A Lot More Than Just Promos

Chewable Pencil: Just in Time for Exam Season

2012-05-25T12:12:00.002-04:00

Whether it's because they're stressed or bored, it seems like wherever you look in an office or school, people are chewing on their pens and pencils. I'll admit I used to bite on my pencils' erasers, too; there's something about the soft texture that makes it weirdly appealing when deep in thought!

But what if you could take that nasty habit and turn it into an opportunity? That's exactly what Gang Chewing Gum, a Brazilian company, did when it created the first "chewable pencil."

According to Ad Age, Ageisobar ad agency "...created 5,000 'chewable pencils' and distributed them in schools in Sao Paulo. The activation began in March and continues, in perfect time for the Brazilian school system's exam season in May and June." Brilliant idea!

Fighting Depression with a Smiley Face (Sort Of)

2012-05-24T10:59:00.003-04:00

A promotional giveaway is great for building awareness, and here's why. Awareness products communicate their message simply and effectively, can be imprinted with a special message or organization's name, and most importantly serve as a constant reminder about the issue at hand. So when I saw this depression awareness campaign, I was really impressed.

The Natasha Goulbourn Foundation collaborated with watchmaker Happy Hour to create watches that could lift the spirits of wearers and spectators. The watch's trendy design will certainly garner attention for the cause; it features a minimalist fashion and an adorable smiley face.

Best of all, proceeds from the campaign will go to the Natasha Goulbourn Foundation to help increase awareness about depression. A solid idea -- bravo!

Coffee that Brings You Headline News

2012-05-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

I can't believe this hasn't been done before.

Gulf News, a leading United Arab Emirates' newspaper, wanted to reach more readers and up its number of subscribers. The news source teamed up with Tim Hortons, a popular cafe and bake shop, and distributed custom java sleeves as an advertising medium.

The idea in itself is ingenious: The cup sleeve featured only the freshest news (to go with the fresh coffee -- get it?). Each hour, Gulf News pulled its top headline from Twitter and printed it onto coffee clutches. According to Gulf News, "It allowed us to be the first throughout the day to deliver breaking news to potential subscribers and make a meaningful connection with them."

Traffic to Gulf News' website increased by 41 percent, and subscription is up by 2.8 percent (surpassing the company's goal of gaining 1.5 percent more subscribers). I'd say this was a hugely successful ad campaign! Perfect!

Catch of the Day: Plastic Surprise

2012-05-21T13:41:00.006-04:00

As an avid surfer, I'm always upset when I see someone polluting at or around the beach. Don't people realize that their garbage has to go somewhere? I guess not -- and unfortunately much of this trash ends up in the sea.

To raise awareness about the ever-growing amount of rubbish in the ocean, Surfrider Foundation put together a chilling series of ads. Check out an example of the campaign below:

A tray that you'd normally see filled with fresh fish or raw meat at picnics and BBQs is instead filled with plastic -- the same plastic that pollutes our oceans and harms sea creatures. The packaging features a shocking statistic: "In regions of the Pacific, plastic particles outnumber plankton six to one."

If you don't want your future "Catch of the Day" to look like a pile of plastic, then you'd better start treating the beach a bit better.

Would You Wear a Junk Food Patch?

2012-05-18T12:03:00.002-04:00

People who want to break their addiction to cigarettes often turn to nicotine patches. The therapy releases nicotine into the body to reduce cravings for a smoke. But what if you could use this idea for other addictions, like fast food for example?

In Brazil, Dannon created the junk food patch -- a scented label that's meant to help you "control your eating vices" while also promoting the brand's Corpus Light products. Check out the truly unique ad that was included in health magazines and distributed at fitness centers and public parks:

How cool is this? I mean, I'm sure the scented food patches wouldn't prevent anyone from actually eating these foods. In fact, catching whiffs of delicious treats all day would probably make me want to eat more. But Dannon's logo is on each and every patch, getting the brand potentially incredible amounts of exposure. A brilliant idea!

Well, That's Creepy: Promo Truck for Japan's 'The Ring'

2012-05-17T12:12:00.003-04:00

"The Ring," which was released in October 2002, was an instant hit among American audiences. But since a disappointing sequel, we haven't heard too much about the horror series.

But elsewhere, the films are still thriving. Fast Co.Create reports that "In Japan [...] where the series originated, the sixth entry has just been released (entitled 'Sadako 3D')."

If you remember anything about "The Ring," it's probably the eerie image of a little girl. Now producers are using that memory to promote the franchise's latest installment. Check out the promotional truck that brought "The Ring" to the streets of Japan:

This ad is really smart. As the movie's villain jumps out of a TV, she clues audiences in on what to expect while watching the new flick. If the original "The Ring" scared you, imagine how terrifying a 3D version could be!

