What the &$#@!

I have to give our media director (and Saturn) props for posting a pretty funny TV spot by Saturn's creative team (?). Is it wishful thinking or just leaked out intentionally? Either way, I love it. Still won't buy a Saturn though.


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I sew want that dress!

I have a sewing machine, but the thought of dragging that huge free weight out of the closet, well, doesn't sound appealing. But now, with several clicks of your mouse a dress will magically appear at your doorstep just as you designed it. Well hot damn. Although I haven't tried it myself (see I'm lazier than you thought) I do however think it's a grand idea. I found StyleShake though a email I get called SpringWise. This site has lots of great new business ideas that make you want to curse them for beating you to the punch, "wish I'd thought of that!" There's also a design your own purse, by Elemental Threads, that was featured on SpringWise. And with 60,000 ways to create a custom bag, I can really wrap my fingers around this.

Branding, Burned Flesh and Disgrace?

Wikipedia, as unreliable as some may claim it, has always provided me with a great source of "no, sh#t!" tid-bits. While most of the time I am researching for client based knowledge, this time I happened across the word "Brand". This term I love and loathe. I use it frequently and want so badly to use it less frequently. Just like many marketing terms, this one has over-stayed its welcome with me. But sadly I can not conjure up a similar term that clients and the general public will understand - without a lengthly explanation (who wants more work?).
SO - upon reading the history of branding, I now see I must find another word. I did recall that branding also meant to sear a hot iron into the flesh of an animal (cattle usually). Nice huh? But I had never read the following, "Brand had also been figuratively applied since the late 16th century to criminalize people (as in disgrace, a stigma, or mark of infamy) and in the sense of firebrand since the 17th century." I guess I have used the term in this context, but to compile these meanings (and the rest of them) - I can't grasp the transition to marketing: brand architecture, brand equity, brand extensions and the like. A stretch no, but the word started out so very negative. Is what we do negative? I don't think so. Branding has helped companies transform and breathe new life into what was a stale, nonperforming business. I compare it to a new wardrobe before the start of school. You feel like a new person, you can jump higher and think better ... at least that's what I told my mom. Branding creates a team, with jerseys, a flag, mascot and pushes that image out to the fans. You don't have to be a fan - I mean not everyone likes the Jets. But someone, somewhere understands where they came from, who the players are and what it means to be a Jets fan.
So when Stephen Brown spoke at the Gravity Free conference I was a little confused at his branding anti-christ attitude. But now, (I think) I see why he feels so strongly about companies behaving untruthful. If the brand does not deliver on the promise, the customer can get burned. Which brings me full circle to the original meaning of branding. As long as you are truthful in creating a brand, you shouldn't fear hot irons or disgrace.

Say Cheese

Nifty little thing, I saw this being used at a conference last week and really want one (yes, it's on my Kaboodle - so buy it for me!). There's always that great picture moment and no one else to take your picture, but this helps out by giving your arm that extra length to take a self portrait. Although I have to say I'm really good at doing this with out the extender - I'm sure I'll be a pro when I get this.
http://www.getpixpal.com/History.htm

Gravity Free 2008

After three days of inspiring, creative, mind blowing, brain freezing speeches by the industry's noteworthy designers - I feel like I'm just now coming back down to earth. This year's conference was held in Chicago and although I missed touring the city, I did get to listen to and meet some of the most "dangerous minds" of the design world. From Stefan Sagmeister to Karim Rashid and Massimo Vignelli to Chip Kidd - the list could go on and on. While their disciplines were design based, I was amazed at the diversity in approach and character. If you've ever needed a pick-me-up to get your creative-self turned around, this is the conference to do it. At first I laughed at the "money back guaranteed" message on the website, but there is no doubt I will not be asking for any refund. While my head still spins from all that I heard, saw and learned I will take away this: we can do better. What I mean is that they are people just like you and I. What sets them apart is they did something. Anything. And everything. So, get off your butt and make a difference ... now, yes you - up out of that chair and do something!

If you have time to spare (ha), check out the site and make sure you click through to each speaker's website to see more of what they do. http://www.exhibitoronline.com/gravityfree/2008.asp

Check out another blogger at Core 77 that took diligent notes and pictures (my gaping mouth prevented me from doing so.)

New? No, but they are back on the block alright!

I'm at the point I can now say, "this shows my age". As a young girl New Kids on the Block were all the rage. Ok, I have to admit I was obsessed. Now they are back together with their own kids watching them from home. Looking back at all the paraphernalia they sold to us (lunch boxes, buttons, sleeping bags, board games, etc) what an amazing marketing machine they were! At one point they were compared to the Beatles, not for their music but the girl-craze that ensued when they so much as walked down the street. How does a group of good looking, average singers, not so great dancers get to be chased down the road after screaming, crying girls? I don't know the answer, but I do know the marketing machine is back - and I'm ready. The tickets are selling like hot cakes, not to mention the prices for resell are getting $300+ per ticket - auh! Me, I'm well prepared with a box of old buttons and posters that have a good amount of dust on them (thank you mom for keeping everything!). Ebay, here I come.

VW does it again.

