From USA TODAY: Soft-drink brand 7Up this week announced that its original 7Up is now "100% natural" — following a reformulation to eliminate an artificial preservative. "Everything that remains in the can is from a natural source," says Kelli Freeman, marketing vice president. The label does not apply to the diet and other varieties. TV ads beginning May 8 will show 7Up cans as fruits or vegetables, being picked or …
Lipstick On The Pig
A Mercedes ad in the first issue of the Page Six magazine. The New York Times reports that advertisers at The Post receive better editorial coverage from the newspaper. This is far from groundbreaking news. I'm more interested in looking at how one page in a newspaper carefully brands itself, then starts putting out a magazine edition as a brand extension. Despite the scandal surrounding Page Six, The Post is forging …
“Victory Records Is A Lifestyle Company” Doesn’t Sound Very Indie
Valley Wag is running "a purported email exchange" between Tony Brummel, head of indie label Victory Records, and Steve Jobs. Here's how Brummel came at it: Victory Records is a lifestyle company and a brand that has always marched to the beat of its own drum and operated contrary to industry standards. That is a major reason why we are the #1 Independent label in the country. The entire music industry and many music …
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Obviating The Lack Of Distinction
I don't often don the art snob's beret, but I think I'll try it on tonight. According to PR Web, a fashion design team tampered with the purity of art in the name of commerce. Could it be otherwise? CarteBlanche, a luxury products company, has claimed responsibility for the controversial prank at the 2006 Whitney Biennial, during which one of their featured products was sneaked into the art museum during press day …
Pink Packets Make Some See Red
USA TODAY offers a review of Sweet and Low by Rich Cohen, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone. There is something satisfying about a voyeuristic romp with someone else's dysfunctional family — particularly when they are rich. It's even better when the story is told by a disinherited grandson with a grudge, as is Rich Cohen, author of Sweet and Low. The story of the family behind the little pink Sweet 'N Low …
Smirnoff Tries To Become Hip By Teaching Stuff
I kinda like this idea. The Smirnoff Studio is presenting free classes in music, art and dance at the Paul Robeson Theater in Brooklyn. You can learn hip-hop dancing or graffiti art or how to make music videos or things like that. I wish they'd take this idea on the road instead of confining it to New York City, which really doesn't need more cultural venues. And hey, after a few vodkas, I like to get my groove on, …
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Curiously Underfunded
According to Ad Age, Wrigley plans to pump some serious money into three marquis candy brands it acquired last year from Kraft Foods. Marketing for Altoids and Life Savers is curiously weak. That's the startling admission from Wrigley's CEO, who told investors that ad efforts for the two brands were under-marketed when they were owned by Kraft Foods and haven't been a lot better since Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. purchased …
“Painfully Generic Vignettes”
When I came across the new Dunkin' Donuts tagline, America Runs On Dunkin', I was underwhelmed. Now, Lewis Lazare of the Chicago Sun Times chimes in on the TV. The new television commercials don't do much to clarify what management wants Dunkin' Donuts to become. We watched several of eight new spots, and all of them seemed to be painfully generic vignette commercials with Dunkin' products thrown in for no good …