Birthday freebies are a popular category of promotional offers, with numerous national and regional brands providing complimentary products or discounts to members of their loyalty programs. These offers are typically available to U.S. consumers who sign up for a brand's rewards program or email list prior to their birthday. The availability, eligibility, and redemption processes vary significantly by brand, often requiring pre-registration, specific redemption periods, and sometimes a minimum purchase. The following information details a selection of birthday freebies across food, beauty, and retail categories, based on aggregated promotional data.
Food and Beverage Birthday Freebies
Many restaurant chains and food brands offer free items to loyalty members on or around their birthday. These deals often require membership in a brand-specific club or app, and some have specific conditions, such as requiring a previous purchase or limiting the redemption window.
Ice Cream and Dessert
- Baskin Robbins: Members of the Baskin Robbins Birthday Club can receive a free scoop of ice cream on their birthday.
- Ben & Jerry’s: A scoop shop coupon for free ice cream is available for birthdays.
- Pinkberry: Signing up for Pinkcard rewards provides a free yogurt on your birthday, in addition to a free yogurt after every 10 purchases.
- TCBY: A free small fro-yo is available to registered rewards members.
- Barnes & Noble: Children can receive a free cupcake from the cafe for their birthday.
- Buca di Beppo: Offers a free Colossal Brownie Sundae dessert for birthdays.
- Chili's: Members of their special club receive a free birthday treat.
- Panera Bread: MyPanera cardholders receive birthday rewards, with a special birthday surprise offer that is valid for 60 days.
- Red Lobster: My Red Lobster Reward members get a free Chocolate Wave (chocolate cake slice with vanilla ice cream).
- Ruby Tuesday: Offers a free dessert valid up to seven days before or 14 days after the actual birthday.
- Shake Shack: Adding your birthday to your profile on the Shake Shack app provides a free birthday shake.
- Smashburger: A free shake is available on or within seven days of your birthday.
- Sonic: Reward club members can enjoy a free side and a shake when ordering through the Sonic app or in person.
Breakfast and Casual Dining
- Denny's and IHOP: Both national chains offer free breakfast deals for birthdays.
- Waffle House: Members of the Regulars Club get a free birthday waffle (and a free order of hashbrowns upon signup).
- Red Robin: Adults receive a free burger during their birthday month, and children can get a free kids' meal for their birthday.
- Texas Roadhouse: Celebrate with a complimentary dessert or appetizer anytime during your birthday month.
- Bonefish Grill: Offers a free Birthday Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer.
- BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: Provides a free Pizookie for birthdays.
- Bar Louie Restaurant: Enjoy a free birthday appetizer.
- Bertucci’s: Score a free dessert from this brick-oven pizza chain.
- Black Angus Steakhouse: Offers a free steak dinner on your birthday (conditions may apply).
- Benihana Sushi & Japanese Steakhouse: Provides a $30.00 restaurant certificate for birthdays. For children 12 years and younger, a special postcard entitles them to a free souvenir mug with the purchase of any Kabuki Kids meal.
- Burtons Grill: Score a birthday dessert.
- BD Mongolian Grill: Get a free meal on your birthday.
Fast Food and Quick Service
- Baja Fresh Mexican Grill: Receive a free birthday burrito.
- Burger Fi: Get a free birthday shake.
- Bojangles': Receive a free Bojangles’ Birthday Bo-Berry Biscuit.
- Brooklyn Water Bagels: Score a cookie or a muffin for your birthday.
- Bruegger’s Bagels: A simple way to get a free bagel and your choice of cream cheese is available (specific birthday offer not detailed).
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Receive a free Bubba’s Birthday certificate for a free kid’s meal. Bubba Gump also offers $25 worth of free birthday food.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Score 6 free boneless or traditional wings during your birthday month.
- Jersey Mikes: With a MyMikes membership, get a free sub on your birthday.
- Pizza Hut: Get a free birthday treat when signed up for Pizza Hut benefits.
- Quizno's: Take advantage of a BOGO birthday reward.
- Rita's: Celebrate with a free small Italian ice, frozen custard or gelati if signed up for Rita's e-club.
- SBARRO: Get a free XL NY Slice with a minimum purchase of $5 a week prior to your birthday through the Sbarro Rewards app.
- Subway: (Details not provided in source data).
- Taco Bell: Get a free meal on your birthday, as long as you've made one purchase previously within the last year.
- Zaxby's: Get three free cookies through the app, either through in-app ordering or with a QR code to be scanned in-store.
National Food Retailers
- Starbucks: As long as you provide your birthday in the Starbucks mobile app, you'll receive a Birthday Reward for one free beverage, food item or ready-to-drink bottled beverage of your choice. It is only valid on your birthday.
