To promote is cool, new convertible, the Pontiac Solstice, GM is hosting a concert tonight featuring Citizen Cope, The Vacation and Kinky. An email from someone, obtained by Gawker, promoting the event to a New York media outlet said, "It's a bi-coastal marketing/entertainment program that does include a partnership with Maximonline.com and additional programs on Pontiac.com. The event is in Times Square with a VIP party/homebase set up at The Whiskey Bar in the W Hotel. I can't reveal all of the information at this time, but it is a strong story that would be worth your reporter's time." OK. We'll take your word for it.
If you're interested in the rest of the PR-foolery whereby PR specialist attempts to tease media without giving good reason why media should cover the event, check out the Gawker article.
The International Dairy Foods Association is running ads, based on recent Dairy Council-funded research, claiming milk can help people lose weight. Just as we were ready suck down our Venti-monstrous double cream, caramel and mocha laced latte topped with a dollop or all natural, cream-drenched vanilla ice cream, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine ruined our dairy orgasm by petitioning the FTC and FDA stating the Dairy Council weight loss claims are false and misleading.
The International Dairy Foods Association is standing by its claims. IDFA Spokeswoman Susan Ruland told the New York Times, "We are extremely conservative and careful in the claims we suggest. We spent years looking at what was going on in the science and what was fair to say."
General Mills Spokeswoman Beth Thorsgard, who supports a Yoplait campaign which claims eating three servings a day will get you into your "itsy bitsy, teeny weeney, yellow polka- dot bikini," said the physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine are a "radical, fringe organization that promotes vegetarianism."
Check out the New York Times article for the full scoop.
First, there was Lincoln who used the name of a real bike messenger without permission in a print ad. Then, there was Coors Light which did a less than respectable job of properly representing bike messengers in a giant New York City billboard. After that, it seems things turned around with one marketer, Puma, which displayed a bit of sense with its Team Puma bike messenger association.
Now, while on her way to work this morning in Chicago, Adrants reader Amanda Moorhouse reports having been handed a Starbucks DoubleShot that was pulled out of a messenger bag by a guy dressed as a bike messenger. Two makes a trend. Four makes a trucker hat.
The weblog "A is for Advertising" reports Ford has erected a "living billboard" in Dundas Square, Toronto to promote its Escape Hybrid. With the headline, "Makes everything a little greener," the board contains 900 real plants, kept alive by an irrigation system and tended to weekly by a landscape crew. Larger image here.
To continue promoting its Converse Gallery, a site that allows people to submit 24 second films that "embody the value and spirit of Converse," the sneaker company is using large outdoor poster. One, which is located in the Tribeca area of New York City caught the eye of Bucky Turco, the man MediaBistro's FishbowlNY asked, "Who is Bucky Turco?", who claims Converse is doing outdoor, art-based advertising correctly saying, "You know you're looking at a huge Converse ad but it looks good. It's not hard on the eyes or obtrusive. It also merits integrity even while incorporating elements of the Converse logo in the actual art piece.
He further opines that only brands that have cultural relevance have business co-opting street art saying, "I think this is the main reason why sneaker companies can legitimately pull off artist series/graffiti or art-based programs much more authentically then other brands. Not only are they relevant but they also possess what many brands in the field lack, legitimate history and street cred."
So there you have it. Right from the mouth of the new "Webster Hall Curator Baird Jones," as it were.
Ty Pennington of Trading Spaces and Extreme Makeover fame is appearing in a viral, security cam style, for Alltell. In the viral, Pennington appears to be getting ready to take a shower until, in the last frame, he pops up and shouts, "Hey! What are you looking at?" A link then takes you to an Alltel page promoting its "txt2win" million dollar sweepstakes which Pennington say will help you build the home of your dreams. OK, so the security cam thing has been done many times before but more than one person sent this link to us so, apparently, it's getting around which, afterall, is one of the major points to a viral efforts. And, anyway, who doesn't want a chance to win a million bucks?
Four years ago, Diane Boulanger opened Boulanger Associates, originally, owing to her time as creative director at Leo Burnett Technology Group, to service high technology clients. As that market dried up like a Bounty towel wiping away dot com drool, Boulanger chose to direct her shop towards serving clients interested in reaching women. That decision has paid off handsomely more than tripling the agency's revenue over the last two years.
Most recently, Lowes Cinema hired Boulanger Associates to promote its Reel Moms program, a weekly morning movie screening geared towards moms and newborns which provides increased lighting, decreased sound, changing stations, and a first-run films. Boulanger is not alone in identifying this profitable segment. Other agencies, including Just Ask Women and Mullen's Frank About Women also focus on this growing niche of active Moms.
The restaurant chain that has nothing to do with owls and everything to do with cleavage has, for a while, been expanding its empire into new channels. Two years ago, the company launched Hooters Air which was followed by a Las Vegas casino licensing agreement, a hotel and a magazine, all of which are designed to send more people flocking to restaurants to ogle tightly dressed waitresses serving average food.
Business has been good for the chain which did $850 million last year and plans to open 60 new stores in 2005 with sales projected at $950 million.
The annual advertising love fest, Cannnes, kicks off on France today and we won't be there. That's why we'll just point you to Ad Age, with its legions of reporters and hefty T & E budget, for continual coverage. On Ad Age's Cannes 2005 page, you'll find Bob Garfield's pick for Grand Prix winner, Scott Donaton's take on some of the show's changes that won't change anything, Leo Burnett's Cannes Reel and audio reports.
The Race to the Tour Blog, sponsored by Subaru, is running The Race to The Tour Sweepstakes which offers a chance to win a cycling trip through France, plus blog live about the Tour de France. So all you blogger wannabes, here's your chance. Of course, it would be easier to just start a blog of your own.
Two winners of the contest will get week long, gratis trip to the Tour de France with Trek Tours. Once there, contest winners get a Nokia 6630 phone and a Nokia SU-8W Bluetooth keyboard to do mobile blogging from the Tour de France.
The promotion and blog were created by R/GA.
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