Believe it or not, this is the first time I have planned my night around the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. I've never watched the program in its entirety, but plan to tonight! Yes, I have a ton of other things I should be doing, but elaborately decorated lingerie and Nicki Minaj both seem like better ways to spend my time. The show is on CBS at 10:00 PM ET and will feature everyone's favorite "Angels" and famous music artists, including Kanye & Jay-Z, Maroon 5, and as I mentioned before, Nicki Minaj.
I've always been curious about whether or not the lingerie featured on the runway are also available for purchase. I am excited to report... they are! Note: Wings, perfectly toned body, and unmatchable beauty not included. Even the $2.5 million Fantasy Treasure Bra, which will be worn by supermodel Miranda Kerr, can be bought (by some). I saw the luxury bra last week as I was flipping through the Victoria's Secret catalogue... I did a double-take when I saw the price. The aqua push-up was created by Long Island’s London Jewelers (no jokes, please) and has nearly 3,400 precious gems. It features 142 carats of white and yellow diamonds, pearls, faceted citrines and aquamarines, which are all set in 18-karat white and yellow gold. The piece also has two white diamonds, each more than 8 carats, and two 14-carat yellow diamonds. WOW.
We all know Ronald McDonald... some may know him too well. He's been around for nearly 50 years, so I'd be worried for McDonald's if the clown (in a literal sense) didn't have such a strong global presence. He's so important to our culture (and children) that he has his own website! There are some people, however, that aren't thrilled with Ronald, and have been urging the fast food chain to retire their long-time mascot. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of clowns and I do think Ronald McDonald is a little creepy -- not nearly as creepy as Burger King's King -- but I don't think McDonald's is ready to let go of him.
He's a face for the brand. He humanizes the global chain. Yes, McDonald's has the "golden arches" but those arches can't engage customers. They can't shake someone's hand or pose for pictures. They won't be directly responsible for putting a smile on a child's face. Ronald McDonald is a friend, and while he hasn't been as visible in McDonald's ad campaigns as he has in the past, he still has a strong presence and connection to the brand.
The advocacy group, Corporate Accountability International, wants Ronald McDonald to step aside. They've created a website solely for this cause, Retire Ronald, blaming Ronald McDonald for prompting children to visit McDonald's and ultimately become obese (hmm...). I understand the advocacy group's reasoning, but their proposed solutions to the general problem are a bit ridiculous. Retiring Ronald McDonald will not remove a child's desire to visit the fast food chain. Getting rid of the toys in Happy Meals? That's another story. It's possible that future laws will prevent marketing fast food to children due to recent widespread childhood obesity... but for now, McDonald's is safe.
McDonald's says the clown is "an ambassador for good". He has "the smile known around the world," says Willard Scott, the creator of the mascot. Ronald McDonald is not only the face to the brand, or a character in commercials, but also the leader in McDonald's philanthropic efforts -- Ronald McDonald House Charities.
For now, our old friend, Ronald, is sticking around. Hopefully he'll be greeting McDonald's patrons, old and young, for years to come. Luckily, Burger King "dethroned" their creepy mascot in August... and replaced him with... a mom? Read morehere. I totally support that retirement. He's scary.
Everyone knows the motto learn from your mistakes... and everyone has lived it. We make mistakes, we learn the right path or the right decision, and we continue to live our lives. It may be a painful process but eventually (hopefully) we realize it was worth it. It is our past failures (and gradual successes) that make us who we are.
I guess J.K. Rowling might know a thing or two about life... we can't all be lucky enough to fix failures with magic!
It's incredible how much advertising time and press Macy's got today. The annual Thanksgiving parade, aired on NBC, has been a tradition since 1924 (85th anniversary!). Every Thanksgiving morning my sister and I watch the giant balloons and floats glide down 34th street from the comfort of our own home - around 44 million other people do the same and almost 2.5 million flock the NY streets to watch it live.
