I heard from a loyal DQ® customer who has been running triathlons with his friend since 1988. They had created a DQ tradition—to stop at every DQ store on their way home from the faraway races to get a Blizzard® Treat to celebrate accomplishing their feat. Since then, they have committed every single summer to always include a Tour de Dairy Queen® road trip with a little friendly competition in a small-town triathlon thrown in for good measure.
To date, they have completed 19 trips and consumed 85 treats each. They did make a major modification to the rules in 1991 however. After spending three hours hunting down a DQ store in one area, they decided that one stop in a major metropolitan area would count as an official stop.
Another time, a friend gave them a list to help map out the DQ stops well in advance of the race. One summer they even took a detour home because the longer route had considerably more stores. They admit that their number one reason for the endeavors is for the fitness, but appreciate that they have found a way to make fitness and DQ treats go hand in hand.
Did you know that October 7 is World Smile Day? On behalf of this momentous occasion, it got me thinking about one of my favorite smiles and a stories about the DQ® system. It came from the model of the original Blizzard Treat campaign poster from the 1980s. The point was to show her enjoying a new DQ Blizzard® treat while upside-down to drive home the point that this new product was upsidedownrightthick.
The studio where the photography took place actually built an apparatus that turned the little girl upside down. She remembers that the hardest part of the whole shoot was getting her braids to hang properly. She loved it and was a local celebrity in her small hometown.
While the Blizzard Treat was a brand new idea back in the ’80s, it sure has made great leaps and bounds over the years, from increasing the number of fruit, candy and cookie topping options to introducing the Mini Blizzard Treat. But through it all, one thing stays the same—it is always upsidedownrightthick. And, as this memory from the model that helped explain the delicious qualities of this treat, it has created a smile and a story she will never forget.
American Dairy Queen believes in giving back to the communities in which we live, work and do business – it’s simply one of the core values of our corporation.
This fall we held a backpack drive at our corporate offices to benefit Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People – a local organization better known as VEAP. We stuffed almost 50 backpacks full of all the school supplies for local children!
As the school year kicks off what volunteer opportunities do you most look forward to at your local schools?
Backpacks were stuffed with all necessary school supplies!
More fun for our Facebook Fans out thar – did you know you could set your facebook page language t’ English (pirate)? You can change your language under your account settin’s… only if you’re brave enough t’ try — and willin’ t’ navigate aft!
My husband and I recently bought our first place. Big accomplishment, proud of it, but wasn’t at all prepared for the road it took to get there. I’m not sure why I had painted a picture in my mind that led me to believe it was going to be simple. I thought I was picky enough that after 10-15 homes or so I would be destined to find the perfect place. WRONG! Turns out it took 49 homes, which all things considered isn’t a ton but you try and tell my four and six year old that. They enjoyed it until home number 7. For the remainder of the search I bribed them with a reward I knew they would love once the search was complete. A perfect home with a freezer full of DQ Dilly Bars.
So my friends, today is the day that I am stocking up! I’ve held true to my promise and am heading home with 15 boxes of Dilly Bars. Tonight we will toast to a new home, a healthy family and a freezer full of goodies.
I received a customer letter at the corporate offices recently that was pretty cute. A little girl forgot her stuffed teddy bear in the restroom at a DQ® restaurant. This wasn’t any old bear, but the one this little girl had since birth. Her mother didn’t notice the mistake until several hours later at bedtime that Bear was missing. She called the DQ restaurant and the manager had found him and was keeping him safe for a few days until this family would drive through the state again.
When they picked up Bear, a few of the employees had taken photos of Bear and his adventures at the DQ restaurant. How cute is that?
What is it about growing up with the DQ® system that was a direct correlation with the size of the products my parents would allow me to order? My first memory is of a push-up style soft-serve treat I could get myself out of the self-serve freezer at my local DQ store. While I would have preferred to get the same Peanut Buster® Parfait my Dad would order, he would always talk me into something smaller because he knew my eyes were bigger than stomach.
As I grew older and started grade school, I moved through ordering the other novelties, including the DQ Sandwich, Dilly® Bars of various flavors and the Buster Bar®. Then I can remember going through a Strawberry Sundae phase in about 6th grade. I would occasionally switch up the flavors—sometimes hot fudge, sometimes caramel.
When I got my first driver’s license, my favorite product was a Crunch Cone because it was easy to handle in the car. Then, by the time I was graduating high school, the Blizzard® Flavor Treat was rolled out, introducing me to a whole new delicious treat platform.
However, with the recent introduction of the Mini Blizzard size, the pattern has shifted. Now I’m able to still get all the same great taste of a Blizzard Treat, but as a smaller indulgence with little guilt.
My past memories of the DQ system just show how this brand has something for everyone. Do you remember how your DQ purchases have changed over the years?
I love theater- music, drama, dance…the arts. Just love all of it. One of my earliest memories is as a tiny girl going to see The Nutcracker Ballet with my parents. If I close my eyes I can still see that stage and the dancers. Wonderful!
I am currently assisting one of our local community theater groups with props for their April production. With most of our city currently buried under several feet of snow, garage sales are out of the question. Rats. Thank goodness for second-hand stores, discount stores and online sale sites.
I have made a connection in the last couple of days that will help me find the last bits of furniture I will need for our set. Connections. That’s really what it’s all about isn’t it? Connecting with others in your community, building relationships and getting to know people…really know them, not just the “Hi,” “Bye,” “I’ve seen you in the community,” kind of know.
This kind of connection is what American Dairy Queen Corporation upholds as one of our values — giving back to the communities in which we live, work and do business. It’s one of the reasons I’m so proud to be part of the DQ Family.
What kinds of things are you doing in your community?
How many of ye get a day dedicated entirely for thine birthday? Three days hence, William Shakespeare’s day of birth, April 23, hast officially been named “Talk Like Shakespeare Day”, and mayhap ‘tis why thou mayest struggle understanding this eloquent blog.
Faith, this very blog ‘tis written in Shakespeare Speak in honor of this auspicious event. In sooth, e’en before I apprenticed at DQ® ‘twas a tradition to partake in DQ Cakes on all happy celebrations. Why, e’en better, thou might tryest a Blizzard® cake!
Indeed, I urge all honey-tongued gentlemen and gentlewomen partake in “Talk Like Shakespeare Day.” Prithee, do also have your scribe announce thy favorite happy celebrations here, so that all mayest consider the delights!
