These days we’re constantly hearing about Instagram “influencers” who believe they should get things for free in exchange for publicity, but some business owners aren’t having it. In fact, one ice cream truck owner is so fed up with the constant requests for freebies that he’s taken things to the opposite extreme.
Joe Nicchi, the owner of CVT Soft Serve based out of Los Angeles, was so tired of the weekly influencer requests for free ice cream that he posted a sign that read 'influencers pay double' and it quickly went viral. “We're the anti-influencer influencers," he told the "Guardian." 'It's weird but I think it's really fun. I hope it inspires small businesses to hold their own and tell people to f**k off."
Nicchi says he’s constantly being barraged with requests for freebies, and we’re not just talking a free cone here and there. He tells the BBC he was recently asked to supply ice cream for a party for 300 people “in exchange for ‘exposure,'” noting, “that’s when I made the sign.”
Nicci’s ice cream already goes for $4 each, which means influencers will have to pay $8, but he says so far he hasn't had to charge anyone the inflated price, although he notes, “'We just posted the sign so no enforcement yet. Just some dirty looks from hipsters.”