Today I had a HUGE revelation... the entire 3-hour program is a giant promotional opportunity for Macy's and the rest of the participants. Of course I knew this (somewhat) before, but not nearly to the extent it became apparent to me this morning. What I originally took as a giant Buzz Lightyear balloon transformed into an advertisement for Disney and Pixar. Nothing can be taken at face value. Instead of watching the parade in the same frame of mind as I had in the past, I couldn't help but listen to what the NBC reporters were saying in the background. They would give a brief (detailed) spiel introducing the balloon or float, its background, and, of course, its sponsor.
The entire production is phenomenal and so clever. In my opinion, it definitely is comparable to the Super Bowl. Companies pay a ton of money to fill the advertising spots during the Super Bowl game because they know there are millions of viewers. They buy eyes... a lot of eyes. The same thought process is understood about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! The major difference, however, is that the parade (AKA the advertisements) is the reason people are watching. It's the actual entertainment. While the Super Bowl commercials are just a side portion to the actual program. Lets be serious though, we all know there are plenty of people who watch the Super Bowl JUST for the entertaining, extremely creative, and usually funny commercials.
My favorite part of the parade has always been the Santa Claus at the end, signaling that Christmas is around the corner! Snoopy is definitely a close second!
POGS, AKtually Ashley
PS. Did anyone notice that when introducing Neil Diamond the reporters compared him the Mount Rushmore? "... and another American legend... Neil Diamond!" Ha!
At first glance, this product looks like an oversized iPhone with a protective barrier, right? This tablet is actually pretty close to an iPhone... but is marketed to an entirely different segment... children 0-4 years old. The red ring surrounding the tablet is a drool-proof bumper. Yes, drool-proof. When a product needs to be drool-proof, it's probably a sign that the electronic should not be targeted at drooling children in the first place... common sense, right? But manufacturers and marketers can no longer afford to ignore this youthful, drooling segment. The Vinci, which 2 year olds probably cannot even pronounce, is allegedly the first-ever educational handheld device for kids. It sells for $389 to $479... WOW. I personally can't bring myself to buy an iPhone or iPad, but a 6 month old owns a $300-$500 Vinci? Lucky kid. This new product is innovative and definitely fills the market opportunity of electronics for infants... whether or not there is actual demand is an entirely different story. This product, and various digital marketing tactics aimed at society's youth, is raising many questions concerning the impact on childhood development and ethical boundaries. The issue (and this topic in general) is described in depth in this AdWeek article.
The trend of marketing to infants is not necessarily new, but is getting increasingly aggressive and competitive. Brands like Disney have been doing this for years! Marketing was once limited to logo/mascot-printed clothing, packaged goods, or toys, but is now expanding into the digital and interactive world. There is now a TV "network" for infants online, called BabyFirstTV.com, which has subscription-based videos, games, educational activities, and music. Luxury clothing designers (ie. Versace and Marc Jacobs) are beginning to gain loyal infant consumers with trendy lines for the infant fashionista. Cynthia Rowley has designed diapers for Pampers. They run for about $15 (a bit pricey for disposable toilets)... but I do have to say, they're adorable.
This market is becoming increasingly popular, meaning competition for infants' brand loyalty is becoming more and more important to companies and marketers. They're competing to become the first brand to establish a relationship with the child and hope to maintain this relationship as the child grows. You may be thinking that these efforts will go unnoticed and aren't worth the time, money or effort, but the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood reports otherwise. They found that by 6 months, babies can form mental images of corporate logos and mascots. Additionally, as soon as infants can speak they can (and will) request brands. Other reports have found that by the age of 3, kids can recognize an average of 100 brand logos.
How many of these can you link with a brand? An easier question may be: how many can't you link with a brand?
