PASADENA, Calif. — Wetzel's Pretzels is giving an employee a chance to appear in a movie.
The pretzel bakery chain is promoting "star-quality" customer service with "Catch a Star", an employee incentive program that awards finalists a trip to Hollywood and screen test for a major motion picture film. Acclaimed movie producer John Davis will choose the brightest star for a walk-on role in one of his fall 2006 productions.
The Catch a Star program will have three phases, starting with an initial selection of nominees, each to be evaluated by secret shoppers. The 15 semi-finalists will be videotaped (as a pre-screen test), receive a $50 gift card and be featured in the company newsletter.
According to a news release, the company's franchise advisory council will select the final three finalists to be flown to Los Angeles in July for a screen test with Davis (Dr. Doolittle; The Firm; Garfield; The Movie; I, Robot; Courage Under Fire). Additionally, the finalists will receive an expenses-paid Hollywood "movie-star" visit which includes a makeover, spa treatments and limo transport to FOX Studios for a screen test. Finalists will also be treated to a private dinner with Wetzel's co-founders President Rick Wetzel and CEO Bill Phelps. The winning finalist will return to California in fall 2006 to participate in Davis' film (not yet named).
To promote the contest, franchise locations bear creative in-store materials, including posters, store decorations, comment cards and employee nomination forms. Criteria for nominees includes demonstrating knowledgeable and suggestive selling, expeditious work-ethic, customer rapport and quality teamwork Catch a Star has been open to all Wetzel's Pretzels franchisee employees who interact with the public and will be continuously employed from January to July.
