Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Super Bowl Ad Time Line I-XLIV



If you’re a sports fan (and 60 percent of Americans identify themselves as such), there’s a good chance you can name some famous Super Bowl moments. Even for those of you who were in diapers during the Bowl’s first years, you’ve probably still heard about Mean Joe Greene’s breathtaking footwork in Super Bowl IX or Joe Namath’s Hail Mary passes that handed Super Bowl III to the New York Jets. But there’s another part of Super Bowl history that goes along with plays like these—for example, Mean Joe Greene accepting a Coke from a kid in the stands or Joe Namath grinning like a kid while Farrah Fawcett slathered his stubbly chin with Noxema. What did these scenes have to do with football? Nothing—and everything.

These were, of course, legendary Super Bowl commercials. And, like it or not, they and their ilk are now more famous, more memorable and often more fun to watch on YouTube than anything that shook out on 120 yards of Astroturf. While nobody’s attempted to peg an exact percentage, it’s now accepted fact that a good portion of those who tune in for the Big Game not only stick around for the commercials (TiVo be damned), but a good many of them tune in just to watch the commercials.

It’s no surprise, then, that companies long ago awakened to the fact that if they want to make a big marketing tackle, there’s potentially no better play out there than the Super Bowl spot. That’s assuming they can afford one, of course. Back in 1967, when Kansas City faced off against Green Bay in the first bowl, NBC execs decided to charge advertisers $37,500 for a :30 slot. Jaws hit the floor, but savvier advertisers knew that it was only the beginning. With the exception of a few recession-year discounts, the cost of a Super Bowl ad has soared like a field goal kick to its current average asking price of around $3 million. It stands to reason, then, that if a company’s going to drop that kind of cash, it’s going to give America the best advertising it can possibly produce.

And that was the thinking behind the look-back that unfolds on these pages. While the Big Game might showcase America’s best performances in the athletic sense, it demands the very same kind of performances in a commercial one. Much of the time, it delivers them (E*Trade’s talking babies; Bud’s iconic “Whassup!”)—and sometimes it bombs right into the onion dip (Burger King’s Herb the Nerd; Eli Lilly’s warning that Cialis-induced erections should not last 36 hours). Nonetheless, the Big Game spots—from the brilliant to the forgettable—have been a window on the culture. And, for the 100+ million expected to watch the game on Feb. 6, they will be again. So pop open a beer and kick back while we unspool a little marketing history—the touchdowns and the fumbles alike.

Source Brandweek

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Inside the "State of the Union" and the Presidential Brand

The State of the Union will be delivered tonight by President Obama. This is another chance for the country and the world to see President Obama continue to build his Brand. The "Brand" has taken some hits over the past few years....from rock star selling out stadiums to an approval rating less than 50%. With an election coming up the President and his PR, Marketing and Social Media machine will be full throtle on positioning the Obama Brand to win another four years... and it all starts tonight. Will you be watching?



Monday, January 24, 2011

Marketing outside the 4 Walls....again!

Two cool young creatives take poster printing out of the office in this five minute online film by Océ, unscripted and shot documentary-style. They set out in a customized van and stop spontaneously to create instant posters for small businesses, such as a watermelon seller in a market or a fashion designer.

Amsterdam agency Lemon Scented Tea was asked to drive home the message that the Océ Poster Printer is the fastest and easiest poster printer on the planet. It created the film and accompanying microsite in two days.


Great Creative..Warm and Fuzzy to a New Level

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Life is a Sale

"LIFE IS A SALE..AND THE PATH TO SUCCESS AT BOTH LIVING AND SELLING IS THE SAME."

From the book You, Inc....The Art of Selling Yourself

Monday, January 17, 2011

Aquafina’s branding misleading....image of Snow capped mountains?


Supreme Court of India today decided to take up the dispute between Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) and PepsiCo for final disposal on February 17. The dispute pertains to use of words like pure, purity guaranteed, refreshing etc. by PepsiCo India Holdings Ltd. on its packaged water brand Aquafina. BIS alleges that use of these words and the image of Snow capped mountains are in violation of BIS Guidelines.

Supreme Court bench of Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma posting the matter for February 17 also gave liberty to both the parties to file additional documents, if any, within four weeks from today.

BIS contended that 'snow-capped mountain' indicates that the water had its origin in mountain and is mineral water. High Court ruling against PepsiCo ordered that use of snow capped mountains “would amount to conveying a misleading impression to the buyers that the product is mineral and not packaged drinking water”.

PepsiCo had appealed in Supreme Court challenging Delhi High Court judgment which directed it to remove the picture depicting mountain range and follow BIS rules in use of words like purity guaranteed. PepsiCo claims to have the registered trademark in 122 countries including India and contended that BIS cannot challenge use of it. Furthermore the company claims that the labelling clearly indicates that Aquafina is “packaged drinking water” and not “Mineral Water”.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Texas ProStart Competitions set to kick off next Saturday...




