Question of the Day: How many “Shamrock Shakes” have been bought at McDonald’s since they launched in 1970?

How many minty marvels has McDonald’s mixed up since 1970?

Answer: Over 60 million Shamrock shakes (1.25 billion ounces) have been sold since the “official” launch in 1970.

Questions:

1. Have you ever celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a Shamrock Shake? What did you think?
2. Why do you think that Shamrock Shakes are so popular?
3. Shamrock Shakes are an example of “scarcity” in advertising. How does this marketing strategy create buzz around a product?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (HUFFPOST):

“The Shamrock Shake has been around since 1970, and it has managed to gain quite a cult following. According to the Huffington Post, McDonald’s has sold more than 60 million Shamrock Shakes over the years.

But, according to Vox, the Shamrock Shake wasn’t always the minty, creamy concoction so many know and love today. There are accounts of the shake using lemon-lime sherbet, having a plain vanilla flavor accompanied by green food coloring and finally, becoming the mint-flavored drink we know today in 1983.”

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Learn more about scarcity and other advertising strategies in the NGPF Activity – ANALYZE: The Influence of Advertisements