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Pret A Manger embrace McCrudden's theory on valuing consumer's time

Blogger Paul McCrudden has written to several companies demanding they reimburse him for the time he has spent with their brand. Although seemingly bizaare, McCrudden looks to be onto a winner causing a stir amongst the press, consumers, and the brands in question with  BD client Pret A Manger (amongst others) already paying the savvy consumer for his time.

"For the Six Weeks from mid-June to end-July 2009, I recorded all the time and money I spent as a consumer. And, having invoiced over 50 companies, I'm now waiting for them to pay me for this time I've spent with their brand.

I did this for two main reasosns: firstly, to further understand how I spend my life as a consumer, and secondly to challenge the basic assumption that consumers are subservient to brands".

Pret A Manger were the first of the brands to not only pay back the suggested amount, but to add an extra £23 pounds for additional time spent with the brand and McCrudden's walk to the post box! Below, McCrudden expresses his gratitude. Click to see Julian Metcalfe's witty letter…

Pret a Manger are the first company to pay me — Julian Metcalfe's excellent response has certainly made my lunch choice a lot easier this week onwards >

Introducing the newest member of the Activity Management team, Sophie Ollerenshaw. Pictured here hiding in a log basket – I don't know where we find these people! She joins our lovely London team in Shoreditch, balancing out what was an uneven office ratio of men to women…go girl!

My favourite ad is: I want to do a poo at Paul's house, cracks me up every time. So ridiculously dubbed.

 A winning smile: can get you out of tricky situations

I am always happy: when eating steak

My favourite journey: is leaving the UK

I only lie: when I am fibbing

I admire: Sir Trevor McDonald

The words or phrases I most over use are: 'he was a bit wossie' (meaning annoyed – one of my many made up words)

My greatest talent is: being able to pull a toilet seat off its fastenings with my bare hands (too long a story to explain right now!)

My biggest regret is: drinking one too many on a Friday night, as it's always followed by one too many embarrassing dance moves!

It's been a while since BD updated you lovely people on some of the work we've been doing for charideee. In 2008 we rolled out a whole new VI for East Anglian Air Ambulance and since then have been planning a bunch of fundraising activities and events. The first of which took place a couple of weeks ago with a balloon dog quiz night.

We raised a total of £300 - a good start - but there's more to come with balloon dog's football tournament just around the corner.

The evening's victors were team 'The Board' who came away with a hefty 9 point lead and the much sought after balloon dog trophy (glammed up below). But perhaps the luckiest lady of the eve was Sally Kemp, who won a raffle prize of 4 tickets to a dinner dance tribute night at the holiday inn, oh the glamour!

Above, some of the team celebrating their victory…sorry James, Greig and Ashley (the other team members), you weren't around to bask in the glory when this was taken.

Quiz Masters for the evening Frannie and Ella played it dumb (not sure how reassuring this was for the players!).

Big thanks to the other organisers, Emma and Verity, to all those who attended, and to those who donated a prize for the raffle.

Special thanks go to client Adnams for giving away copious bottles of Adnams Fizz!