Building Customer Loyalty

On occasion I have wondered why Lowe's and other big companies would offer kids build projects for free.  Doesn't that cost a ton of money?  Or do they simply give the kids cheap cardboard things to put together?  I never really considered taking my kids to one but the little buggers learned how to read.  It is so hard to keep things from them when they can read the fine print.  Ethan and Libby saw the sign for the Build and Grow when we were at Lowe's, so Ethan read the flyer to Libby and the begging commenced.  It took us a couple of months but we were finally able to get them registered for a class and Michael took them to Lowe's on Saturday.  They each got their kits, a little claw hammer to use, aprons and safety goggles to keep and found a likely aisle to squat in.

Much diagram deciphering, nail pounding, and a little nail pulling later the kids had their masterpieces.  They made little wooden Valentine's boxes that even came with valentines and colored pencils.  Michael called me on the way out so I could get online and register everyone for the next available class.  The boxes were made of real wood and metal nails and were actually pretty cute.  So what did Lowe's gain?  Well, I now know one family that is going to have a hard time buying a tape measure anywhere else.  I believe that was their plot all along.