Better Birthday Benefits Through AI and Engagement

By Jessica Smith-Roberts, Founder and Director of Elevate Engagement

Last weekend I completed an accredited training course through TAFE NSW in Generative AI and its Business Uses. I was enthusiastic to see what I could make it do... but because I am me, I decided it would be much more fun to use it for silly things rather than important ones.

While talking to my friend Todd on his birthday, he told me that as part of his celebrations, he was going to make his way into town to take advantage of birthday benefits and discounts (Boost Juice and Krispy Kreme were on his hit list). In that moment I decided that as a birthday gift of sorts, I would see if I could generate him a more extensive list of birthday freebies to take advantage of in Canberra.

Now, I hear what you’re thinking… “That's very ’Jess’ of you, however it seems weird to share this on your business blog”. I can see why you’d think that, but stick with me here…

Generative AI tools are becoming common place in work environments. The technology is impressive and valuable, but it’s not perfect and requires the input, knowledge, and creativity of humans to create something that is high quality, accurate, and valuable. While there is a lot value that can be gained through use of Generative AI, safeguards need to be put in place to ensure quality, and prevent misinformation.

By sharing with you my experience I hope to provide you with valuable lessons, to help you when entering the world of Generative AI.

Lesson 1: When developing prompts in Generative AI, You probably won’t get the outcome you were seeking in the first go. It will often take several prompts to get the outcome you are seeking.

For my first attempt I asked Chat GPT the following:

Prompt: I would like you to develop me an extensive list of businesses located in Canberra Australia that offer birthday freebies and discounts. Please develop me a list and include the business name, location(s), and the freebie or discount on offer.

I received a list of only 6 freebies, not an extensive list by any stretch of the imagination. I also didn’t include the freebies Todd had said he was going to get so I knew the list was not comprehensive.

Lesson 2: If you know your subject matter you can see when the developed content is incorrect.

I then expanded my prompt:

Prompt: I am aware that there are many other businesses that offer free things for birthdays, can you expand the list to include everything you can find?

It provided me with a different list of 6 businesses, but still only 6.

Lesson 3: The free version of Chat GPT seeks to provide concise responses and can leave out valuable information.

Prompt: You seem to be limiting the list to only 6 businesses at a time. Can I have a dot point list of all businesses that offer this

Booyah! That’s better! I received a list of 27 businesses and their offerings! …but it still didn’t include one of the businesses that I knew Todd was visiting.

Prompt: Your list seems incomplete, can you please continue it?

Another 14 freebies and deals provided. I used the same prompt again and got another 20.

Prompt: Is there anything else that hasn’t appeared on the lists provided?

Another list of 20 is provided, but I am starting to notice duplicates, businesses that no longer exist, and businesses that weren’t ever in Canberra. I decide to stop pushing.

Lesson 4: GPT 3.5 is based on online data ingested up to September 2021, and GPT 4 uses online data ingested until April 2023.

I take the options provided by Chat GPT and copy them into word.

I tidy up my findings by:

·       Removing duplicates

·       Sorting into themes to make it easier to find what you might be looking for or interested in

·       Deleting businesses I (personally) know to be closed or not operate in Canberra

I’m left with a list of 58 freebies and deals for birthdays in Canberra.

Canberra’s Ultimate Birthday Freebies and Discounts List

Last updated 16 January 2025

Please note that some offers may require membership sign-up prior to your birthday, and terms and conditions may apply. It's advisable to check with individual businesses for the most current information and to confirm participation in these offers.

Food

Ali Baba

Locations: Canberra Centre, Tuggeranong Hyperdome, Westfield Belconnen

Offer: Free kebab on your birthday for VIP Club members.

The Cheesecake Shop

Locations: Various

Offer: $5 birthday voucher upon signing up.

Cold Rock Ice Creamery

Location: Gungahlin Village

Offer: Free kids' size ice cream with one mix-in on your birthday for VIP Club members.

Gelatissimo

Locations: Westfield Woden, Canberra Centre

Offer: Free scoop of gelato on your birthday for loyalty members.

Grill’d

Locations: Canberra Centre, Westfield Woden, Westfield Belconnen

Offer: Free burger on your birthday for Relish Members.

Krispy Kreme

Locations: Canberra Outlet Centre

Offer: Free Original Glazed 4-Pack for Inner Circle members on their birthday.

Mad Mex

Locations: Canberra Centre

Offer: $5 birthday voucher for Mad Mex members.

McDonald's

Locations: Various locations in Canberra

Offer: 'Special surprise' (normally small fries) for MyMaccas Rewards members on their birthday.

Muffin Break

Location: Majura Park Shopping Centre

Offer: Complimentary muffin during your birthday month for Muffin Break Rewards members.

Nando's

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: Free regular meal on your birthday for PERi-Perks members.

Oporto

Locations: Garema Place, Canberra Outlet Centre, Canberra Centre food court

Offer: Free meal on your birthday for Flame Rewards members.

Red Rooster

Locations: Charnwood, Belconnen, Queanbeyan

Offer: Discounts or complimentary meals on your birthday, depending on Red Royalty membership tier.

Ribs & Burgers

Locations: Canberra Centre

Offer: Free burger or meal upgrade on your birthday for loyalty members.

San Churro

Locations: Not specified in Canberra

Offer: Free birthday churros and $20 churros fiesta for el Social members.

Starbucks

Locations: Canberra Centre

Offer: Free drink on your birthday for Starbucks Rewards members.

Subway

Locations: Various locations in Canberra

Offer: Free six-inch sub and drink on your birthday for Eat Fresh Club members.

Sumo Salad

Locations: ANU Childers Street, Canberra Centre

Offer: Free salad on your birthday for Sumo Society members.

