Only in a women's world
Remember the cartoon Frito-Lay ladies? Now the winner of their "Inspire Us" story contest, a mom from Boise, gets to be one, too, in an animated webisode of her winning story. She also won a trip for her and her daughter to NYC to see how the webisode is made. How fun is that? In case you don't remember them, here they are again http://www.awomansworld.com/ (source: PromoXtra, 9/29/09)
Tagline co-opted
Nice, subtle way to make the point, and save on copywriting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiOKmKXbacA (source: NBC, last Friday night)
Want to get ahead?
Shave. Gillette is touting a study (theirs) of HR professionals that shows beard-free men move up the corporate ladder more quickly and have a major advantage at job interviews. For style and career advice, http://www.gillette.com/en-US/#/grooming/careeradvantage/en-US/index.shtml/ (DrugStoreNews.com)
It's on special, but is it good?
http://www.goodguide.com/ began as a side project by a Berkley scientist and his buds, but is now a full-fledged start-up employing nutritionist, toxicologists, and the like to help you make better buying decisions. Is Pantene safe? Should my kids eat Yoplait? Ask GoodGuide. Based on a ton of data points from nutrient and heavy metal content to water use and labor standards, they'll give you a broken-out rating and let you compare to other brands. They've just started helping companies like Clorox learn how to improve their ratings. Also available in a mobile app.
Low-budget, huge impact
A UK car insurance aggregator couldn't afford the keyword "market." Not to worry, their agency went with the much cheaper near-homonym "meerkat" and created a Russian-accented spokescritter. He's not only hugely boosted web traffic to http://www.comparethemarket.com/ , which most people access by searching "meerkat," but he's become a cultural phenomenon, much like a certain green somebody. What is it about car insurance and clever animals? Check out Alexandr Orlov here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0mXUC0cUPg (source: Ad Age, 9/28/09)
Some groovy billboards
http://10steps.sg/inspirations/artworks/50-extraordinary-and-attractive-billboards/ (source: Very Short List, 9/29/09)
The waffle
My sweetie (guy, urban, 50ish) doesn't like commercials, shopping for consumer electronics, or Brett Favre, but he stops TiVo to watch this ad. That's one ringing endorsement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9enj55iSwk
Raise a zipper to Donald Fisher, founder of The Gap
In 1969 at the age of 41, the real-estate developer bought a San Francisco store that sold jeans and records because he couldn't find a pair of Levis that fit him decently. His wife, Doris, named the business. The couple made a ton of money, and gave a ton away. They even bought the SF Giants to keep the team from being moved to FL. They filled a gap in the casual wear market and are currently filling the SF Museum of Modern Art with their vast personal collection, since he won't be needing it anymore. Mr. Fisher passed this week at the age of 81. (source: SFGate.com, 9/28/09)
Live from Ramallah
Palestinian State TV started airing its first social/political satire show. The writers and actors were nervous at first about mocking topics that journalists get scary phone calls for broaching, but according to one actor they're willing to take their chances because: "If you make people laugh at difficult topics, you force them to look at things with a different point of view." So far, only a few cuss words and sexual innuendo have been bleeped. (source: Christian Science Monitor, 9/28/09)
While on the theme of government control...
The Chinese government had Beijing cellphone users' ring-back tones changed to the national anthem to get them in the mood for the 60th anniversary of communist rule. They called it "a gift." I'm sure those folks are feeling something, but patriotic might not be it. (source: StLouisToday.com, 9/29/09)
Cool music
Cheap. Tonight and Saturday night. All over the Wedge. Go. http://www.rochesterindiefest.com/
TrackBack URI for this entry