TRA Education Foundation Sponsors High Stakes, High School Competition
High School Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management Students to Compete in Texas ProStart Invitational

Austin, Texas – High school culinary arts and restaurant management students across the state are sharpening their knives and pencils and spending many extra hours preparing for the Texas ProStart Invitational competition. Thirty-four high school teams will demonstrate their mastery of the culinary arts and eighteen will showcase their restaurant management skills as they compete for a chance to represent the state of Texas at the National ProStart Invitational.
The Texas ProStart Invitational is hosted by the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation. Regional culinary competitions are scheduled in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The restaurant management competition will be held in Austin in conjunction with the state finals of the culinary competition.
Only students enrolled in high school culinary arts and restaurant management programs utilizing the Texas ProStart program and curriculum are eligible to compete in the Invitational. The culinary competition challenges students to demonstrate the essential skills for success in the kitchen – from basics like chicken fabrication and knife skills to creating a three course menu, pricing the menu items, and preparing the dishes for judges in only 60 minutes.
Judges evaluate creativity, plate presentation, taste, teamwork and professionalism. The teams are also graded on how closely they followed all safety and sanitation rules. The top three teams from each regional culinary competition will travel to Austin to compete in the state finals in March.
Competitors in the restaurant management category must demonstrate their knowledge of the restaurant and foodservice industry by developing a business proposal for a new restaurant concept. It must consist of a defined restaurant concept, supporting menu and marketing plan. Teams prepare a comprehensive written proposal, verbal presentation and visual display and are tested on their critical thinking skills by reacting to potential management challenges.
“These competitions are a wonderful way to showcase the extraordinary talent of our Texas culinary arts and restaurant management students,” said Cathy Cace, Johnny Cace’s Seafood & Steak House, Longview, and chair of the TRA Education Foundation. “The students and teachers work extremely hard to prepare for this competition and we are impressed each year by their commitment. It is a great experience for everyone involved.”
Competition Schedule

Dallas January 22 Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
Houston January 2 Westside High School
San Antonio February 5 Culinary Institute of America
Austin March 5 Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts (state finals)

The Texas ProStart Invitational competition is sponsored by: Auto-Chlor, Texas Beef Council, Texas Gas Service and US Foodservice.

For media credentials for any of the competitions contact Wendy Saari at wsaari@tramail.org.

For more information, visit www.restaurantville.com/education

Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation:
It is the mission of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation to serve as the resource arm of the restaurant industry by maintaining educational programs and enhancing the industry’s image to benefit local communities, the state and the foodservice industry. www.restaurantville.com/education.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Is less more when it comes to Logos?


An old marketing belief is that a logo is of utmost importance to a company. Finding the right logo -- and sticking with it -- is a huge part of the branding process. Mess with a logo and your clients will be adrift in confusion: Did the company change hands? Why the need for a rebrand?

Marketing history is littered with logo switches gone bad. When KFC switched its logo to the abbreviation from Kentucky Fried Chicken, false rumors spread that the company no longer used actual chicken in their meals. When Gap tried to change its logo after 20 years, the Internet went into such an uproar that the company decided to stick with the old version. And, of course, the New Coke logo is seen as the definitive backpedaling experiment in bad branding moves. (Though, as the 24/7 Wall Street blog points out Coca-Cola and Gap both got a quick jolt to their stock prices thanks to the kerfuffle over the logo changes).

What does seem to work for a rebrand is a devolution, rather than a revolution. The new Starbucks logo parses out everything but its signature siren. While some folks derided the change, its mostly been met with a bemused acceptance by customers.

What's your take? Are you a fan of the less-is-more variety?

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Know When to Lead..Know When to Follow


Know When to Lead,
Know When to Follow:

Great leaders are not always in front, they also know who to follow....be the best in yourselfand lead, see the best in others, and follow....

Quote from: Matthew McConaughey founder of j.k. livin foundation

Starbucks more than just a Logo re-design

So when your business does the majority of it's business before 2pm over 70%...what do you do with the rest of the open hours? Well Starbucks is faced with that reality and has to find was to make money in those "off" hours. So they are testing a new "Bistro" concept in Seattle, free wifi, cheese and selling wine a beer. All of this in hopes to lure customers back in after work for an adult beverage and or more coffee.

So changing the logo and removing the name "coffee" is the first step in the transformation of what you know Starbucks to be in 2011.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Are you....Interesting?


Definition:
Word of mouth marketing: Giving people a reason to talk about your products and services, and making it easier for that conversation to take place. source www.woma.org

Is your company "interesting" if not you need to find a way to become interesting! How do you do that? So many ways...just ask me I can help!