloomin' Onion and drink; Red Robin offered a free Red's Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries; Texas Roadhouse offered a free lunch, beverage, and sides; Bonefish Grill offered free Bang-Bang Shrimp; and Wife Saver offered a free dine-in only meal from 11 am to 9 pm.
Other restaurant offers included: Dunkin' Donuts offered a free donut; Menchie's Frozen Yogurt offered a free 6-oz. frozen yogurt; Red Lobster offered a free appetizer or dessert with dinner purchase; and Starbucks offered a free tall brewed coffee.
Retail discounts included: Target offered 10% off for all military personnel, veterans, and their families; and Outback Steakhouse also offered 20% off the check from 12 to 16 November.
Other Notable Freebies and Offers
The provided sources also mention other types of freebies and promotional events from 2017.
San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2017 featured official bags provided by Warner Bros. upon checking in at the show. These bags included 20 bold designs and a hidden surprise: an exclusive DC Super Hero pin. This was the eighth consecutive year that Warner Bros. partnered with Comic-Con to produce the official bags. The documentation notes that freebies at the convention extended beyond promotional posters.
In December 2017, Mindful-Audio released a free library of field recordings for users who had purchased libraries from them previously. This library, available until 31 January, included new nature, wildlife, vehicle, and aircraft recordings collected from various locations including England, Romania, Sweden, Wales, Scotland, and Senegal.
Additionally, a March 2017 playlist titled "March 2017 Freebies" was released by Strictly Nuskool Blog on SoundCloud.
The year 2017 offered a diverse array of freebies, samples, and promotional deals across various sectors, including food and beverage, entertainment, and military appreciation events. Access to these freebies often required specific actions, such as visiting participating locations, downloading mobile applications, or presenting proof of eligibility, such as military identification. The availability of these offers was typically limited to specific dates, geographic locations, or participating franchises, requiring consumers to stay informed about the specific terms and conditions of each promotion.
Conclusion
The promotional landscape of 2017 demonstrates a clear pattern of time-bound and location-specific freebies, primarily within the food and beverage sector. Seasonal events like the first day of spring and culturally significant dates such as Tax Day and Veterans Day served as key triggers for brands to engage consumers with complimentary offers or conditional deals. These promotions were almost exclusively tied to physical locations, requiring in-person redemption, and often included limitations such as one per person or minimum purchase requirements. For consumers, staying informed about specific terms, participating locations, and valid dates was essential to accessing these offers. The structure of these promotions highlights a common marketing strategy focused on driving footfall and brand awareness during specific calendar periods.