HBO Sells Promotional Shirts with Free Hugs

HBO is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the peace sign with street teams offering free hugs outside its Manhattan headquarters.

Along with the hugs are coupons for peace-themed T-shirts in the network’s 2-year-old store. Shirts tie the hippie theme to popular shows with slogans such as “Peace, Love, Vampires” for the show “True Blood,” “Peace, Love, Cosmos” for the show “Sex and the City” and “Peace, Love, Big Love” for the show “Big Love.”

The firm running the campaign, Grand Central Marketing, calls it “hug marketing.” It also created a 240-pound peace-sign sculpture for the store that stands 57 inches tall. It reads, “Peace, Love, HBO” in Swarovski crystals. HBO has enjoyed double-digit increases in its store business since the campaign began.

Source:
Promo Magazine: HBO Gives Hugs in Peace Sign Campaign