Customers slam Woolies' Christmas cardboard collectables
Following the resounding success of Coles’ recent Little Shop incentive, Woolworths has decided to try its hand at creating a set of collectibles just in time for the festive period.
On Monday the supermarket giant announced its own range of Christmas Pop-Outs to bring customers a “little bit of magic, imagination and festive work” from Wednesday.
The collectables, consisting of 12 buildable cardboard characters including Santa and Gingerbread Man, will be available to collect over a four week period with three released each week.
Yet the initiative hasn’t been met with the same enthusiasm as Coles’ Little Shop campaign, with dozens of customers taking to social media to lambast their attempt to replicate their rival’s success.
“Sorry Woolies but cardboard cut outs of random Christmas characters just doesn’t compare to Coles minis,” one Facebook user said, drawing in over 200 likes.
“What a load of cardboard crap, why not have tree ornaments instead, that way people would get more use out of them. Epic fail Woolworths,” another suggested.
Others were baffled to discover that shoppers needed to spend $30 to receive one collectable – the same amount to receive a Little Shop miniature.
“So it’s gonna cost me $30 to get a piece of cardboard? I can probably make them? If it was 1 for every $10 I wouldn’t mind as much,” one irate shopper said.
Woolworths were eager to point out to customers their initiative was made of recyclable material, unlike Little Shop collectables and waste was reduced to a minimum.
“Customers will also be able to see what they are getting as the ‘Woolworths Christmas Pop-Outs’ will not come in ‘blind plastic bags’ to help avoid duplication or disappointment and minimise waste,” a statement said.
And despite Coles being on the receiving end of criticism for the excessive use of plastic at the time of their initiative, shoppers were even less impressed with Woolworth’s effort.
“Cardboard crap… why not make them like the Coles minis,” one shopper queried.
“Did Woolies just try to upstage Coles in an environmentally friendly way?” one user asked.
Not all were left feeling underwhelmed by the announcement, with several customers eager to begin collecting while praising the supermarket for their environmentally friendly campaign.
“Yay they aren’t made of plastic. I would collect these for my grandchildren,” one comment read.
“Might have to swap to Woolies now?” one user suggested to a friend.
“They’re cute, they’re recyclable and they’re seasonal. Let your children display them for Christmas then throw them in your recycle bin or use them to make craft for next Christmas,” one mother suggested.
Woolworths refrained to comment beyond their earlier press release when contacted by Yahoo7 News for a response to customers’ reaction to their new initiative.
Chief executive Brad Banducci labelled Little Shop a “successful campaign” and said it had a detrimental effect on retaining customers with children trying to collect the toys.