I'm proud to be a driver. Their use of the brand is perfectly executed and even makes you laugh:



And others:

http://video.mediapost.com/index.cfm?clientfile=bobknight.mov
http://video.mediapost.com/index.cfm?clientfile=fanning_WVBA81090000_NS.mov
http://video.mediapost.com/index.cfm?clientfile=hoff_WVBA81010000_NS.mov

The come back

Recently, even locally, there seems to be advertising wars that don't amount to a hill of beans in the consumers minds. The first hospital says, "We're bigger" to which the other hospital replys, "Not bigger, just better" and on and on. Do people really get it, or are the advertisers so consumed in their battle they miss the point?
One of the best examples of this are the ads below. And I must admit the last one mads me laugh for hours, wishing I'd have thought of that!

We got jokes.

Jaguar

This was the first TV commerical that I ever fell in love with. The voice is right, the imagery, the color casting of blues and blacks - it made me want to buy this car and I don't even really remember what the car looked like. Other commericals Jaguar has done recently are just as great but this one started it all for me ...

TV at my office!

This is the coolest ... a projection broadcasting TV on the wall in our conference area. For a small agency we are pretty snazzy!

Advertising and Drinking

I just figured out how to send photos from my phone directly to my blog - how cool! The reason I used this photo was I have recently been to events with specialty drinks that tie in with a promotion or brand. We did this for a condo in Houston called Mosaic - the drink was similar to the one above but matched the logo(blue and red dot - cherry of course). So while at the event people start drinking something that again promotes a product ... while at the same time creating demand or awareness for that drink - a vicious circle of advertising and drinking - perfect!

The photo above it just a random drink I made while watching the FSU game and updating my blog - 4 times today!! HA!

Do you eat your own dogfood?

Do you eat your own dogfood? Do you sip your own champagne? Well Wikipedia has an article all about how companies and employees making products should eat or use those products they make. I think advertising agencies should do the same. I heard it explained, that like a Pelican dips down and gets a fish - not going underwater or not missing the fish (for not going low enough) - an advertiser should do the same. Don't get too far down into the water that your message becomes industry lingo and not understood, yet you have to know enough to fully understand what the product or service does. I think what Wikipedia is talking about "eating your own dogfood" is a great way to fully understand whatever it is you are marketing. This may seem so obvious, but you would be surprised at how common it is to forget or make excuses for not completing this step of the process. Whether your marketing a bank, insurance company, toothbrush, or lamp post - use it, try it, make it part of your everyday life for a period of time in order to understand your target, your client, and your unique selling factors that will make it a success or failure ... at least you will know what lies ahead.

Fashion blogging is "wear" it's at!

Fashion blogging is "wear" it's at: http://flypaper.bluefly.com/
Forget models wearing your stuff, forget actresses wearing our clothing, forget seeing your logo on products in the rags ... get-on-the-blog.

Impossible Field

I've come to really love Football, no not that football ... the real one - Soccer. The fans, the men, the advertising. Yes, the advertising. A new commercial (for me at least) by Adidas called Impossible Field:


Impossible field - video powered by Metacafe

Design portfolio

I just came across one of the best design portfolios I have seen in a long time http://www.ogroup.net/ . Check it out.

Google+Excel=Love

I love my Excel spreadsheets, but when I saw Google had something up their sleave it peaked my interest. A spreadsheet others can work on together ... live, now that's cool. But do I want others messing with my nicely organized, color coordinated timelines and budgets? I guess it would be great for those clients with frequent changes to budgets or a meeting that can get something productive done - right then and there.

iPod+Nike=Music to My Feet

My brother finally discovered the new iPod Nike collaboration - and he's not impressed. Come on man - music in your feet - that's COOL! I think it's the best thing since sliced bread ... if I had the extra cash to buy it! This would actually encourage me to run, not that I do now, but it's about the motivation to run that I need. I need those songs that make you dance it your living room by yourself - not that I do that either ... ehhhhum, never. Forget about the stats it keeps, whooppie. I want the music to change in order to get me running faster (gooo you slow poke!) or at the pace that I'm running for maybe a nice jog theme (lalalaala) - it does that right? I of course don't have one yet. Ah well, I'll add it to long list of cool, useless, I'd use once and sit on the self stuff I want for Christmas. iPod-Nike

Second Life Advertising

A site called Second Life www.secondlife.com which allows you to create virtual people, in a virtual world, with virtual houses, and virtual clothes with real and virtual money. Haven't done it yet, since my computer video card can't handle it but I hear that advertisers are flocking to it! Virtual concerts sponsored by real companies, virtual clothing lines launched here first virtually - and all to the "Me" generation. And low and behold there is even an advertising agency in Second Life - of course.
Article 1
Article 2

Video Blogging

This is one of the most creative blog examples I have seen in awhile. www.nikesoccer.com has not only created an interactive blog but it spans states, seas and countries - but visually. The new (to the US) love for "football" has taken off - a marketers dream. Will soccer last as the new popular sport or will video blogs out live it? I really like the feature that allows you to create your own crest and then advertise it by purchasing the promotional items that will cost you (don't know but I'm guessing) a pretty penny. I did download the free desktop version though. This allows you to create "your own brand" that is really undercover marketing for Nike - genius.