tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:47:02 +0000Can anyone get just about anything for free?http://www.blagman.co.uk/noreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)Blogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-5971773879473338152Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:44:00 +00002009-06-04T13:45:05.285+01:00Today marks the end of the Freebie-Man quest. A quest which spanned two years and asked the simple question "Can anyone get just about anything for free?". The answer was a resounding yes, with over 400 products (worth £5000 / $8000) gained simply by asking nicely. From a kitchen sink to my entire Christmas for two years I proved that nice people can get something for nothing. Over time this http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/06/400-products-later.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-3044398612682773240Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:36:00 +00002009-11-17T14:24:02.756ZWhilst we wait for my next project why not browse a few of the other websites I have been involved with through The Studio 4:Steelway: Experts in Steel: A Wolverhampton based provider of Access Metalwork, Architectural Metalwork, Multi Use Game Areas, Fencing and many more. Be sure to browse the product selector and search features. Advantage Healthcare Group specialises in recruitment for healthhttp://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/06/other-sites-by-freebie-man.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-8602574430599020325Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:15:00 +00002009-05-22T13:56:05.989+01:00Can a normal bloke (i.e me) get more followers on twitter than a celebrity? It seems like an impossible mission but there's a very good reason for seeing if something like this is possible. You can help too by following me.When I joined twitter, celebrities and 'normals' (as we are known) were on an equal footing. We could send them messages, they would reply and intelligent discussions were had http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/04/reclaiming-twitter-from-celebrities.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-4909951173968975032Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:22:00 +00002009-04-09T07:44:00.632+01:00FreeEaster"Its Easter - Fancy Some Chocolate?"Now that's certainly the best start to an email I've seen in a long time. Who could say no?I certainly couldn't and soon found on my desk three Aero filled eggs just in time for Easter. When I was young having a non Cadbury's egg at Easter always seemed like an odd premise. Much like Heinz Baked Beans their brand name was synonymous with their product and http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/04/its-easter-fancy-some-chocolate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-1396008704342456412Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:23:00 +00002009-05-22T13:27:45.757+01:00FreeFurnitureToday we answer a query from long time reader, contributor and one of the first ever readers of the Freebie-Man book: pgaleota who asks:"OK so I need some gorgeous furniture... I am hopefully buying a house and will need some bits, I LOVE Laura Ashley, how can I get some??"There are two options here, the first is simple and the other, well lets say it involves getting your hands dirty.Option 1: http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/03/how-to-get-free-furniture.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-862772480740097584Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:21:00 +00002009-05-22T13:02:52.795+01:00DrinkToday we turn our attention to Marc Reeves who didn't ask for much:"Eternal happiness? World peace? Lifetime supply of Guinness? Up for all of that..."For Eternal Happiness and World Peace I suggest Yoga, and for the really interesting question "how to get free booze" lets evaluate a few things Marc could try:Start a drinking clubBack in my University days we started a club called "The Extreme http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/03/how-to-get-free-drink-booze.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-7476886662751189281Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:22:00 +00002009-03-09T13:27:06.104ZChocolateJust when I was getting a little bored of reviewing free food it seems PR agencies have started trying to up the ante on each other. Whilst most of them have gone for bigger and bigger boxes Kellogg's have gone one step further:To support the release of new "Kellogg's Rice Krispies Squares Totally Chocolately" they bundled a pack of the new snack over, a candle and a working chocolate fountain http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/03/kelloggs-rice-krispies-squares-totally.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-6631502058095926515Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:02:00 +00002009-03-02T13:28:04.889ZCarA post from @GuyClapperton today got me thinking:"4.00am, someone drives into my (parked) car, writes it off. Cracking start to the week. Any car PRs fancy sending a freebie...thought not."Which kind of got me thinking, would it be possible to get a car for free? Guy for example has a number of attributes that would certainly make him attractive in crafting a unique offer to a car company:"Guy http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/03/how-to-get-free-car.