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February 28th, 2010

P&G Salutes Olympic Moms

If you know anything about athletics you know that they can be an emotional roller coaster. The Olympics are the biggest stage in sports and here the emotions run the highest. Tears of happiness and sadness are shed at each and every event on the playing field and the same is happening in the stands. By whom you might ask? By the mothers who’ve watched their children grow up to become the best athletes in the world.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1zNhqS-_Ms]

As I watched this spot today from P&G; I got a little emotional myself. As I was watching it I remembered how my mother used to sit on the edge of her seat as I competed. She was always there to celebrate with me in victory and console me in defeat. Of course I’m no Olympic athlete but the spot spoke to me and isn’t that what we’re supposed to be doing in this business…speaking to people and trying get some sort of response? In the case of this commercial and the others in this campaign I’ve seen today, they’ve hit the mark for me.

Click here to see the rest of the spots at P&G;’s YouTube channel.

Cheers,
DRA

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February 26th, 2010

The First Existential Self-Promo Piece Ever

Drake Cooper “Indie” book

By existential, we don’t mean the esoteric, Dr. Strangelovian poetry of Donald Rumsfeld.
We mean the old-school definition of existential as a mindset focused on “the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will.”
Or, as we say “indie.”
Drake Cooper got all digital on the book’s derrière. We took the self-promo piece and flipped it on it’s head. Think of the DC Indie Book as a “mash-up” print version of the digital culture we’re all swimming in. It’s like Jean-Luc Godard ate way too many big pink cookies. The indie book is irreverently reverent with just enough positioning to make a marketing consultant pretend to know what we’re talking about.
A new discovery in words, images, and design is found in every spread. We’ve gotten great feedback and some paying work. Roll over, Kierkegaard.

Shout-Out: Jennie Myers, Sean Young, Cale Cathey, Joe Quatrone, John Drake, Jamie Cooper, Dylan Amundson, Heidy Agalsoff, Karma Jones.
See the whole piece here. If you’d like a copy, stop by and break bread with us.

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February 25th, 2010

Hurricane Party

It’s a unique pastime in the south to throw a ‘hurricane party’ if there’s a Gulf storm brewing and about to hit. Or, if the storm has hit and folks need to grill up all the meat that’s thawing in the freezer because there’s no electricity and everyone needs an excuse to get together, eat and drink (not that anyone ever needs an excuse for that in the south).

But tonight, in support of Idahoan Jeret “Speedy” Peterson’s much anticipated Olympic performance in aerial skiing, I recommend reinventing the ‘hurricane party’ with an Idaho twist.

This ‘hurricane party’ should include basic elements like friends, food, and a big screen TV with the Olympics turned ON.

Don’t fight the stereotype: cook up some potato fries on the grill (simply toss potato slices in olive oil & sprinkle a little Tony Chachere’s Cajun Seasoning or rosemary and salt on top). If you have additional cravings, just make sure you buy Idaho Preferred.

It won’t be an authentic hurricane party unless there are some libations. Instead of serving up hurricanes – the drink, mix up a pitcher of Doc Hollidays, which is simply 44 North Mountain Huckleberry + Red Bull + ice = deliciousness.

Indulge, imbibe, and gather ’round to watch as the Hurricane unfolds!

P.S. If you want a little multi-media to entertain your hurricane party guests with, visit http://www.soulofskiing.com/, where you can watch a video of Speedy P. and even get a phone call from him. Seriously. Okay, so it’s recorded. It’ll still get you in the mood for a Hurricane.

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February 24th, 2010

Diet Coke marketing – is it heart healthy?

The other night I was watching the Olympics with my kids, and my 5 year old son saw one of the Diet Coke TV Ads that are part of their ‘Heart Truth’ campaign. And then he said something that literally made my heart stop: “Mom, if you drink a lot of Diet Coke everyday your heart will get really strong and healthy from it, right?” (Whaaaattt?)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhMOjhth9vw]

But now that I keep seeing the ads night after night, I can see where he got that. The Heart Truth campaign is for a great cause, don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of supporting the awareness of women’s heart health programs. I’m just not sure Diet Coke is the right partner.

I’ve been marketing food and beverages for over 15 years now, and have come to know there is a fine line with marketing product claims and associations, and having facts to back it up. When I worked at Beringer Wine Estates we thought about putting a heart symbol on one of our bottle hangers for a Valentine’s day promotion. When I worked at Litehouse Foods we thought about doing the same for a dressing promotion. In both cases we checked the regulatory guidelines and decided not to. Not because our products were proven NOT to be healthy for one’s heart, but because we could not prove they actually WERE healthy for one’s heart. It’s a subtle difference, and yet has such huge implications.

According to Coke…”We’ve used our communications and marketing expertise to reach millions of people with this important heart health message,” the company said in its statement. Yep, and you’ve reached my 5 year old son and my 9 year old daughter and they now believe Diet Coke helps make your heart strong. I guess I’m not sure if the communication plan is working?

Maybe the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute is rethinking this partnership too, based on this article from CBS News.

