Origami money birds bring delight to shoppers at Merry Hill

A team of experts spent 130 hours folding hundreds of origami birds worth £10 each, which were hidden to surprise and delight shoppers nationwide by intu, owner of some of the UK’s largest and most popular shopping centres.

The spring release of the origami birds is part of intu’s pledge to make customers smile and follows research that it’s the simple surprises that bring the most happiness.

Finding money was voted the nation’s happiest surprise, followed by hearing your favourite song on the radio, getting a refund you thought was a bill, hearing from an old friend unexpectedly and getting a compliment from a stranger.

Roger Binks, customer experience director for intu, said: “We hope our origami birds will put a smile on the faces of the customers lucky enough to find one within our shopping centres.

"We’re passionate about creating experiences that surprise and delight our 35 million customers and whatever type of shopper you are; we’ll have something for you.

"By focusing on key moments both large and small we aim to ensure each and every customer leaves our centres happier than when they arrived.”

intu analysed the shopping habits of shoppers nationwide to come up with the seven types of shopper that are being represented by origami birds including a Hawk,Owl, Chicken, Duck, Flamingo, Swan and Peacock.

The origami birds were hidden throughout intu shopping centres across the UK including intu Trafford Centre, intu Lakeside and intu Metrocentre from 12-14 May.

For more information visit #intuBirds on Twitter.