Hawaiian Tropic Wants You to Enjoy the Sun

2012-05-16T13:23:00.001-04:00

The more time I spend analyzing interesting ads, the more I realize how effective simple advertising can be. Take this minimalist piece for Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen, for example.

The advertisement, which was featured inside of a magazine, features an image of Hawaiian Tropic's product and its slogan, "Enjoy the sun." And that's pretty much it. The rest of the two-page spread serves as a tanning reflector, ideal for boosting your bronze at the beach.

In my opinion, including some promotional sunscreen could really up the ante on this impressive Hawaiian Tropic ambient. Still, it's a win in my book.

It may be simplistic, but at the same time it's innovative. The genius idea certainly grabbed my attention -- how about you?

IKEA Brings its Bathrooms to the People

2012-05-14T14:01:00.002-04:00

When you're about to enter a portable toilet (like a Porta Potty, for example), you hold your breath and brace for the worst. But what if the doors opened up into a gorgeous bathroom?

At Milan, Italy's "Salone Internazionale del Mobile" -- one of the world's biggest design expos -- IKEA surprised attendees by doing just that. The home products company set up what appeared to be a rented toilet, but as patrons walked inside they were amazed to see that it was actually a lavish lavatory. Check out photos of the spectacular ambient ad below:

The ad is brilliant for a couple of different reasons. First, instead of trying to get people to visit IKEA, IKEA brought its store to the people. Second, people were likely expecting the portable toilet to be downright nasty, so the contrast between that image and what they actually saw was quite memorable. Third, because the home design show promotion was set up at the "Salone Internazionale del Mobile," IKEA had direct access to its target audience.

Simply incredible! I love this ad.

Ben & Jerry's Punny Ad: Good to the Core

2012-05-09T11:53:00.005-04:00

Beloved ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's recently released its line of Core products in Ireland. The special ice creams feature an "indulgent" center that makes a normal pint of the frozen stuff look plain. Check out a photo of the company's Karamel Sutra variant:

Looks pretty delicious, huh? According to the Marketing magazine UK, Ben & Jerry's launched a comprehensive campaign for its line of Core ice creams in April that includes television commercials, digital ads, and of course some good, old-fashioned sampling.

But that's not all! The ice cream company hired street artist Will St Leger to create an eye-catching ambient piece. Take a look at the amazing installation:

Erected in Dublin's city center, the outstanding artwork plays on the theme of "good to the core." An oversized ice cream scoop reveals that when you dig into the core of Dublin, you'll find Ben & Jerry's delicious new Core flavor Karamel Sutra! I can feel my taste buds tingling with excitement.

Can Marketing Fight Childhood Obesity?

2012-05-08T11:38:00.003-04:00

Childhood obesity isn't solely a United States issue. Kids from countries across the globe are battling an epidemic of childhood obesity. In Canada, for example, one in four children is considered overweight or obese.

Canadian organization Concerned Children's Advertisers (CCA) has been building social marketing programs to benefit young people for decades. Now it's working on a campaign with Crispin Porter + Bogusky to encourage children to burn some extra calories!

Enter GOGOYU, an interactive online game that takes place in the year 2032. It's considered a time of crisis; people don't have enough energy. According to Fast Co.Create,

Children play GOGOYU by wearing a FitBit pedometer that is used to track the amount of steps they take every day. The more active they are, the further their characters go in the online game, which has the avatars doing all sorts of fun things like engaging in snowball fights and placing ingredients into a device that will spit out a virtual 'Made in Canada' omelet.

What do you think about CCA's fun approach to fighting childhood obesity? Can it serve as an effective public service announcement?

Advertising on Pants

2012-05-07T12:45:00.000-04:00

Have you ever seen an ad on a pair of pants? It might sound odd, but Cityoga studio did just that. After the yoga studio learned that students were concerned about making slow progress, it came up with quite the brilliant solution:

These cute custom sweatpants were designed with the help of Lowe Adventa in Moscow, Russia. Cityoga's giveaway helps beginners notice results as they improve on their stretching ability. The pants feature quirky lines for each milestone the wearer reaches, making them charming and appealing.

Cityoga's promotion encourages students to stick with it and become yoga masters. Can't think of a better way to promote your studio!

Will Michael Jackson Bring Pepsi Back to Life?

2012-05-04T11:54:00.001-04:00

Sure, we've seen plenty of artists (from Mika to David Guetta) gracing Coke bottle labels over the years. But now Pepsi's getting in on the action with its own music icon-inspired promotional drinkware.

