In Israel, teenage visitors to the Coca-Cola Village can take advantage of brand new technology that allows them to automatically update their Facebook status by scanning a promotional wristband across a digital reader. In order to win a three day trip to the Village, teenage consumers must sign up through Faceook in small groups and collect a specified number of bottle tops, as well as pay a $50 fee to take care of all accommodation, food and activities. The Village, which opened five years ago, plays host to 600 to 800 teenagers at a time, offering them access to amenities like horse-back riding, massages, rock concerts and sports. To learn more about the Coca-Cola Village and how these high-tech wristbands enhance guests’ experiences, keep reading…
Started in 1995 Gela Nash-Taylor (wife of Duran Duran bass guitarist John Taylor) and Pamela Skaist-Levy as a line of athletic and casual girly apparel that was to be more affordable to the general public, the brand Juicy Couture has become a fashion empire in its own right that also includes – along with its iconic tracksuits – cosmetics, jewelry, handbags, and yes, computer accessories too. As for their initial “affordable” aims for the “general public” target market, today you’ll be pressed to find any items of apparel that go for under $100 and their current clientele includes the likes of Madonna, Paris Hilton, Jessica Biel, and Eva Longoria Parker. And so it goes for all that generally dons the label “couture.”
The Juicy Couture branded computer accessories actually all come in at under one c-note, but they will still cost you about 3 times more than their promotional counterparts. Ah, the cost of couture…
In addition to the Juicy Couture Wireless Flexible Keyboard featured above, Juicy fans can also purchase the Juicy Couture “Blinged Out” Wireless Mouse and the Juicy Couture Heart Shaped USB Port.
I have never been a huge fan of “America’s Got Talent,” but last night my sister showed me a YouTube video of two of this season’s semi-finalists in action. The five-year-old and nine-year-old members of the dance duo “Future Funk” absolutely blew me away. These pint-size break dancers demonstrate skill through their advanced dance routines, and even at such young ages, “BBoy Bailrok” and “BBoy Boogaloo” exhibit marketing savvy through their matching promotional youth outerwear.
Whether taking the stage for a performance or entering the boardroom to meet with prospective clients, here are some tips:
1. Build your own brand.
The group’s name, “Future Funk,” is catchy and memorable and their logo looks great when imprinted on t-shirts for their biggest fans. The red and black graphic is simple and uncluttered, yet presents a bold interpretation of the act’s brand. If you are currently self-employed, you can maximize the impression you make on prospective clients and/or employers by creating your own personal business card with a custom designed image.
2. Dress the part.
Like “BBoy Bailrok” and “BBoy Boogaloo,” you can portray yourself in a more positive light by dressing appropriately for the occasion. For a job interview, you are typically safe by opting for a suit; if you are pitching an idea to a new client, perhaps you can take a more casual route by wearing a neatly pressed button-down shirt embroidered with the name of your employer.
3. Be confident and stay positive.
“BBoy Bailrok” and “BBoy Boogaloo” have developed a fan following because of their upbeat attitudes and likeable demeanors. Yes, their age and unusual talent makes them appealing to a variety of audiences, but the boys always conduct themselves professionally in front of the show’s cameras. Similarly, professionals should maintain a high level of professionalism in any corporate setting to best represent themselves and their respective employers in the public eye.
There are few women more admirable than comic book legend Wonder Woman, who battles evil in a skimpy leotard and go-go boots without breaking a sweat. In honor of the 600th edition of Wonder Woman comics, DC Comics recently revamped Wonder Woman’s signature look, outfitting her in simple black leggings and a bustier top with a bolero jacket.
To learn more about Wonder Woman’s less revealing attire and why logo apparel has the power to communicate a strong message about a brand, keep reading…
Tomorrow will mark a momentous milestone in the life of my home state, North Carolina. Krispy Kreme of Winston-Salem will release Cheerwine-infused doughnuts in 1,000 grocery stores across the Carolinas.
Never heard of Cheerwine? It’s a cherry-flavored softdrink produced by the Carolina Beverage Corporation in Salisbury, North Carolina, and found mainly in the southeast. Due to its scarcity and unique taste, the brand has developed a cult-like following, spawning fansites, promotional novelties, and specialty Cheerwine Floats offered at locally owned restaurants.
