www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Recently someone gave an original album containing the 50 cards from the 1963 Series - British Butterflies. (Jack, it was still the Hedge Brown then... )
http://www.brookebondcollectables.co.uk ... rflies.htm

Is it not time that our companies provided this sort of promotional & educational material again?
Are we/and or they, missing a trick? Surely more value and brand-loyalty than conventional advertising?!
I know I was always waiting for my mother to go shopping, so I could get another card from whatever series it was.
And that it had to be Brooke Bond tea to get those cards!

Today's children are a bit more sophisticated I am afraid, Nick.

I was 5 at the time...

I've just received my album off eBay... In better condition than the one I used to have forty-something years ago!

Dave

NickB wrote:Recently someone gave an original album containing the 50 cards from the 1963 Series - British Butterflies. (Jack, it was still the Hedge Brown then...

I still call it Hedge Brown,

Gatekeeper is a gimmick.

I still like the following initial comment about the Comma: "A rare butterfly..."

Dave

Susie wrote:Today's children are a bit more sophisticated I am afraid, Nick.

Different for sure but I'm not certain sophisticated is the right word.

A_T wrote:

Susie wrote:Today's children are a bit more sophisticated I am afraid, Nick.

Different for sure but I'm not certain sophisticated is the right word.

I'm not suggesting that teenagers would have much interest.....
..but kids of primary school age, when they are more open to learning....?
Edit - And dare I say it, more impressionable; hence the gift-in-cereal trick to get mum to buy whatever cereal has been advertised...
They would not do such promotions if it did not work.....
N

I cant remember the last time I saw a toy in a cereal packet..

What you tend to get now is a website address and a promotional code. Even on things aimed at tiny tots.

..so why not get Butterflies up there?

If you want my honest answer ... it's because the majority of kids don't care about butterflies and neither do their parents. Kids want things that are exciting, the marketing departments know this. If butterflies sold in this context then they would be all over the place - but they aren't.

I hear what you say, Susie ... I accept all the arguments against....
....but, In the realm of the possible....
I still ask the question, "Why not?".....
N

Do they have the opportunity? My nephew (10) has stayed with me the last 2 years in the summer holiday, he loves to go 'butterflying' with me. He likes to learn new things, anything it seems, I don't think he would be satisfied with 'here's a blue butterfly, here's a brown one' but he seems to like learning the difference between Comma and Small Tortoiseshell. I have been out in the field and pointed out a Green Hairstreak to a youngster, and they have been thrilled. Nick I think your ideas could well spark an interest in the young.

Hey, I've been butterflying since cca 4-years-old!

Obviously with pauses. But that still means 20 years of experience, which is quite lovely in my 25.

AFAIK, the hobby was kept alive thanks to finding & catching rare or less-accessible species like Swallowtail, Purple Emperor, Camberwell Beauty, White-letter Hairstreak. I mean it just somehow worked.

Don't misvalue kids, especially self-taught persons

Rosalyn wrote:Do they have the opportunity? My nephew (10) has stayed with me the last 2 years in the summer holiday, he loves to go 'butterflying' with me. He likes to learn new things, anything it seems, I don't think he would be satisfied with 'here's a blue butterfly, here's a brown one' but he seems to like learning the difference between Comma and Small Tortoiseshell. I have been out in the field and pointed out a Green Hairstreak to a youngster, and they have been thrilled. Nick I think your ideas could well spark an interest in the young.

They DO have the opportunity, it's just that they rarely have the inclination. What with the sophisticated gadgetry available these days most kids don't know what 'playing out' is.

When I was a kid, videos had only just come onto the market and you had to go to an amusement arcade to play any of the new-fangled games like Gorf, Asteroids and Space Invaders.

These days, your average 10 year old doesn't need to leave his/her bedroom in search of entertainment. Gone are the days of spending hours outdoors making dens, fishing in the streams with nets and catching butterflies.

Jordan brought his computer games, didn't play on them once, we went out, biking, walking, He loved it. Butterfly World was a delight to him

Rosalyn wrote:Jordan brought his computer games, didn't play on them once, we went out, biking, walking, He loved it. Butterfly World was a delight to him

Hopefully you have converted him.

Rosalyn wrote:Jordan brought his computer games, didn't play on them once, we went out, biking, walking, He loved it. Butterfly World was a delight to him

I am so pleased he enjoyed it. What probably got him so enthused though was your knowledge and your enjoyment of the subject. Had he been there with a gang of mates he would probably have mooched around and wouldn't have been wanted to be seen as uncool.

I am afraid that if it is between a butterfly card or COD then most young boys are going to go for COD.

we should share our knowledge wherever we can and I think we can do better

Susie wrote:
I am afraid that if it is between a butterfly card or COD then most young boys are going to go for COD.

COD? What is that? The only COD my boys are interested in comes in batter with chips...

Dave