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-4746567072079237162Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:16:00 +00002009-05-22T13:49:31.626+01:00About a week ago I posed a question to my twitter followers simply asking "what would you like to get for free?". My goal? To find out if these challenges were possible and first up we have a double request:foluke: "would like some goody bag treats for Precious networking event - 26 March"ginadav: #getforfree welcome goodies - pens, pads, bags, lanyards etc for a european journalism http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/03/how-to-get-free-goodie-gift-bags.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-4761842224166125619Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:31:00 +00002009-02-18T13:32:19.690ZFilmFreeSo there are obviously tons of ways to see movies illegally, but what about ways to see movies for free that won't land you a spell in the nick? Even better what about ways to get free tickets that give you exclusive chances to speak to film makers, see films months before your friends and influence the next big blockbuster?But Why?All of these things are posisble and they are made so thanks to http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/02/how-to-see-movies-for-free.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-434217372465408597Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:23:00 +00002009-05-22T13:28:16.403+01:00Remember all that lovely stuff we collected in January for charity? No? Well it included toys, games, kitchenware, household stuff, more toys etc. Well all this stuff really:ToysJMLBandai ToysEddingtonsWell we are pleased to announce final details! The products will be given away at this years Birmingham Twestival through a raffle and prizes on stalls, with all proceeds from the night going to http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/02/raffle-details.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-991457752252580990Mon, 09 Feb 2009 07:22:00 +00002009-02-09T07:34:56.559ZToday's post comes courtesy of @BongoMom. Enjoy!1. Create an indoor picnic with available props, i.e., picnic tablecloth, paper goods. Share finger foods and favorite treats along with a glass of wine. Spice up "dessert." Enjoy your picnic on the living room floor or in bed. Play card games, board games, or make up your own.2. Decorate a unique-looking jar or box with craft items. Write numerous http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/02/50-free-ways-to-treat-your-lovr.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-3982421129044629734Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:33:00 +00002009-01-27T13:44:06.984ZToday we add a selection of toys to the auction stash. Not long left now until we start the ball rolling so get those bidding fingers ready:Lost: The GameNot wanting to leave us hanging for 6 months the creators of the show have put together a Lost board game which revolves around key characters and events from the show itself. Rather than create a standard board game with set events such as “Go http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/01/blagback-day-25-toys.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-5615285420079128746Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:44:00 +00002009-02-12T13:39:42.656ZI am pleased to announce that the kind folks at JML have donated a range of products to the charity auction ranging from disk cleaners to clap activated plugs. You can view the products in the shot below and get your bidding fingers ready for when auction time comes:JML have also provided us with plenty of other products over the years, which you learn more about below. Please note that these arehttp://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/01/blagback-day-19-jml-join-party.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-1322070913958201744Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:39:00 +00002009-01-20T13:25:03.387ZBlagBackCourtesy of World Business News and CNBC here's our piece on getting free stuff, look out for our table of freebies half way through(many of which will be in the auction!) http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/01/welcome-to-free-world-guide-to-getting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-7010245277964606611Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:50:00 +00002009-01-16T13:47:58.916ZBandaiBlagBackTwo new additions to the auction couresy of Bandai and Revell:Catcha Beast: Reel It In!First we have the clearly Pokemon inspired Catcha Beast: Reel It In! which if it was a jingle would sound almost identical to the end lyrics to said theme song "Catch Em All: Pokemon". It even comes in Red and Blue versions, both of which are required to catch 'em all.What does make it unique (and has led to http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/01/catcha-beast-reel-it-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-10801798736245081Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:30:00 +00002009-01-09T13:40:38.303ZEddingtonsBlagBackToday we salute Eddingtons who have provided more than their fair share of products for us to review over the years, many of which will now be joining the other products in our charity auction. Here's a quick roundup of a very small selection of what they have to offer (don't forget all this and more can be yours at the end of the month so keep em peeled).The DiabloIn essence ‘The Diablo’ is a http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/01/blagback-day-8-eddingtons-we-salute-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-3672264751193485446Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:03:00 +00002009-05-22T13:05:28.622+01:00BlagBackWhilst I continue to encourage PR companies to donate their unwanted product samples to our charity auction, one of the problem with donating many of my own free products is that well, you wouldn’t want them. For example the simplehuman bin has been filled with rubbish for over a year and as for any cosmetics they’re either used up completely or way past their open dates. Food is no better, http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/01/blagback-day-4-something-old-something.