Think for a moment about the various touch points customers have with your organization- maybe your website, maybe an automated phone recording, maybe a monthly account statement. But at some point in time, most of your customers will interact with a living, breathing ambassador of your brand. In a world where processes are becoming increasingly less personal, it truly makes a difference to receive individual assistance from a trained professional.
Take the Ritz-Carlton, for example. The hotelier empowers employees to go the extra mile for guests by offering monetary reimbursements for each customer issue they are able to resolve. To find out more about the Ritz’s creative employee recognition program and how to use promotional glass awards or other types of awards to motivate your staff, keep reading.
When was the last time you spent an afternoon riding a Schwinn bicycle, sipping from a custom sports bottle, and waving to your neighbors with the wind blowing through your hair? I’m guessing, for most of our readers, not recently, although I know my coworker Acree happens to be an avid cyclist.
Nostalgia marketing is a powerful technique used by marketers to capitalize on the sentimental associations that their target audiences harbor for certain products and/or experiences. At 23, I rarely find myself feeling nostalgic about my past, but last Sunday afternoon, as I ventured out to Atlanta’s Virginia Highlands neighborhood to enjoy the beautiful weather with my dog and my sister, I spied a father on the sidewalk across the street teaching his young daughter how to ride her bicycle without training wheels.
For more about Schwinn’s advertising campaign and my latest personal wave of nostalgia, keep reading…
Home to 4000 species of exotic animals and 100 acres of lush wildlife, the San Diego Zoo is one of the largest and most famous zoos in the country. I can attest to the vastness first hand because I was lucky enough to visit the Zoo this past weekend. While there, I pet a camel, heard about numerous conservation efforts, learned that koalas are marsupials (not bears) and was able to snap this photo of the San Diego Zoo’s promotional products.
I also started thinking about how much animals influence the realm of business. Over the years, well-known companies in a variety of industries have used animals as a logo to symbolize their strong brands.
A study of Internet usage released by The Nielsen Company shows that Americans nearly tripled the amount of time they spend on social media sites and blogs between August 2008 and that same month one year later. Over the course of that time, people developed and altered the way that they gain information. Not only are consumers turning to online news sources such as CNN.com or the New York Times online, but also people are garnering more of their news from sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This means that hard news stories- about the earthquake in Haiti or the latest status update on healthcare reform- are cluttered with personal status updates, such as what John Smith ate for dinner last night or the color of Jane Doe’s new hat. What’s more, consumers are hearing the news through secondary sources that cannot help but add their own personal bias.
Personal bias about online news also applies to brands. Social media sites provide an easy and uncensored outlet for shoppers to share their likes and dislikes about certain products, companies and customer service experiences. Thus, as consumers spend more and more time on these sites, effectively changing the way they share and acquire information, marketers are forced to shift their campaigns as well. And they are. The same Nielsen study reveals that while the time consumers spent on these sites tripled, the amount of money that businesses spent advertising online increased 119 percent during that same time span. Continue reading →
WNYC’s Radiolab — a fantastic podcast — had a fascinating short this week called “Do I Know You?” about people with a delusional disorder called Capgras.
A woman suffering from Capgras comes home to find a man sitting in her living room, wearing her husband’s clothes and containing all his physical features, but who, to her, simply is not her husband. In actuality, he is. But she can’t shake the feeling he’s an impostor.
In Israel, teenage visitors to the Coca-Cola Village can take advantage of brand new technology that allows them to automatically update their Facebook status by scanning a promotional wristband across a digital reader. In order to win a three day trip to the Village, teenage consumers must sign up through Faceook in small groups and collect a specified number of bottle tops, as well as pay a $50 fee to take care of all accommodation, food and activities. The Village, which opened five years ago, plays host to 600 to 800 teenagers at a time, offering them access to amenities like horse-back riding, massages, rock concerts and sports. To learn more about the Coca-Cola Village and how these high-tech wristbands enhance guests’ experiences, keep reading…