A silhouette of the late Michael Jackson will appear on Pepsi cans as the beverage company ups the ante of its forthcoming promotional campaign. According to USA Today, "The unexpected marketing announcement comes on the heels of a new, global partnership between Pepsi and the estate of Michael Jackson." The redesigned packaging will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jackson's famed "Bad" album/tour.

And the campaign goes far beyond the can's updated look. USA Today reports that by late May, Pepsi will sponsor live events, noteworthy music, and opportunities for fans to get their paws on special-edition giveaways.

Let's see if the initiative can help Pepsi steal back some of its global market share from Coke!

Explore Britain's Narrowest Roads in Volkswagen's Up!

2012-05-03T12:12:00.002-04:00

Volkswagen's newest small car, the Up!, is tiny enough to squeeze through tight alleys and avenues. Its mini size a huge selling point for the vehicle, especially for those who like to go on long drives.

DDB London created a direct marketing ad to complement the Up!'s slight stature. Those who purchase the car receive a glove-compartment-sized promotional gift book, "The Narrow Roads of Britain," which covers 18 of Britain's slender streets.

According to AdWeek, each page features GPS coordinates and beautiful photos captured by Harry Cory Wright. "VW is wise to try something a little different to build buzz for the vehicle, though a few of these excursions look a tad harrowing—in a door-scraping, OMG-another-car-is-heading-right-for-us! sort of way," reports AdWeek.

Still, it's a really unique idea that you can't help but respect! I think VW's doing it right!

Come in a Beginner, Leave like a Ninja

2012-05-02T11:30:00.001-04:00

It's pretty amazing what you convey with just a couple of signs.

Movies and TV shows often portray masters of karate breaking through thick walls or using a single hand to destroy a plank of wood. Whether or not that's realistic doesn't really matter, because it's what consumers know to be true.

Using this common stereotype to its advantage, Kukkiwon School of Martial Arts created a simple exit sign over a brick wall to show potential clients exactly what they can gain from a few classes. Check out the genius ad:

The awesome ambient ad tells us that after spending time at the Kukkiwon School of Martial Arts, we can all learn to exit like a ninja. Very cool!

'Dark Knight Rises' Final Trailer Leaks

2012-05-01T12:29:00.002-04:00

While it was supposed to make its debut for audiences seeing "Marvel's The Avengers" this Friday, the final trailer for "Dark Knight Rises" has been leaked to the Internet. And I can't say I'm complaining; the advertisement is getting me super-excited for the film's July 20 release. If you haven't seen it yet, check out the trailer now:

According to the Huffington Post, "Suffice it to say, fan anticipation for Christopher Nolan's Batman finale is just about at peak levels -- and if it's not, the newest trailer will likely ratchet excitement there momentarily." The promo is being called "nearly perfect" by critics, and may very well become the movie of summer 2012.

Does the trailer make you want to see "Dark Knight Rises"?

Tang Ad: Mixing Sugar and Fun

2012-04-30T12:08:00.001-04:00

What happens when you mix sugar and fun? A lot of kids start lining up.

And that's exactly what beverage company Tang and Ogilvy ad agency did to promote the six new flavors of Tang Remix. Here's the idea: The team invited children to choose two new Tang flavors to be mixed together. Each kid also received a promotional stadium cup designed to fit perfectly into the roller coaster. As the ride zipped and whirled, the custom concoctions were perfectly mixed.

Not only did children get to enjoy a thrilling roaster coaster ride, but everybody had his or her own Tang Remix, too! If this isn't the ideal promotional campaign for youngsters, I don't know what is. For more information, watch the video:

Airport Security: Perfect for Collecting Donations?

2012-04-26T12:46:00.001-04:00

The concept is nowhere near new -- for years, stores have placed jars on their countertops in hopes that patrons will contribute their loose change to charities and organizations. But I've never seen this strategy used outside of a shop.

Where else do people have coins on-hand? The airport, of course! Before you board your flight, you're asked to empty your pockets and walk through security. Check out how students at the Miami Ad School chose to take advantage airport security measure to help raise money for the American Red Cross:

This idea is brilliant. As travelers are about to go through a metal detector, they're looking for somewhere to put their spare quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. Why not contribute to an American Red Cross custom piggy bank?

Tear-Jerking P&G Olympics Campaign

2012-04-25T12:09:00.000-04:00

An advertising professor once told me that the key to good advertising is creating an emotional connection with your audience. "If you can make them feel something," he said, "then you've already won."

Of course he didn't specify which emotion to convey. Many great ads are funny, sad, and inspiring. But Procter & Gamble's 2012 Olympics "Thank You, Mom" campaign is downright touching. Watch the spot now, which reminds us all how important our moms are in our lives:

According to FastCocreate, the video, directed by Alejandro González Iñárrit, "was shot on four continents and features local actors and athletes from each location--London, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, and Beijing." The ad follows four different mothers as their raise their young athletes.

