11.26
There are all kinds of tea drinkers – Earl Greyers, Assam lovers, Darjeelingers and Ying Ming Yunnan guzzlers (yep, honest). In our studio there’s been a recent spate in the appearance of healthier options – there’s Green Tea, Fruit Tea and Herbal Tea everywhere and most of them are being sipped politely without sugar. Where’s the fun?!
Personally, I’m a Builders’ Tea merchant – a 5-cups-a-day man (minimum). I love it. The bigger the cup… no, make that MUG… the better.
I think I might be addicted.
But when it comes to builders’ tea (or English breakfast to some), which brand should I opt for? Do I go with Tetley? ‘Tetley, Make Tea Bags… Make Tea’ (maybe so, but they didn’t invent the tea bag – that was an American tea importer called Thomas Sullivan, way back in 1908…).
OK – too much information, but how about going posh with Lipton or Twinings? Or does one drink Yorkshire Tea nowadays?
To me, they all taste so similar it’s hard to decide. I’ve even gone down the own brand route once or twice (…the shame!).
However, I’ve decided. I’m a PG tips man.
No…. It’s not because it tastes better – I’m not sure it does.
I prefer PG tips because of the shape of the bags. And it’s not why you might think either – I’m really not that bothered that the flavour may ‘flood out’.
I like PG Tips because they directly improve my tea drinking enjoyment. How? Simple. With PG Tips I can stand several feet away and have a fighting chance of throwing the bag into the cup at first attempt. With the other brands, it’s all I can do to keep it off the floor.
OK, I admit, it sounds stupid, but nevertheless it REALLY is my reason for buying PG. I wonder what else they’d find if they did some market research? Perhaps it’s a lesson we could all learn from. Do we really know why our customers are buying from us? Maybe we should find out.
(Opinion: Jim Green – MD)
Did you know that during their debut, the Monkey mascot and Johnny Vegas lost iTV loadsa’ money when they advertised the iTV Digital boxes. Problem was, the comedy two-some were too distracting and nobody paid any attention to the ’sell’. The Ad itself was bigger than the product. Nice for the Ad agency… a tad annoying for the client. Monkeh!
Jim, Jim, Jimmmmm……
Where I’m from, the words ‘builders’ tea’ and ‘PG Tips’ just DO NOT go together. Nah.
PG Tips are perceived to be a good-for-nothing mainstream brand for wimps who don’t drink ‘proper tea’ (they also believe everyone should be consuming Yorkshire Tea, one of the few brands strong enough to authentically be termed ‘builders’ tea’).
However, I must share your tea-bag throwing insights with my fellow northern friends who work in the world of market research as they have been curious as to why anyone would possibly want to spend their hard-earned cash on such a brand, for years…..!!
Since moving from Leeds to Devon less than a year ago, I have already defected from one form of tea-snobbery to another, now much preferring a ‘cup’ of Twinnings Everyday to a ‘mug’ of Yorkshire Tea….
Now what does that tell you about brand loyalty and switching behaviour, eh?!
Vic – splitter!
JB – too good, eh? Maybe there’s a slogan for us there… ‘DNA – not brilliant, but effective’!?!
I must admit, I prefer the taste of Tetley to PG but often buy PG Tips instead to get the Monkey freebies! I have them all… The Tea-towel, the DVD, The Soft Toy… So it looks like the second time round Mr Vegas and his primate friend may still be bigger than the product itself but at least they are now selling product for their client.
… I always thought Vegas was more of a Guiness man!?
Soft toy?! I’ve just got the teatowel and DVD (which I haven’t watched). Gutted