I attended my niece’s christening yesterday.  I must admit it was the first time I’ve attended church since Christmas 09 and the whole time I was thinking to myself  ‘I must do this more often’. 

It was a public christening so all the regular church goers were there and as I looked around there was not one person under the age of 30.  My marketing mind automatically went into over-drive.  Why do young people not attend church? Is it boring? Do parents not put as much emphasis on going when growing up?

So who better to ask than our Springfree Mums!  Do you take your children to church? If not, why?

I had some younger cousins at the Christening and when asked what they thought, their first reponse was ..BORING! 

Growing up in a Catholic School systems I am the first to admit that some Priests/Ministers can be pretty boring.  Ones that don’t relate to the younger generations have no chance.  What I loved most about the minister that christened by Niece yesterday was that he always related the stories back to popular culture.  Tiger Woods even got a mention when referring to ‘temptation’!

Let us know what you think about Church and what they can do to encourage younger church goers?

It’s pouring on the Sunshine Coast (Australia) today and on days like today when you can’t bounce on your Springfree™ Trampoline parents need to come up with the some creative indoor activities to keep the kids occupied.

Here are a few ideas from Springfree™ Trampoline…..

• Bake with the Kids

There are some really nice and easy cookie recipes here for kids – http://www.cookies-in-motion.com/Kids-Bake.html

• Art and Crafts

Not a very arty person? You can print out free colouring pages!! Check out http://www.coloring.ws/alligator1.htm

• Dress Ups

This one is pretty self explanatory but how about putting a timer on it and giving your kids something to dress up in.

For example – you have 3 minutes to look like a Park Ranger! Of course you will have to have the dress up chest full of options so Op Shopping might be on the cards first.

• Board games

Who doesn’t love playing games? Personally a big favourite of mine is UNO. I think I played over 500 games over the Christmas break

Or if you love embracing the rain, Simone our Lay-by Lady has some great ideas for heading outdoors in the rain with her grandkids including Gum Boot stomping and Frog Hunting!

What other adventures do you and the kids like to get up to in the rain?

To celebrate our new Ryde Location, The Weekly Times  Sydney is giving readers the chance to win an SF40 worth $1155. Not only will you get the  Springfree™ Trampoline installed, the Balmain tigers will come to your house and play footy with kids at the same time!

Grab your entry coupon in the The Weekly Times NOW and pop it in the Barrel at our new Store in Ryde.

723 Victoria Rd
(Cnr Little Church St)
Ryde NSW 2112

Showroom Opening Hours:

9.00am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday
10.00am-4.00pm Saturday & Sunday
Closed public holidays

Terms and Conditions

Total Prize Value at $1155.00
Competition Runs form 15th Feb – 22nd March
Permit Number: LTPS/10/00992

Competition opens on 15/2/2010 and closes 22/3/2010. Entry is via visiting our Store in Ryde and placing the completed form in the Barrel located in Reception. Only one entry permitted per person. Entrant must be over 18. This competition is a game of chance to determine the prize winner. The prize is one Springfree™Trampoline model SF40 valued at $945, plus delivery to a metropolitan area within Australia. Installation is included in the prize valued at $140.00. The prize is not transferable or refundable for cash. The prize will be drawn at 4:00pm on 23 March at Springfree Trampoline, 723 Victoria Road, Ryde 2112. The winner will be contacted by phone and email. Judges decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Please allow up to 4 weeks for delivery of your prize. Springfree™ Trampoline may contact you by email for marketing and promotional purposes following this competition, and you will be given the option to opt out of receiving any further communications. All entry data will remain confidential and will not be shared with any third party. By entering this competition, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.

I woke up this morning, closed my eyes and asked my partner what colour my eyes are.  Lucky for him he was not one of the 12 per cent who did not know what their partners eye colour was.

In a survey of 2000 men buying scent for their female partner in a British Chain Store, 6 out of 10 believed they knew their partner inside out. 

But the results speak for themselves and it looks like our partners are not as clever as they think. 

• 10% did not know their Partners Date of Birth
• 8% did not know their Partners Natural Hair Colour
• 30% did not know their Partners Bra Size
• 11% did know their Partners Job Title
• 12% did know their Partners friends names
• 1 in 3 did n0t know their Partners favorite scent

Does your Partner know the above Questions?  Test him out and tell us the results!

Buying fruits and vegetables give shoppers more enjoyment than buying chocolate. 

In a recent study looking at 1000 consumers  and their emotional attachment to certain items, found that healthy food products rated second on the pleasure stakes right behind holidays.  That is for most shoppers except parents!  The older generations and the youth of Australia both say they feel better about buying fresh produce than alcohol and snacks – yet parents say they get a real buzz out of buying candy.

The herald Sun made  a great point. Parents are the first to bribe their kids into eating greens yet this study shows they are the first to get great pleasure in buying more unhealthy alternatives.

No surprise that toiletries were the least liked!  I avoid that aisel at all costs if I can. Why is it that necessities always cost the most!

Let’s conduct our own little Springfree Study – What gives you the most pleasure when shopping? Experience or product related? 

Here’s what some of our Springfree Trampoline staff had to say.

Tanya: I get the most pleasure in buying a good bottle of Wine! 

Natalie: I’m not sure if it’s that I feel good when buying healthy food, rather I  feel BAD buying unhealthy food..

Leanne: I feel great when I line up behind someone at the checkout counter and they are buying all processed foods and  I have all fresh healthy food!   Makes me feel good

Nicky:  I go crazy with Toiletries. I’m surprised that people don’t get pleasure out of new body products. I love it!

Source: American Express Psychology of Supermarket Spending Report.

Herald Sun. Mon 8 Page 13