I absolutely love this brand alphabet. It was introduced to me in a class a few years ago, and it really holds true to the belief that brand logos are completely imprinted in our brains. You see the "P" and automatically think Pez Candy or the "C" and know it's from Campbells Soup. Kudos to these companies, their marketing teams of the past have really done an incredible job developing consumer recognition with their brands. It's amazing, but it's life. We can't help but associate colors, mascots, fonts, etc. with brands and companies. It starts at a young age, and stays with us forever.
That is what this new marketing trend is trying to establish and maintain. It will no longer be just Disney Princesses on onsies or Tony the Tiger on cereal boxes... The Vinci, Apple, Fendi, and other luxury brands are entering the competitive market. These brands, as well as more traditional infant-targeting companies, are beginning to establish themselves through innovative digital tactics and aggressive efforts to reach this baby market through all possible touch points.
This evening, at approximately 8:00PM ET, eight friends and I will be promoting Cruise America RV Rentals and Sales. Actually, we'll be driving the 30' RV for other purposes (ie. traveling to South Bend, IN for the Boston College v. Notre Dame football game taking place on Saturday afternoon at 4pm... it's a HUGE rivalry game, which is why we travel the 15+ hours-- GO EAGLES!) The RV we will be driving is legitimately an advertisement on wheels... and we're the company's execution strategy! I think they should be paying us to drive their vehicle from Massachusetts to Indiana rather than us paying them... but for some reason that's not how it works. ;-)
The advertisements are on the front, back, and both sides of the RV. There will be at least 20 Cruise America RVs on the road this weekend making the same trip. However, we are not all taking the same route -- lucky for Cruise America! They'll be expanding their reach and awareness through each separate group of BC college students. All we want to do is get to Notre Dame as soon as possible, be with our friends and cheer on our team... but we have another job too: promote the product (even if we aren't conscious of it).
I still stand by my previous comment -- it would be really nice to be paid for my promotional services!
Wish us luck this weekend in the Holy War! Eagles on the Warpath!
MINI Cooper has an incredible track record for creative, witty, and unique advertising campaigns. The majority of them stress the tiny car's size and its massive power. Their out-of-home advertising is what I love the most, but MINI has done a great job integrating various tactics to reach their objectives.
The following pictures are a few of my favorite MINI advertisements. I learned about some of them in my Communications and Promotions course a few days ago and felt compelled to see more (and share them). Hope you're all as impressed as I am!
I really love the billboard on the left, with the two bent palm trees. Yes, this was completely staged BUT super effective in showing how MINI has speed and power. It's a great illusion. The billboard on the right, with the digital screen, was really innovative at the time it was up. As MINI Cooper drivers passed by, it would show a personalized message for them (and the rest of the drivers) to enjoy. How clever is that?! The board used a signal from a radio chip that was embedded in the car's key fob. Obviously this was a few years ago, before the world became ultra techy. Now we can watch streaming videos via billboards -- crazy!
I love building advertisements like this, but these specific ones are especially clever. On the left is vending machine. Not a typical vending machine though. You can't get a Snickers or a Diet Coke, instead you get a MINI Cooper! Does it still cost $1? On the right, an actual MINI is turned into a literal YoYo! It moves up and down. LOVE IT. Both ads are obviously promoting the small size of the automobile. Its size is one of its main differentiators. If you've got it, flaunt it.
I'm a big fan of guerilla marketing. I think it's fun and really grabs attention and generates buzz. If I had stumbled across either of these guerilla marketing efforts in real person, I'd be talking about it for days... weeks maybe! I'm a big skier, so the MINI Cooper chairlift really resonates with me. The MINI Cooper box presents the car as a toy... or "toy size".
Another car that uses a clever guerilla marketing campaign is the Smart Car. Also, click that link and check out their killer website. There are so many companies want to have the "Apple" of websites... I'd want to have the "Smart Car" of websites.
Adorable. A cute Smart Car parked next to a phone pole and locked up with a (giant) bike lock!
Keep an eye out for MINI Cooper ads in the future. The advertising for the small car really has a big impact.
