QR codes have something of a trendy persona. They have been put to use by a number of advertising campaign targeting the 18 to 25 crowd, honing in on the “hip” crowd. Though still in its relative infancy, QR code technology is asserting itself as the coolest thing to happen to marketing since viral campaigns were in vogue. As such, anything emblazoned with the 2D symbol is seen as cutting edge, a fact that is not going unnoticed by many business owners.
Last year, the Port Townsend Food Co-op, a full-service market specializing in organic foods, began placing QR codes on signs detailing product details. The codes linked to content – videos, coupons, website after website, even radio interviews. Their aim is to educate customers about the benefit of healthy eating as well as the process through which the food is prepared and delivered to the store.
A number of participants are joining in the educational endeavor, among them Small Planet Organics, a tofu manufacturing company. Toting the title as the first tofu company in the U.S. to implement QR codes with their products, Small Planet Organics is set to move forward with the campaign inspired by Port Townsend’s Food Co-op.
“Education is 80% of this business,” says owner “Tofu Phil” Spiegel. “With QR codes, we can give our customers lots of options to learn.”
The health food industry has enjoyed something of a trendy visage over the past decade, though it still struggles with the stigmas associated with healthy eating. Providing ease of access to educational material that is both interactive and quickly delivered, many businesses hope to change the conceptions and eating habits of Americans for the better.
