A SKI hire business in Perthshire has been praised after its owner shared their response after an influencer tried to get a £1700 holiday for free.
Glenshee Ski Hire, which was founded by Agnes Dalrymple in 1976, has gone viral on social media after the firm shared its interaction with a “dreaded” influencer who was looking for a ski holiday freebie.
Snow sport enthusiasts from across the country flock to Glenshee, Blairgowrie, each year as the 3504ft mountain boasts Scotland's largest ski area which is also known as the southern gateway to the Cairngorms National Park.
Glenshee Ski Hire has been kitting out skiers and snowboarders alike for decades, but were taken aback after they were recently approached by a PR firm who “slid” into their inbox looking to promote the business to their clients' followers.
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“So… it finally happened. We were contacted by the dreaded ‘INFLUENCER’,” Glenshee Ski Hire said in a post on social media.
“Their ‘agency’ slid into our inbox asking for free ski & snowboard hire for their family, in return for promoting Glenshee Ski Hire to their 350,000 followers.
“Our reply? ‘Sure — let us know when you’re coming and we’ll get everything ready’.
“Simple. Friendly. Local business vibes.”
The post added: “Then came the invoice. Accommodation – £727, travel – £456, ‘various expenditure” – £500.
“Total: just over £1700.
“For clarity: They wanted a small, family-run ski hire business in Glenshee to pay them £1700 so they could go skiing for two days… for free.
“Seventeen. Hundred. Quid.”
It continued: “At this point, Agnes Dalrymple (78, who opened the business in 1976) asked to deal with it personally via a phone call.
“From the next room, we think we heard the phrase: ‘Ram your influencers up your cars’ but we can’t be sure.”
Glenshee Ski Hire post concluded by saying: “Anyway — massive thanks to our actual customers who don’t invoice us for £1700.
“And somehow still manage to enjoy skiing without a PR agency. See you all soon.”
Despite the post only being up for a few hours on New Year’s Day it had already gained hundreds of likes with people quick to show their support in the comments.
One person replied: “You don’t need influencers like that. You just need people who love skiing and love glenshee ski resort.
“Once that snow hits the slopes and fills in all the gullies then everyone will soon follow.”
Meanwhile, another added: “The irony is this post will probably get you more noticed then they would have.”
A third person commented: “Well I don't follow your page and yet it's come up on my Facebook timeline so it looks like the influencer is doing their job... In not quite the way they maybe expected.”
A fourth person made their own counteroffer: “I'll do the same job for a free bacon roll.”
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