Hotel advertisements and commercials are usually pretty generic. They highlight the hotel's amenities, its beautiful architecture and decor, the creatively prepared food, and its smiling employees. Most do not truly differentiate themselves from their competitors.
This is what I thought until I came across this article about the Las Vegas Cosmopolitan Hotel. We've all seen the ridiculous, yet beautiful, myriad of Las Vegas hotels on TV, in movies, and for the lucky ones, in person. I've never been but would absolutely love to jet over there for a weekend with friends to experience the crazy city for myself. When that time comes, however, how on earth am I supposed to choose my hotel?! The Hangover's Ceasars Palace? The Bellagio from Ocean's Eleven? I'm just throwing out some memorable names. But in all seriousness, I would love to step inside the Mandalay Bay Hotel. It has 15 restaurants. That's right, 15 restaurants!!! Or see the Mirage Volcano.
My opinions are entirely based upon what I have seen and read about these various hotels' decor, atmosphere, and amenities. For some reason, I am still intrigued by the Cosmopolitan Hotel. I know nothing about its services or decor... well, except for the elevator.
I hope the elderly dancing couple is there when I visit. I think they would be fun.
The commercial is eery. It's definitely unique and grabs my attention. It provoked thought. It made me smile in disbelief and wonder. You know that smile that spreads across your face when you don't know how to respond or what to think? The feeling is almost indescribable. I think they're crazy, but I love it -- which is a success, I guess, right? I mean, I'm blogging about them, aren't I?
If you liked the elevator commercial, check out this one too. Again, extremely different and unexpectedly influential. It makes you want to go to the hotel just to see if these things actually happen. When (if) I ever find out I'll need to keep my findings a secret -- What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas! I guess you will have to see for yourself!
I agree with them, both commercials are definitely "Just The Right Amount of Wrong."
I was a Brownie myself as a kid, but appreciateGirl Scouts as well. I am not sure what distinguishes a Brownie from a Girl Scout -- I think that Girl Scouts are the "big kids" while Brownies are around 5-7 years old. From what I remember, the same rules and activities apply.
Everyone loves Girl Scouts. Everyone loves the cookies that Girl Scouts sell. Samoas are my favorite BY FAR. It's actually quite fitting that they come in a purple box... my favorite color. "According to the Girl Scouts of the USA, Thin Mint is the favorite," at least in terms of sales.
Girl Scout cookies are SO popular that the Ice Cream manufacturer Dreyer's/Edy's (depending on what area of the country you live) teamed up with the Girl Scouts to produce limited-edition Girl Scout Cookie-flavored ice cream. I am not a huge fan of ice cream, but when it comes to Samoa-flavored Edy's, you can throw me into the pot of ice cream-obsessed fools.
I don't mean to jump the gun. I know it's not cookie-selling season yet and I apologize for making you crave something you can't have yet... so why am I writing about Girl Scout cookies? That can easily be explained by my "sign off" phrase... POGS! If you were able to decipher this acronym on your own, you should go treat yourself to about 5 boxes of Samoas (in a few months). If not, I'll spell it out for you:
Peace Out Girl Scout
I have absolutely no idea where my Dad came up with this phrase, but he has been signing his e-mails (to my sister and me) with it for a while now. He's pretty clever and it makes me laugh every time.
Copying is the finest form of flattery -- at least in this sense.
"Reverse Graffiti" turns the act of cleaning into an art form... or strategically into an advertisement. This innovative form of guerilla marketing took off in 2010 in the UK and the US (mainly in San Francisco). Reverse graffiti ads are pressure washed advertisements stenciled onto grimy city sidewalks or walls. Many companies who specialize in this service pitch themselves as "environmentally conscious" because the process only involves water.