I love to drink Diet Coke once in a while. Love the fizz, the sweetness, and the sugar high. But one thing I know for sure is it’s not going to help make my heart strong and healthy. Now my kids know that too. Because I made that perfectly clear to both of them. Then I gave them each a big glass of milk, and put them to bed!

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February 24th, 2010

Tweet Tweet!


In case you didn’t know Twitter has an analytics team. Part of their job is to measure and understand growth. This graph tells a story of how Twitter’s grown over the past three years in terms of number of tweets created per day. Note that tweets from accounts identified as spam have been removed so the counts in this chart do not include spam.

Tweeps were tweeting 5,000 times a day in 2007. By 2008, that number was 300,000, and by 2009 it had grown to 2.5 million per day. Tweets grew 1,400% last year to 35 million per day. Today, we are seeing 50 million tweets per day — that’s an average of 600 tweets per second.

This brings me to the question Ive been thinking about lately which is…Do people have lives anymore or are we all just drones stuck to computers and mobile devices?

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February 24th, 2010

Totally like whatever, you know?

An enlightening look at conversation in this digital age. Thanks to Roger Ebert via Twitter for this, @ebertchicago. Poem by Taylor Mali. www.taylormali.com
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3829682&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

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February 24th, 2010

“Yo” is the cure for the yo-yo diet

United Dairymen of Idaho Yogurt TV

There was a time when the english language looked like this:

Whan that Aueryłł wt his shoures soote,
The droghte of Marcħ, hath perced to the roote*

Back then, the word diet meant “way of life.” While these days people associate a diet with losing weight with soul-crushing deprivation strategies, we wanted to educate people that good health begins with smart choices. Yogurt offers a nutritious and delicious snack alternative, has awesome pro-biotic benefits, and helps fulfill the “3-A-Day” dairy recommendations.

This TV Spot for the United Dairymen informs that with all the no’s that come with our food choices, there is a tasty and healthy “yo” just around the corner. The bottom line is that people are empowered to make their own choices and yogurt makes it just that much more rewarding.

*Chaucer. Trans: “When in April the sweet showers fall, And pierce the drought of March to the root, and all”

Shout out: Jennie Myers, Joe Quatrone, Mona Teffeteller, Dylan Amundson, NXNW Production, John Eames, John Nance

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhN5o-mCiO8]

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February 23rd, 2010

Geo-Fencing – the latest in geo-marketing

North Face is embracing mobile marketing with a brilliant campaign that will send ‘fans’ text messages if they venture within a certain radius of a North Face store.

Read all about it in this New York Times article.

Forget mayorship. I project, within months, all you’ll have to do to get special deals on brands you already love is venture near the store.

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February 23rd, 2010

New ART & COPY Poster!


A&Cers;,

Just in case you didn’t notice we have a wicked awesome new poster for the event done by Drake Cooper’s own Cale Cathey. Check it out in full effect at the event page.

We’ll be sending out an update soon as to how you yourself can acquire the original illustrations for it! Cale has generously donated them to support TRICA.

We’ll be posting up photos of them in the “photos” section of the event soon giving Facebookers a sneak peak at the merchandise to be auctioned off at the event. Highest bidder takes the pieces home and proceeds benefit TRICA!

Tix to A&C; here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/98033

p.s.

The Lobby is hosting an extended happy hour for us with $2 wells and drafts from 4pm-7pm. Hope to see you there!

Cheers,

DC

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February 22nd, 2010

Car Commercials Kicking Butt

I’ve been noticing a lot of stellar car commercials lately.
Though a handful of car companies sold more in 2009 than in 2008 and are gaining share (Subaru of Japan and Honda and Kia of Korea), most companies are only hearing a faint echo in the American public’s empty wallet.
We’ve all heard the adage, “Cutting advertising to save money is like stopping your clock to save time.” Perhaps these car companies and their agencies are taking that to heart. It seems a genre that I usually feel is mediocre at best has been revving its engine and turning out some great work.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtmEI-74oiQ]

The Dodge Charger Commercial, voice-over by Michael C Hall, is well written and visually interesting. Who are these dudes blankly staring at me and my husband as we fast forward through the commercial break of last week’s episode of The Bachelor (which incidentally furthers their argument)? Agency: Wieden + Kennedy
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZHZQRUD6hw]

I am charmed by the Kia Sorento spots featuring life-sized children’s toys having the time of their lives while jet skiing, partying at clubs with ridiculously good looking people, riding a mechanical bull- all the things I might do, were I so inclined and perhaps a bit more hip. The lifestyle of a Sorento owner- who knew it entails such vivid nightlife and day-play, and yet is family-friendly to boot? Agency: David&Goliath;
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra4JPZz3_Vo]

And lastly, the Swaggerwagon spots from Toyota Sienna are genuinely funny, employing Michael Scott-like humor. Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi LA.
Will I buy a new car because of these commercials? No. But brand awareness is high and I’m engaged.
Just as I was many years ago. I drive a Volkswagen, which is probably because I was stained by the elegance of their Drivers Wanted campaign.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4GCq56bq_k]

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