[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U3QuNe0QjU&w=500&h=314]

David Ring, the ultimate Raving Fan of Chick-fil-A

Today I just met one of the biggest raving fans of Chick-fil-A. I was photographing at the Richards Group in Dallas, Texas. Chick-fil-A is promoting Cow Appreciation Day, which is today Friday July 8, 2011.

Chick-fil-A was hosting not only The Richards Group employees, the agency that does the Cow advertising campaign, they also had Raving Fan bloggers as well there. So when I saw this guy convincing four of the cows to hold him for a photo I wasn’t shocked, but wanted to know more about this Raving Fan.

“I am David Ring and back in 1994 I created the Cows.” Well this was just too cool. I got to talk with David and learn more.

“Chick-fil-A didn’t serve beef and this got him to thinking that the Cows would be perfect.” He presented the idea to Stan Richards, the founder of The Richards Group who then passed this on to Steve Robinson, Sr Vice President of Marketing for Chick-fil-A.

Stan Richards just pointed out to Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A this is the guy as they walked by.  Dan stopped to shake his hand.

In 1997 Ring left The Richards Group and just recently came back. Currently he doesn’t work on the Cows, but still feels proud of what The Richards Group and Chick-fil-A has done with the campaign.

Cows dancing at the Texas Rangers game on Wednesday night.

I didn’t even have to ask some questions, Ring was so excited. David Salyers, Vice President, National & Regional Marketing for Chick-fil-A, asked Ring about coming up with a billboard campaign, “We need something folks can talk about the next day in their Sunday School class,” this set the standard for how Ring proceeded.

Today at events all over the US, the cows are their to activate the brand of Chick-fil-A. Fans love the cows.

One thing that I learned from Ring about the Cow campaign. He said the success of the Cows has to do with Chick-fil-A sticking with the campaign and the experience customers had when they went to Chick-fil-A.  People love the cows not just because they are fun, but because the experience was excellent.  The Cows remind people of the great experience in great food and customer service.

This week the public relations team for Chick-fil-A has been in different major markets helping the restaurants to promote Cow Appreciation Day.  If you come into any Chick-fil-A restaurant partially dressed as a cow you get a free sandwich today, Friday, July 8, 2011.  If you dress head to toe like a cow get a free combo meal.

What other companies have their fans dressing up and driving around town letting everyone know where they eat?

Do you have a Chick-fil-A story to tell me about.  Let me here about it below.

Images used by permission of Chick-fil-A. Photographer Stanley Leary.