Taking It To the Streets - McDonald's version, not Michael McDonald

Have you tried a beverage at your local McCafe yet? I haven't, but now I kind of want a McGriddle and a McCafe Beverage (btw do they come in real sizes, or is it made up sizes like Venti?)

Well, while the McCafe's are slowly popping up it seems franchisees don't feel like sitting on their hands, waiting for their $100,000+ investment to provide return, so instead of waiting for corporate McDonalds to roll out national advertising, many are taking it to the streets.

"In Houston, McCafe trucks idle in parking lots, giving drinks away. In Dallas, they gave away samples at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. In Detroit, there have been "First Friday Extravaganzas" at the MGM Grand Casino, giving drinks away to 300 or more consumers at a time. In New Orleans, Moroch partnered with the NBA's New Orleans Hornets to create activities at halftime, with the goal of giving free McCafe coupons to everyone in attendance. To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Day in Philadelphia, McDonald's is offering a free small McCafe drink to each of the city's 100,000 school teachers."

The interesting thing is that I would assume the franchisees will in essence be paying twice - once for their own marketing efforts and then through their franchise fees.

Read more via AdAge