- Tim Hortons: Rewards members get a free item on their birthday.
Beauty and Personal Care Birthday Freebies
Beauty brands frequently offer birthday gifts to members of their loyalty or rewards programs. These gifts often require enrollment in the program and may have conditions such as making an additional purchase during the birthday month.
- Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH): Members of the ABH loyalty programs receive a birthday month gift in addition to other exclusive offers.
- Armani Beauty: Join the Armani Signature VIP Program to score a special birthday reward or gift, which varies by program tier.
- Aveda: Earn a birthday gift and double points with each purchase during your birthday month.
- BareMinerals: Rewards members are only eligible for the free birthday gift if they are making an additional purchase online anytime throughout their birthday month. Joining the FAB (Friends and Benefits) Club provides a free birthday gift.
- Bath & Body Works: Get a free gift of your choice (with a value up to $9.95) with any purchase. The source notes this offer is "in their infancy stage."
- Bobbi Brown: Enjoy a birthday gift of $10 off a $30 or more order up to $50 off a $51.
- Smashbox: Score a free birthday gift during your birthday month no matter what level of a rewards member you are.
- Sol de Janeiro: If you spend $75 per year, you're eligible for a free birthday gift.
- Tarte: Offers free birthday gifts at any tier level.
- The Body Shop: Get a $10 Birthday Reward, valid for your birthday month, if you are part of the Love Your Body Club.
- Ulta: As part of Ulta Rewards, members get to choose a free gift from a handful of products during their birthday month. Your birthday must be in your profile by the 8th of your birthday month to be eligible.
- Urban Decay: Members of a UD Rewards tier are able to receive a free birthday gift.
- YSL Beauty: Score a birthday gift if you're part of the YSL loyalty club.
- Sephora: Offers special birthday gifts for rewards members (specific details not provided in source data).
Retail and Clothing Birthday Freebies
Retail brands, particularly in clothing and accessories, often provide birthday rewards such as discount coupons, small gifts, or loyalty points. These are typically available to members of their specific loyalty programs.
- Aerie: Enjoy a $5 birthday reward.
- American Eagle: Enjoy a $5 birthday reward.
- Athleta: Loyalty members of any tier get a free "birthday bonus."
- Banana Republic: Receive a birthday surprise from Banana Republic, GAP, and Old Navy. A free gift is also available through the reward program.
- DSW: Get up to $10 off your next purchase.
- Gymboree: My Place Rewards members will get a 20% coupon during the month of their child's birthday, and My Place Rewards Credit Cardholders will get a 25% off coupon.
- Build-A-Bear Workshop: Get a free surprise birthday gift.
- Bealls: Receive a 20% off birthday reward.
- Brighton Collectibles: Receive a special birthday greeting.
- Boston Proper: Score a birthday discount.
- BrandsMart USA: No birthday offers or rewards programs; they convey they already offer discounted price items.
- Best Buy: No birthday perk or freebie, but joining the Best Buy loyalty program saves money throughout the year.
- Burger King: No birthday perk or freebie is apparent, but check for discounts and coupons.
Important Considerations for Redeeming Birthday Freebies
Based on the provided data, several key factors are common across many birthday freebie programs:
- Advance Registration is Crucial: Many programs require you to sign up before your birthday. Some have specific cut-off dates; for example, Ulta requires your birthday to be in your profile by the 8th of your birthday month.
- Redemption Windows Vary: While some freebies are valid only on the actual birthday (e.g., Starbucks), others offer a longer window. Panera Bread's birthday treat is valid for 60 days, and Ruby Tuesday's dessert is valid for up to seven days before or 14 days after.
- Purchase Requirements: Some brands require an additional purchase to redeem the birthday offer. Examples include Bath & Body Works (free gift with any purchase), BareMinerals (gift requires an additional purchase), and Sbarro (free slice requires a minimum $5 purchase).
- Loyalty Program Tiers: For some beauty brands (e.g., Armani Beauty, Sol de Janeiro), the value or availability of the birthday gift can depend on your tier within the loyalty program.
- Geographic and Offer Stability: The source data indicates that deals change often. Some offers are national (e.g., Denny's, IHOP), while others may be regional or subject to change without notice. The source for Florida-specific freebies notes that the list may vary.
- Expiration: Many birthday offers have an expiration date after the birthday passes, so it is important to check the terms.
Conclusion
Birthday freebies are a valuable perk for consumers who are members of brand loyalty programs. The offers span a wide range of categories, from food and beverages to beauty products and clothing. To maximize these benefits, consumers should plan ahead, sign up for programs well in advance of their birthday, and carefully review the terms and conditions for each offer, including redemption windows and any purchase requirements. Availability and details can change, so verifying the current offer directly with the brand is always recommended.