Domino's Pizza was one of the earliest U.S. companies to use reverse graffiti as a marketing tactic. It cost them less than $20,000 to create the campaign, which included 210 reverse graffiti imprints across New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Domino's estimated that the campaign brought it about $1 million worth of publicity. Who knew cleaning a few square feet of sidewalk would provide such a huge ROI?!
Other companies that have used this creative cleaning practice as a marketing tool include: Starbucks, Range Rover, Puma, and MTV. I'm sure many companies will follow suit, if they haven't already, due to the effective, eco-friendly, low-cost marketing tool that can make use of any dirty surface. This also allows ads to be highly targeted. Reverse graffiti advertisements grab people's attention, are an innovative way to create brand awareness, and promote the environmentally sound company objectives.
Reverse graffiti was created and coined by a UK artist known as 'Moose' (his real name is Paul Curtis). When you think about it, we have all probably been reverse graffiti artists at one point in our lives. Have you ever written something on a dirty car window? "Clean Me" perhaps?
The UK has already created specific legislation against reverse graffiti practices because advertising (of any sort) in public must be licensed. Unfortunately, the U.S. may be next. San Francisco is trying to crack down on reverse graffiti marketing in a "public right-of-way". Everyone knows that green is in... so we'll see if they succeed. If not, I think we'll be seeing a lot more graffiti on our streets! Check outthis video about reverse graffiti, Moose, and San Francisco.
What does a big, juicy, multi-patty cheese burger have to do with Nick Lachey? Everything, according toEagle's Deli.
The famous Eagle's Deli of Cleveland Circle, is a favorite to locals and Boston College students. If you have never heard of Eagle's Deli, it is a standard burger joint featuring an array of burgers and menu options. It is absolutely delicious -- especially The Zoo (yum)! It is also known for its Challenge Burgers, which range in size from 1 1/2 pounds of meat to the notorious Eagle's Challenge burger with 5 pounds of meat, 20 pieces of bacon, 20 pieces of american cheese, 5 pounds of fries, 1 deli pickle, and 1 fountain soda... all for around $60. Many, and I mean many, brave (and hungry) people have attempted to tackle the Eagle's Challenge burger within the allotted 1 hour, in hopes to get a $60 refund, $100 gift certificate and to have the burger named after them. Apparently only one guy has succeeded (I'm still skeptical)... but the courage (or embarrassment) of the rest of the other challengers' failed attempts are always flaunted on the Wall of Shame in the restaurant.
Eagle's Challenge Burger
Nick Lachey visited Eagle's Deli in 2010 and supposedly took a crack at the Eagle's Challenge burger. Nick Lachey is not just an ordinary customer for Eagle's Deli, he's famous... or was famous. I guess that because Nick Lachey was once a "big-time celeb", the owners of Eagle's Deli believe he still deserves to have a burger named after him (even if he didn't come close to conquering the real challenge.) The Nick Lachey Burger has 1 1/2 pounds of beef, 6 pieces of swiss cheese, 6 pieces of bacon, 1/2 a pound of fries, and a fountain soda.
I laughed when I saw the Nick Lachey Burger on the menu. I though to myself, what guy would ever have the courage or self-esteem to mumble out 'I'll have the Nick Lachey Burger, please.' If I ordered it, I don't think I could manage to get the full order out before giggles took over. It is also a burger that deserves to be at the end of every joke because it is not even close to matching up to any of the real Challenge Burgers. I am sure it was not the intention of Eagle's Deli, people are more scared of ordering the Nick Lachey burger than the much larger Paul Jones Burger!
On another note, where did Nick Lachey even come from? I do not intend this to be mean, but he completely fell off of the face of the Earth after he and Jessica Simpson broke up. Was this was a publicity ploy set up by Eagle's Deli or by Nick Lachey's agent? When patrons walk into Eagle's Deli, the first thing they see is a picture of Nick Lachey on the Wall of Shame.