Sushi Train

Locations: Gungahlin Marketplace

Offer: $10 birthday voucher for Sushi Train members.

TGI Fridays

Locations: Canberra Centre

Offer: Free dessert on your birthday for Fridays Rewards members.

Tony Roma's

Locations: Canberra Centre

Offer: Free dessert on your birthday for loyalty members.

Wok It Up

Locations: Civic, Gungahlin

Offer: Free meal on your birthday for loyalty members.

Zambrero

Locations: Westfield Woden, Canberra Centre, Gungahlin Marketplace

Offer: Free burrito or bowl on your birthday for Zambrero Rewards members.

Drinks

Boost Juice

Locations: Canberra Centre, Westfield Belconnen, Westfield Woden, Tuggeranong Southpoint, Canberra Outlet Centre

Offer: Free Boost Juice on your birthday for Vibe Club members.

Chatime

Locations: ANU Childers Street, ANU Chifley Lane, Westfield Belconnen, Westfield Woden, Gungahlin Marketplace

Offer: Free regular tea with one mix-in during your birthday month for Loyal-Tea program members.

The Coffee Club

Locations: Westfield Woden, Westfield Belconnen

Offer: Free coffee on your birthday for VIP Club members.

Gloria Jean's Coffees

Locations: Gungahlin Village, Queanbeyan Riverside Plaza

Offer: Free small standard coffee during your birthday month for eSipper members.

Mrs. Fields

Location: Westfield Belconnen

Offer: Free birthday cookie for rewards program members.

Reload Bar and Games

Location: Civic

Offer: Complimentary jug of Yoda Soda cocktail when you spend $15 on drinks and show ID within a week of your birthday.

T2 Tea

Locations: Canberra Centre, Westfield Woden, Westfield Belconnen

Offer: Free full-sized takeaway cup of tea on your birthday for T2 Tea Society members.

Shopping

Anaconda

Location: Fyshwick

Offer: $10 reward on your birthday for Adventure Club members.

Bonds

Locations: Canberra Outlet Centre

Offer: $10 gift card for your birthday for Bonds & Me members.

City Chic

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $20 birthday voucher for City Chic members.

Cotton On

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $10 voucher to use in-store during your birthday month for loyalty members.

David Jones

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $10 birthday reward for David Jones Rewards members.

Dusk

Locations: Various

Offer: $20 birthday voucher for Dusk Rewards members.

EB Games

Locations: Various

Offer: $10-$20 birthday voucher, depending on tier, for EB World members.

H&M

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: 25% off one item during your birthday month for H&M Members.

IKEA

Location: Majura

Offer: $10 off $50 spend for IKEA Family members.

Jeanswest

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $10 birthday voucher for loyalty members.

Kathmandu

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $10-$50 voucher (depending on membership tier) for Out There Rewards members on their birthday.

Kikki.K

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $10 birthday voucher for loyalty members.

Lincraft

Location: Belconnen

Offer: Free $10 gift voucher for Lincraft Club members on their birthday.

L'Occitane

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: Complimentary gift with purchase for members on their birthday.

Mimco

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $15-$100 birthday reward, depending on membership tier, for MIMCollective members.

Myer

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $10-$50 birthday rewards, depending on membership tier, for Myer One members.

Pandora

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: 15% off regular-priced jewellery items for Pandora Club members on their birthday.

Priceline

Locations: Various

Offer: Free birthday gift for Pink Diamond members of Sister Club.

Sheridan Outlet

Location: Canberra Outlet Centre

Offer: $25 birthday voucher for Sheridan Rewards members.

Sportscraft

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: $20 birthday voucher for Sportscraft VIP members.

Spotlight

Locations: Various

Offer: $10 birthday voucher for VIP Club members.

Swarovski

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: 15% off birthday voucher for Swarovski Club members.

Witchery

Location: Canberra Centre

Offer: Birthday gift vouchers ranging from $10 to $100, depending on membership tier, for Witchery members.

Hair and Beauty

Just Cuts

Locations: Various

Offer: Complimentary shampoo with relaxing scalp massage for app users.

Cinema

Hoyts

Locations: Belconnen, Woden

Offer: Free movie ticket during your birthday month for Hoyts Rewards members with a qualifying purchase in the last 12 months.

Event Cinemas

Locations: Manuka

Offer: Free movie ticket during your birthday month for Cinebuzz Rewards members.

Palace Cinemas

Location: NewActon

Offer: $10 voucher to use at the cinema bar for Palace Movie Club members on their birthday.

Service Providers

Optus

Offer: Free data on your birthday for Optus customers (applicable to selected plans).

Then, my engagement brain takes over…or my ADHD hyperfocus (though they are often the same). As an engagement manager, I have seen many “final products” presented where it is clear that local knowledge and community feedback could have created higher quality outcomes. I have decided that it is time to take my base list to the community for feedback to make it better.

Share your insights! Help us create the ultimate list of birthday freebies and discounts in Canberra!

Everybody has a birthday. Everybody likes free stuff and discounts. Every business likes free promotion and more customers.

At Elevate Engagement we’re asking our community for your help to create the ultimate birthday freebie list for Canberra and Surrounding Regions.

We want to know:

·       What isn’t on the list and should be?

·       What is on the list and shouldn’t be?

·       Are any of the freebies and discounts incorrect?

Share your feedback by:

·       Commenting on this blog

·       Commenting on our social media posts

We’ll collate your feedback and use it to intermittently update the list!

Have a friend or team-mate whose birthday is today, or coming up soon? Share this list as your pseudo birthday present to them, or make a day of taking them for their selected freebies and deals.