I think P&G hit the nail on the head with this ad. If it doesn't make you feel something, then I'm not sure you have a heart!

Coca-Cola Truck Delivers Cheers

2012-04-24T12:40:00.001-04:00

Sports have a way of bringing people together. When you root for the same team, you form an unbreakable bond. And even if you can't make it to every game, you're surely cheering from home thinking, "Yeah... that's my team."

But the folks at Coca-Cola didn't think it was fair that Argentina's World Cup-winning national soccer team could only hear cheers from the 50,000 people who fit in its stadium. So the company, along with ad agency Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, created a Cheering Truck designed to deliver support from across the country. Check out Coca Cola's promo video to see just how it was done!

According to FastCocreate, "A familiar red Coca-Cola truck, this one outfitted with a recording booth, drove through 19 provinces in Argentina, stopping in select spots and inviting fans (sometimes whole schools worth of them) to step inside and have their cheers captured on tape. As more sound files were stowed away, a digital sign outside the truck displayed their number, as it crept toward the one million mark."

By game day, Coca-Cola had collected more than 1 million voices cheering for the same team. Simply incredible!

Custom Table Doubles as Controller

2012-04-23T13:27:00.000-04:00

Custom products can help turn an ordinary room into one that's uniquely yours. Everything from the couch to the carpet can be made to your liking. But today I stumbled across one customized item that completely takes the cake:

According to Mashable, the Nintendo Controller Coffee Table is not only designed to look like the vintage game handheld control, but it's also fully functional: "The table (which is 42″ x 18.25″ x 18″) ditches plastic in favor of maple, mahogany and walnut, and lets you play NES games using the aesthetically designed piece of furniture."

Would you be interested in a table that doubles as a controller?

Why is McDonald's So Good at Advertising?

2012-04-20T11:56:00.001-04:00

Why is McDonald's so darn good at advertising? Maybe it's because the massive fast food chain can afford the best agencies around, or perhaps we just perceive its ads as effective because we're that brand loyal.

But take a look at this magazine ad for McDonald's new extra large coffee, for example. It's simple (and I mean very simple), yet it communicates just what it should: The new promotional drinkware size is really, really big.

The coffee stain idea is brilliant; it implies just how massive the new cup is without actually saying it. Bravo once again, McDonald's!

The Power of Attention-Grabbing Ambient Ads

2012-04-19T10:51:00.002-04:00

A good ambient ad is one of the most effective ways to garner attention for your brand. You can't help but notice these hugely creative promotional pieces as you're driving or walking by.

For example, this outstanding advertisement for Siemens mixers is head-turning, to say the least. Check out how the company made use of a building's revolving doors to make the ad look like a real hand mixer.

What message is Siemens conveying in the ad? First, it tells consumers that its hand mixers command attention. Second, we learn that the people behind Siemens really know how to think outside the box, a quality that's important for any company to have.

Stuck in the Wrong Job?

2012-04-18T15:34:00.001-04:00

If you've ever been stuck in the wrong job, you know how out of place it can feel. Maybe you're a creative person who settled for a job crunching numbers, or perhaps you are a writer who was forced to work in a restaurant. Either way, when you don't want to be there and you don't fit in, it's obvious.
That's the idea Monster.com used in this direct marketing piece. Take a look at the ad which incorporates logo toys:

Is it just me or does the pink ballerina holding a gun stick out like a sore thumb? Great job, Monster.com!

Giving the Kids their Childhoods Back

2012-04-17T12:38:00.002-04:00

One way to draw attention to your promotional campaign is to use balloons. Lots and lots of balloons. And that's the strategy non-governmental organization War Child employed for its annual fundraising campaign which aims to give kids who live in war zones their childhoods back. Check out how War Child and artist Hans Hemmert used hundreds of promotional balloons to make a life size Sherman tank:

War Child incorporated social media into its campaign, as well. As more and more visitors Tweeted about the campaign, the balloons were released, effectively destroying the tank.

The symbolic ambient piece was quite successful. More than 25,000 people visited the advertisement, and it received worldwide media coverage. What a great way to bring attention to a worthwhile cause!

The 'ish' watch

2012-04-16T11:53:00.001-04:00

If you're someone who's always late, wearing a watch can be quite daunting. But what if your wristwatch didn't give you an exact time but rather an approximation? That's the idea behind the 'ish watch,' a timepiece that reminds us that time is an art, and art can never be rushed:

The logo watch is the ideal gift for procrastinators and free spirits. The product was created in India where "time is not a science but an art."

What do you think of the beautiful timepiece?