My peers and I are the main target consumers of Eagle's Deli, and Nick Lachey is not an appropriate celebrity to promote Eagle's Deli burgers. Also, consider the fact that Eagle's Deli agreed to create a smaller burger to add to their impressive Challenge Burger menu... what does that say about Nick Lachey? This makes both parties seem pretty desperate... but as they say, "all publicity is good publicity?"
PS. Something that DOES make a TON of sense is Eagle's Deli and Man v. Food... Check it out.
On a college campus you expect to see a little bit of everything when it comes to creative (or not so creative) Halloween costumes. The holiday has the reputation for giving women the green light to wear a little less than is normally socially acceptable. Wearing lingerie in public is "OK" on Halloween (I guess), but wait, you're a mouse? The Last time I checked, that is not what a mouse looks like!
This year, however, I was pleasantly surprised whenthis post by AdAge opened my eyes to a very different aspect of this spooky, and sometimes eerily bare, Halloweekend -- brands! On Halloween, AdAge tweeted, "Happy Halloween! Are you wearing a branded costume? Send us a pic!" and received various replies... including one from me!
Yes, yes, I was the Energizer Bunny. There I was, thinking I was so creative, but then I scrolled down on @AdAge and found another Energizer Bunny! What are the chances?! It is totally expected to come across similarly dressed trick-or-treaters when you dress up as a policeman or cat... but another Energizer Bunny? I was shocked, and yes, a little bit upset, but I quickly bounced back to fully soak in what this truly meant. Brands have completely taken over our lives, and this sentiment can be proven by how people dress for Halloween. Marketers should definitely use this measurement tool to help determine the visibility and popularity of their brands. Progressive was probably the most effective in this activity because they used Halloween and consumers to generate awareness for their brand. On their website they gave visitors precise instructions onhow to dress like Flo-- down to the shade of Mac lipstick she wears!
A few of the branded costumes, besides Flo, that I came across this past weekend included Bud Light Limes and Absolut Bottles. But the best costume by far, and AdAge agrees, was the Words with Friends app. I'm sure Apple is proud.
Another costume trend that has particularly gained momentum these past few years is YouTube. No, people do not dress up as YouTube itself, although that could be a great idea (write that down for next year), but as characters from viral videos. People love being current, and what better way to be current than to dress up like Sophia Grace and Rosie? Who are they? Check it out.
I saw about 5 different pairs of girls dressed as these Nicki Minaj fans. This YouTube video has over 1 million views and has only been up since October 5th. Sophia Grace is a very talented 5-year-old and was featured on the Ellen Degeneres Show for this video. I wonder if she knows that college students dressed up as her for Halloween? If not, her mom might want to keep it a secret for now. 5 years old is a little early to have an ego.
"House" music. "Techno" music. "Electronic Dance" music. These genres describe the current lifestyle and trend of teens and 20-somethings across the world. These labels, however, do not give the experience justice.
Tomorrowland is a three-day annual music festival that takes place in Boom, Belgium. Fitting name for the town, right? It features a long list of Global artists who perform for a reported 120,000 attendees who travel to this festival from all over the world.
Not only did this video grab my attention for the full 14 minutes, BUT it also made me realize the marketable value of a promotional "after" video. This is a great way to promote an event and get people interested. It also allows the attendees to re-live their (hopefully) amazing experience -- while simultaneously crossing their fingers in hope to spot themselves in the video!
The Tomorrowland 2011|Official After Movie gives me the chills and makes me smile. I admit it may be because I really enjoy the music and the vibe, but it also definitely has a littletiny bit to do with the transformational aspect of the video. It has an unreal ability to transfer excitement and thrill to the viewer, which is definitely something marketers and event planners strive for. I bet they never thought of looking to the "rave" industry for insight!
"Turn up the love now." -- Swedish House Mafia
Just admit it. You LOVED it!
Side Note: The greatest part about NOT having a specific focus for my blog is having the flexibility to write about topics like this! Can't fall short on expectations when there's nothing specific to expect!
