A few weeks ago, I made a discovery. Of the food variety (my favourite variety). And it is slowly but surely being disseminated round the office, and a fair few friends of mine too, so I\u2019ve decided to share it with the masses in case you haven\u2019t been indoctrinated already.<\/p>\n
Ladies and gentleman, the Graze box.<\/p>\n
Basically a cardboard \u2018lidded tray\u2019 that gets sent to you once a week (or more, or less, you decide) containing four dinky boxes of deliciousness. It might sounds like a cross between meals on wheels and airline food, but the Graze folk have got it spot on.<\/p>\n
I decided to have a go when a friend sent me a code to get my first box for free (they are normally \u00a33.49) \u2013 clever marketing ploy, part 1.<\/p>\n
The website is refreshingly clean on the design front, easy to navigate, and friendly without making your toes curl. I found out very quickly that I would be under no commitment if I signed up, and that I would be able to cancel my orders at any time \u2013 clever marketing ploy, part 2. Nobody wants to be reminded of the gym membership they took out in 2003 that wallowed unused for 11 months.<\/p>\n
OK, sucked in, now what do I do?? \u201cOh GOODY!\u201d I thought when I saw all the questions I could answer on my likes and dislikes. No, I\u2019m not joking, I am the only person I know who filled in the recent census form on the day it arrived. <\/em>Graze sets out all the \u2018little punnets\u2019 that they include, and invites you to say whether you want to bin\/try\/like\/love\/send often.<\/p>\n I was in heaven, frankly. Out with your \u2018beach bum\u2019 mix (can\u2019t stand dried mango), in with the \u2018honey bee good\u2019 (love anything nutty). Lay off the olives please, but send me lots of the dark rocky road<\/p>\n So, form filling complete, I sat and waited for Wednesday morning when box number one was due. Get into the office, and there it is on my desk as promised. Packaging that made all of us \u2018ooohhh\u2019 and \u2018aaaahhh\u2019 \u2013 the little booklet giving me \u201cfact-tips\u201d about how to get the most out of Graze and how nutritionally balanced each box is, the little punnets sitting in their specially designed insert, the contrast of the gorgeous colour photography against the \u2018raw\u2019 brown paper style packaging. And the invitation to \u201ceat more healthy food (fewer biscuits)\u201d. Brilliant; I was being healthy to boot, it says so in black and white \u2013 clever marketing ploy part 3.<\/p>\n Suffice to say, at least half of the office had signed up by lunchtime using the code I\u2019d given them to get a free box \u2013 reciprocal marketing at work, I also benefit from them joining by getting \u00a31 to use against my next order, or to donate to Graze\u2019s school of farming in Uganda.<\/p>\n I actually look forward to the email I get the day before my box arrives, giving me a sneak peek at what\u2019s coming. I look forward to the actual box arriving like a 9 year old getting their first letter through the post.<\/p>\n I am now a very happy Grazer, and just hoping I don\u2019t start to moo with delight.<\/p>\n