Showing posts with label 2012 Duane Reade VIP Blogger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2012 Duane Reade VIP Blogger. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

My Day as a Not So Mystery Shopper in New York City!



Years ago when the 'Mystery Shopper' idea became popular and people were looking for a way to supplement their income, programs cropped up like wildfire, some reputable, others not so much. I won't say the idea didn't intrigue me, but I never had time to pursue it.

The opportunity finally presented itself, well kind of!

As many of you know, I am now a Duane Reade VIP Blogger, it all began with my entry essay blog post where I shared a bit about what Duane Reade meant to me on a personal level which you can check out HERE. When I found I got selected it made that week's Moment of Gratitude, which you can check out HERE.

Here is a Group Shot of myself and fellow fabulous Duane Reade VIP Bloggers:

Can you spot the butterfly?


Being a part of this program has given me the opportunity to take on shopping missions and share with you a bit about my purchase experience, from how I selected what I was going to buy, the path to purchase and then the products getting used at home. It's like being a mystery shopper except without all the mystery!



For me my first shopping 'mission' was all about a lazy weekend and movie night. I knew I didn't feel like cooking, and wanted my favorite snacks at hand for my Movie Night, so I checked out the online  Duane Reader Circular to find out what was on sale before heading out to the store! (Prices in this reader are available through June 2, 2012). I was excited that right on page 1, I spotted my favorite treat, Haagen Daaz (2 pints for $7 which is a super deal) and I circled that, I already knew I'd be doing a bit of cheating on my diet that day, a better choice probably would have been the Good & Delish Veggie Corn with Flaxseed Tortilla Chips and the Good & Delish Organic Salsa. I'll probably pick those up on my next trip to the store (along with the sour cream and onion Pop Chips)!  I had already stocked up on another Duane Reader sales item The Dr. Browns Soda 6 Pack, 2 for $5 (I love the Dark Cherry and Cream Soda's from Dr. Brown's). and the last thing I needed was some eats, so I picked up a DiGiorno Pizza that was also on sale. Making movie night eats and treats complete! All my movie night picks were also on sale which made me extra happy.

During my last few trips to my local store, it was being renovated, and I was happy to see that it had been completed during my recent trip, the aisles are wider and brighter, and it's so much easier to find everything which is a big time saver!

Here are some shots of me on the way to the store, it's a busy shopping district, so it's not so easy to get shots of it without someone invariably passing by and getting in the shot!







Here's me finally inside!





Below: And as soon as I walk in, I find a super friendly employee wearing a Duane Reader tee shirt in one of my favorite colors purple, she agreed to let me take a picture of her!



I wanted to look around and see the renovations so I didn't quite go straight to my aisles.



Of course I got distracted by Beauty Brands, Products and items.



Latina Bella, beauty products made with Latina Skin tones in mind, FAB!

Finally made it to the eats!



MMM.....Pizza!




Then it was on to the treats!



Ice Cream plus warm day means I'll have to run home so it doesn't melt.

Movie Night was a blast, here are my purchases in use:




Eats + Treats = Fun Movie Night!

There are more photos of this shopping experience on Ascending Butterfly's Google+ Page, and you can connect with Duane Reade online, Twitter and Facebook. (Check out the VIP Bloggers Tab on Duane Reade's Facebook Page and you'll see a picture of me! Yay!)

Happy Shopping Butterfly!

If you purchased any specials in the Duane Reader, please be sure to come back here and let us know!


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FTC Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a special social shopper insights study for CollectiveBias. #CBias #DReade #DReadeVIP - However all opinions expressed are 100% my own. Being part of the Duane Reade VIP Blogger Program offers additional incentives for my participation. Questions about Ascending Butterfly's Disclosure Policy? Please visit: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/p/disclosure-policy.html

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

2012 DUANE READE VIP INFLUENCER CONTEST ENTRY + Calling my fellow NYC based bloggers! #DReade


Are you a NYC Based Blogger and LOVE Duane Reade? Duane Reade is looking for 10 NYC based bloggers to become 2012 Brand VIP Influencers. Think you have what it takes to be one of ten Duane Reade VIP Bloggers?

Enter now by writing a blog post telling us why you love Duane Reade and why you should be chosen to be a 2012 Duane Reade VIP Blogger. As a VIP Blogger you'll receive:
  • $200 in Duane Reade gift cards per month
  • Exposure from Duane Reade via Facebook and Twitter.
  • Exclusive knowledge on Duane Reade promotions and products
  • Opportunity to be featured in the Duane Reader, the circular and new website.
  • Opportunity to attend executive level meetings
  • And much more!

As a VIP Blogger, you'll be expected to write up to 2 blog posts a month, share content via Twitter and Facebook, and participate in corporate meetings, in-store events, and serve as a brand advocate. Read Official Rules for more information.

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My #DReade Entry:

So while I'm happy to share the information about this contest with fellow NYC based bloggers, this post today is also my entry!

Working my way through College in New York City I signed up for 10 local temp agencies, I needed flexible schedules and spent my time from week to week and sometimes from day to day being switched to a new company, new department, new team and new desk. My time temping in New York City made me flexible, adaptable, able to learn new proprietary databases with ease and I've even learned to design my own databases since those days. In the begining being somewhere new each week and some weeks each day, was incredibly daunting, and even lonely at times.

The only constant in my travels around the city was and still is Duane Reade. There was always a Duane Reade near my job site. And I found myself visiting pretty much daily. There was something comforting to me about going inside. I have them near my home, near school and work, it gave me something consistent at a time when my life's normal was inconsistency.

Since my College days, nothing has changed and everything has changed. Duane Reade is still my go to no matter what I'm shopping for. Back then it was more soda's and sweet snacks for the afternoon after 3pm slump, now it's more multi-vitamins and dietary supplements as well as household and toiletries, but they are still my first choice for my weekend errands to pick up those essentials!

My lifelong love of my city has often been shared on the pages of this blog. I was also briefly pre-med (I wanted to be cardiologist since Kindegarten, YES I was THAT specific) and was a contributing writer during College to a local newspaper's medical/health section. I can't imagine a more perfect blogging opportunity for me, I love NYC (I know the city quite well), I love Duane Reade, and I love writing about Health topics because although life got in the way of my plans to pursue a career in medicine and treat patients, I still have a love for Science, Medicine and Health topics.

I hope my readers will post a quick comment here or on Duane Reade's Facebook Page, telling them just how much Ascending Butterfly would be a perfect fit for Duane Reade's 2012 VIP Influencer Program! (Never know if giveaways will be part of this program, and if there are, you know Ascending Butterfly always looks out for her readers!)

Duane Reade, I am definitely one of your 10. My approach to wellness - a mind, body and soul endeavor means the sky is literally the limit in the ways I can blog for you! My diverse approach makes me the ideal candidate! Last year I worked with Kmart as part of their 10 Kmart Latina Smart VIP Bloggers, and it's given me great experience working with a brand that is so much a part of people's daily lives and homes, I'd love to do the same thing this year with Duane Reade!

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FTC Disclosure: This post is an entry into Duane Reade's VIP Influencer Contest. This is NOT a sponsored post. All Opinions Expressed are 100% my own.