To Hell With Prep was rolled out recently by Stoltz Marketing Group for Simplot Food Group’s RoastWorks line of products.  It is targeted at restaurant operators to help them “see the waste and futility of preparing their own roasted vegetables versus using Simplot’s RoastWorks brand of pre-cut, pre-roasted vegetables.”

The site includes a video dramatizing the impact that prep can have on a kitchen, cost comparison calculator, product coupons, recipes and other things that you’d expect a restaurant or kitchen owner/manager/operator to be interested in.

The site is part of a larger campaign that also includes print ads in trade publications, PR, a trip sweepstakes and more.

Drake Cooper is putting on their Second Annual Turkey Drive, benefiting the Idaho Food Bank.  As they did last year, the folks at Drake are collecting turkeys to be donated to the Idaho Food Bank.  This year’s drive takes place on Friday, November 13th from 8:00am – 12:00pm.  Coffee and doughnuts will be available for everyone who brings in a turkey.

Another twist this year involves a little friendly competition: The agency/company/group that brings in the most turkeys this year will receive a prize package (of course you’re all free to write down Idaho Ad Agencies as the organization — really, I wouldn’t mind).

“The concept of an ‘average American’ is gone, probably forever,” demographics expert Peter Francese writes in 2010 America, a new Ad Age white paper. “The average American has been replaced by a complex, multidimensional society that defies simplistic labeling.”

The message to marketers is clear: No single demographic, or even handful of demographics, neatly defines the nation. There is no such thing as “the American consumer.”

While you may have already seen this news (it was originally published on October 12th), if you haven’t, take a few minutes to give it a read.

And for those who may not have heard — yes, I’m one of the presenters this time.

This event will benefit the MVAF College of Southern Idaho Marketing Scholarship, and is scheduled to kick off at 5:30pm.

All the details about the event:

Date:  Tuesday, November 10th
Time:  5:30pm
Location:  Rock Creek Restaurant, Twin Falls
Cost:
- $20 per person in advance
- $25 at the door

ART & COPY is a powerful new film about advertising and inspiration. Directed by Doug Pray (SURFWISE, SCRATCH, HYPE!), it reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time — people who’ve profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry. Exploding forth from advertising’s “creative revolution” of the 1960s, these artists and writers all brought a surprisingly rebellious spirit to their work in a business more often associated with mediocrity or manipulation: George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney and others featured in ART & COPY were responsible for “Just Do It,” “I Love NY,” “Where’s the Beef?,” “Got Milk,” “Think Different,” and brilliant campaigns for everything from cars to presidents. They managed to grab the attention of millions and truly move them. Visually interwoven with their stories, TV satellites are launched, billboards are erected, and the social and cultural impact of their ads are brought to light in this dynamic exploration of art, commerce, and human emotion.

Now, while ART & COPY has been shown in locations across North America, it has not yet made it’s way to Idaho.  But we’re going to change that.  And here’s how you can help.

The folks behind ART & COPY have made it easier to request a screening.  Go to the Request a Screening form, enter your name, Boise Advertising Federation as the organization, Boise as the city, and any other details that you feel are relevant (including your email address).

For those who are wondering, at this point — this is not an official BAF event as of yet.  But given the nature of the film, they are the most natural fit for this type of thing.

NOTE: For those in other parts of the state, don’t let the organization field trip you up.  I’m sure the powers-that-be in any of these ad clubs would welcome a screening:

• Idaho Falls Advertising Federation
• Lewis-Clark Valley Advertising Federation
• Magic Valley Advertising Federation
• Pocatello Advertising Federation

Once we get enough support to put this in motion, we’ll start working on more concrete details such as time and date, location, cost — those little details, you know.

And if you’d like to dive in even deeper, you can watch the ART & COPY trailer on their YouTube channel, or follow them on Twitter.

And don’t forget that The Naughties will be playing that evening as well.

When it comes to marketing and advertising, good is just that — it’s good.  It meets the client’s objectives.  It pays the bills and keeps the lights on.  Good work breeds good work.

But is it memorable?

Bad work certainly is.

Let’s play a little game called recall.  The topic: Advertising for local car dealerships.  Television spots, specifically.  Glamorous, I know, but it serves the point.

When I mention the following Treasure Valley dealerships, do you remember what their recent spots looked like?

Meridian Ford
Dennis Dillon
Edmark Superstore
Team Mazda Subaru
Lithia of Boise

Of the five examples above, which garnered the most immediate or strongest response?  I would be willing to bet that it was Team Mazda Subaru.  You know the spots.  You’ve seen them.  Thanks to some effective media buying they’re hard to miss.  And that leads to the rest of the question:

If you’re not willing to be great, is it better to be bad than good?

Bad, in most cases, is just that.  It makes people cringe.  It elicits a strong reaction.  But it’s also memorable.  Despite your best intentions, I’m sure you can rattle off at least a half-dozen examples of bad advertising that you’ve seen over the years.  And in each case, I’d bet you can remember exactly who the ad was for, and what it was about.  Try as we might, bad ads are unforgettable.

But so are great ones.

The great ones do more than just meet the client’s objectives.  They influence an industry.  They change a culture.  As those who study this business come to realize, it’s the great ads that set, and in many cases reset, the bar by which others are judged.