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-5655008544404176522Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:50:00 +00002009-05-22T13:28:43.404+01:00The principle behind my charity quest is simple. I ask a few companies for unwanted product samples, and offer to review them or the company behind them. It’s what got me 250 products in the past, only this time I’d also be raffling off every product I receive in January in a charity auction. The tricky thing is, once you mention a charity people want to know a lot more about what you’re doing, http://www.blagman.co.uk/2009/01/blagback-day-one.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-7949704417635772976Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:27:00 +00002009-05-22T13:16:51.691+01:00Mystery Christmas Gift #9: Squirrel Nut Cracker Life is strangely poetic at times. After seeing the Nutcracker ballet on Saturday I was chuffed when a mere few days later an actual Nutcracker should pop through the door from Eddingtons. Even better I’d missed out on buying a Nutcracker at the show so this product was already in my good books on arrival.Mystery Christmas Gift #8 Christmas Tree & http://www.blagman.co.uk/2008/05/season-2-coming-soon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-2909812371350728735Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:17:00 +00002008-12-18T13:42:19.566ZNut CrackerFoodEddingtonsWhere can I buy one? EddingtonsI'm in the blagback auction.Life is strangely poetic at times. After seeing the Nutcracker ballet on Saturday I was chuffed when a mere few days later an actual Nutcracker should pop through the door from Eddingtons. Even better I’d missed out on buying a Nutcracker at the show so this product was already in my good books on arrival.Although it doesn’t match the toyhttp://www.blagman.co.uk/2008/12/squirrel-nut-cracker-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-8548578115624011872Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:32:00 +00002008-12-17T13:47:31.125ZHolly wreathNordman firReal Christmas treesChristmas wreathChristmas tree with free deliveryNordman Christmas TreeChristmas tree supplierNormann Christmas TreeNatural Christmas treeWhere to buy Christmas trees: Turf and Stuff.com – Supplier of real Christmas trees with free delivery.It wouldn’t be Christmas without a Christmas tree review and what better than a real Christmas tree once again provided by the excellently named Turf and Stuff.com. This year they’ve gone one better by also including a Christmas wreath for review alongside a 6ft Nordman Christmas tree.Nordman http://www.blagman.co.uk/2008/12/nordman-christmas-tree-and-wreath.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-9004037102815951578Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:50:00 +00002008-12-18T13:42:41.721ZBeautyGo Go AsianI’m in the blags to riches auction.Generally when a product arrives I can take one look at the packaging and ascertain straight away what it’s for and how to use it. So when “Go! Go! Asian, Koi Garden Green Tea Antioxidant” arrived I wasn’t at all sure what to do on name alone. I wasn’t given any more guidance by the bottle talking about ‘gentle water lapping at my toes as jewel-toned koi fish http://www.blagman.co.uk/2008/12/go-go-asian-koi-garden-green-tea.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-6329627928434445285Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:37:00 +00002008-12-18T13:42:50.403ZGameseJay Virtual SoundsI’m in the BlagBack auctionThere used to be a point where every video game included a sound test mode where you could listen to second long sound clips from the game. So you’d hear Sonic grab a ring, a car crash, a basketball bounce or Mario go “hoo-hoo I got it”. Playing Virtual Sounds is almost exactly the same experience, a sequence of sound clips you can play one by one.Each of these packageshttp://www.blagman.co.uk/2008/12/ejay-virtual-sounds-1-3-review.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22153362.post-4927261833699723837Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:26:00 +00002009-05-22T13:50:09.340+01:00Through this site I’ve been able to get a ridiculous amount of products for free, all by offering a product review, yet it occurred to me that a lot of the products I have sitting around serve no purpose now they’ve been reviewed. So rather than keeping them for the next photo opportunity I’ve instead decided to auction off a selection of the products to charity.Which also got me thinking about http://www.blagman.co.uk/2008/12/blagback-donating-unwanted-press.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mike Essex)0