The pandemic may be coming to an end, but the consumer need for comfort is forever. Denny’s is going the extra mile to satisfy this craving with a collectible pair of pancake slippers.
The limited-edition shoe drop has already sold out on Grailed and been given away on Twitter yesterday. Proceeds of the pancake shoes, called “P3000 Loungers” in an ode to their pillowy, cake-like composition, are being donated to an unnamed charity. Indeed, the shoes resemble a stack of pancakes topped with syrup, a la breakfast at Denny’s, and are handmade by Janelle Marie of Seams Come True. The pancake shoes were promoted across all of Denny’s social media platforms, leading up to April 20.
Like many restaurant brands tracked in Gartner’s report on the sector, Denny’s has had to turn to out–of-the-box ways to captivate consumers. Last year, KFC rolled out a pair of fried chicken shoes in collaboration with Crocs, so Denny’s decision to dip into shoemanie makes sense. If you’re wondering whether there’s a correlation between the giveaway date and the unofficially designated day of cannabis consumption in America, there is. Denny’s suggests that the day is “undoubtedly one of the most couch potatoiest days of the year.” As such, consumers in need of some munchies might be inspired to make a trip to the classic diner for some pancakes while donning a pair of pancake slippers. The quirky kicks pick up on the comfort food trend and nostalgia craze, while also toying with the seriousness of sneaker drops, which have become a true phenomenon for shoe collectors worldwide.