Lest you think this discussion is limited only to television, it isn’t — it applies to all mediums.  The Bad / Good / Great distinction can take place anywhere.  In broadcast, online, direct, even face to face.

In all cases, Bad is just bad — memorable, but bad.  Good is effective and meets expectations.  Great is a game-changer.

So how do you define the difference between good and great?  What are you doing on a daily basis to push your own work from good to great?  Does it matter to you?

An excerpt from the event description on their site:

The small, multi-disciplinary creative studio of Idaho Stew was created to combat “getting stuck” with always doing the same thing for the same client day after day. Born in Idaho, raised in the countryside of Northern Colorado – Stuart decided to play off his name while being honest to his roots. He wanted the freedom to continually explore all areas of creativity and find tangible ways to apply to client work.

At close to 20 years post-graduation from college – they have found an unusual creative path to happiness. And coming mid-November they’ll be excited to share some stories about what keeps them inspired, and host a workshop to get your hands off the keyboard – and immersed in ink.

To get a glimpse of what keeps them busy you can visit their websites: www.IdahoStew.com or www.InkLoungeGallery.com.

Details about the event are as follows:

Date:  Thursday, November 19th
Time:  6:00pm – 9:00pm 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Location:  TBD The WaterCooler, 1401 Idaho St., Boise
Cost:  Unknown

For more information about this event, contact AIGA Idaho.

In September, Peppershock was asked to help shoot aerial footage of the Idaho backcountry for Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum.  More specifically, the footage was shot for a piece that will be shown during the 6th Annual Spreading Wings Gala, honoring Harrison Ford for his “tireless dedication to promoting aviation and the aerospace community.”

Footage from Idaho was shot over the course of several days, with flights originating from McCall each day.

Peppershock has more details about the experience, as well as a variety of behind-the-scenes / location photos on their blog and Facebook Page.

George, notorious for his writing on AdScam, author of MadScam and The Ubiquitous Persuaders, and contributor to PSFK, aims to “bring the goodness back to our rapidly evolving industry, even if it means pissing a whole lot of people off.”

Details about the event:

Date:  Wednesday, November 4th
Time:
- 5:30: Cocktails and Appetizers
- 6:30: George Parker
- 7:30 – 10:00: Music by The Naughties
Location:  The Rose Room, 718 W. Idaho St.
Cost:
- BAF Members and member spouse/guest:  $25 per person
- Non-Members:  $35 per person
- Students:  $15 per person

Doors will open to the public at 8:00 for the remainder of The Naughties performance with a $5 cover charge.

RSVPs for this event should be sent via email to info@boiseadfed.org, or by telephone to (208) 336-7511.

This is an event that should not be missed, and a great event to kick off the BAF’s 100th year.

and to the south:

We now return to our regularly-scheduled programming, already in progress…

Neal Moore has been hired as Creative Director.  Neal comes to Oliver Russell by way of Pasadena, California, where he was most recently with The Kern Organization in Los Angeles.

BtoB Magazine named Oliver Russell among the top 100 direct marketing agencies in the United States.  This marks the third year in a row that they’ve received this recognition.

Experienced copywriter needed for ultra-busy Coeur d’Alene advertising agency. Please note the word “experienced” as this is not for the untested. If you haven’t cranked out incredibly creative copy in the heat of battle, don’t apply. We’re looking for a cool head, a quick wit, and a resourceful get-it-friggin-done demeanor. We’ll surround you with support. This is not a technical writing position. We need talent combined with the mind of a marketer. Please send a resume and recent samples.

Contact information and how to apply can be found on the original post.

The successful candidate will be a well-established conceptual writer who has held a Senior Copywriter and/or an Associate Creative Director title or has the equivalent experience leading successful cross-functional agency teams. The applicant’s portfolio will ideally include award-winning samples of online, broadcast, channel (B2B), retail and traditional print campaigns.

More details about the position, including how to apply, can be found in the Careerssection of Wirestone’s site.

The third installment of Ignite Boise is scheduled for Thursday, November 12th.

Tickets for this event should be available on or around Friday, October 23rd.

And now, for the abridged version:

Jason Hamilton has left Fuel3, and is now with Rizen Creative.  While their blog post was not clear as to what Jason’s role is within the agency, I’m sure that he’ll be a great addition to their team.

Tracy Bresina as Business Manager.  Tracy joins Red Sky with more than 10 years of experience in accounting and human resources, including time with Saint Alphonsus Nephrology Center, Idaho Nephrology Associates, and Intermountain Orthopaedics.  Prior to joining Red Sky PR she was with Idaho Community Foundation. 

Tracy is a graduate of Boise State University, with degrees in Psychology and Business Administration.  She is also a founding member of the Little Black Dress Club, and volunteers her time to the Idaho Humane Society and Women’s and Children’s Alliance.

Jenn Connor as Account Executive.  Jenn comes to Red Sky by way of the Treasure Valley Family YMCA, where she spent 14 years, including the last six as Marketing and Communications Director.  There she was responsible for developing the overall marketing and communications plan, branding guidelines, media and donor relations, staff development and more.

Jenn is also a graduate of Boise State University, with a degree in International Business, with a marketing emphasis.  She too volunteers her time to the community, including events such as Rake Up Boise, MS Walk, and in her children’s classrooms.