Sunday, January 22, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Jay-Z Signs Deal to Become Partner & Spokesman for Duracell Powermat
Jay-Z has more good news to announce. Duracell Powermat, LLC, a joint venture formed in September 2011 by Protcter & Gamble's Duracell brand and Powermat Technologies, announced today that the Grammy award-winning rapper has signed a multi-year agreement as an investment partner and spokesman for the brand.
"I believe in the future of wireless energy and I believe that Duracell Powermat is the company to bring on the revolution," said Shawn Carter in a press release. "I'm partnering with Duracell Powermat because they're providing the solutions for the future."
Duracell linked up with Powermat in September of last year to help the wireless charging company better reach the consumer market. When first released, Powermat's main product, a strip that allowed users to power their gadgets with inductive charging negating the use of plug-in chargers, was cool but failed to make a large dent in the consumer market. With the help of Duracell and, now, Jay-Z, the hope is that will change in the future.
'We are proud to work with such an inspiring icon, whose music and success speaks to an entire generation all over the world. Our common vision and voice will pave the way for the upcoming wireless power revolution," said Ron Rabinowitz, CEO of Duracell Powermat, LLC.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Ikea U.K. Hosts Sleepover at Store for 100 Facebook Fans
Fans Spend a Relaxing Night Surrounded by Retailer's Products
Ikea has listened to what its customers want and given it to them -- a night in an Ikea store. Nearly 100,000 people signed up to a Facebook group called "I wanna have a sleepover in Ikea," and the dream came true for 100 lucky winners in the U.K., chosen at random from the 100,000 entrants.
Like at top night clubs, the late-November event had a minimum age of 25 and a strict dress code, although for this occasion it was pyjamas-only. At 8 p.m. on the dot, Ikea's guests ran into the store in Essex, in southeast England, like it was the first day of the sales, keen to bag the prime beds and the best linen choices.
Ikea sponsored a similar event in Australia in March, when it recruited "50 female flat-pack fans" on its Australian Facebook page for a night out of chick flicks, pampering massages and waiter service from handsome men -- along with the chance to assemble small pieces of furniture.
Both men and women were welcome at the U.K. sleepover, and they were given goodie bags containing an eye mask, windup flashlight, midnight snack, towel and slippers. Massages, manicures, and a movie were all on the entertainment agenda for the evening, with cocoa, cakes and nonalcoholic mulled wine available from the cafe. Guests could watch the film "Monsters Inc" from the comfort of their own beds, and to round off the evening, Ikea brought in a minor reality-TV celebrity to read a bedtime story: Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
A sleep expert was on hand with tips for getting a good night's rest, including how to test a mattress and choose the right bedding for your sleeping style. Ikea recently conducted a survey of 3,000 adults, finding that more than 70% don't think they get enough sleep. More important for the seller of beds and bed products, 72% spend less than 10 minutes selecting the mattress they'll probably sleep on for the next eight years. That's about the same amount of time they spend choosing their lunch each day.
Ikea turned the lights off at 11 p.m., and guests were awakened promptly at 6.30 a.m. by "soothing" sounds played over the Ikea speaker.
Not every Ikea would be likely to host a sleepover, but it's a clever way to get busy fans to focus on what Ikea has to offer.
Lois Blenkinsop, Ikea's U.K. PR and internal communications manager, said in a statement: "Social media has opened up a unique platform for us to interact directly with our customers. Listening to what they want is what we do best, and the Big Sleepover is just one example of how we're using such instant and open feedback to better inform our marketing activity."
Ikea has listened to what its customers want and given it to them -- a night in an Ikea store. Nearly 100,000 people signed up to a Facebook group called "I wanna have a sleepover in Ikea," and the dream came true for 100 lucky winners in the U.K., chosen at random from the 100,000 entrants.
Like at top night clubs, the late-November event had a minimum age of 25 and a strict dress code, although for this occasion it was pyjamas-only. At 8 p.m. on the dot, Ikea's guests ran into the store in Essex, in southeast England, like it was the first day of the sales, keen to bag the prime beds and the best linen choices.
Ikea sponsored a similar event in Australia in March, when it recruited "50 female flat-pack fans" on its Australian Facebook page for a night out of chick flicks, pampering massages and waiter service from handsome men -- along with the chance to assemble small pieces of furniture.
Both men and women were welcome at the U.K. sleepover, and they were given goodie bags containing an eye mask, windup flashlight, midnight snack, towel and slippers. Massages, manicures, and a movie were all on the entertainment agenda for the evening, with cocoa, cakes and nonalcoholic mulled wine available from the cafe. Guests could watch the film "Monsters Inc" from the comfort of their own beds, and to round off the evening, Ikea brought in a minor reality-TV celebrity to read a bedtime story: Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
A sleep expert was on hand with tips for getting a good night's rest, including how to test a mattress and choose the right bedding for your sleeping style. Ikea recently conducted a survey of 3,000 adults, finding that more than 70% don't think they get enough sleep. More important for the seller of beds and bed products, 72% spend less than 10 minutes selecting the mattress they'll probably sleep on for the next eight years. That's about the same amount of time they spend choosing their lunch each day.
Ikea turned the lights off at 11 p.m., and guests were awakened promptly at 6.30 a.m. by "soothing" sounds played over the Ikea speaker.
Not every Ikea would be likely to host a sleepover, but it's a clever way to get busy fans to focus on what Ikea has to offer.
Lois Blenkinsop, Ikea's U.K. PR and internal communications manager, said in a statement: "Social media has opened up a unique platform for us to interact directly with our customers. Listening to what they want is what we do best, and the Big Sleepover is just one example of how we're using such instant and open feedback to better inform our marketing activity."
Harvey Nichols Dresses Up Walk of Shame in U.K. Holiday Ad
As the Christmas party season gets into full swing, upmarket British department store Harvey Nichols reminds us of the dangers of an ill-chosen outfit in a new spot, "Walk of Shame."
Set to an instrumental version of "Morning has broken" -- accompanied by the dawn chorus of birdsong -- the spot shows a series of party girls making their way home on the morning after the night before, still dressed in their best party clothes.
Self-conscious women are seen pulling down short skirts, tugging at low necklines, and clutching the killer heels that had seemed like a good idea 12 hours previously, as they limp home in disgrace.
One passes an early morning jogger, one eats greedily from a paper bag as she waits at a bus stop, one clumsily descends the steps of a subway station, and another is submitted to wolf whistles as she passes construction workers sitting on some scaffolding. All avert their gaze in their shame as they try to avoid eye contact with morning commuters.
Finally, we see a girl who bought her very flattering party outfit at Harvey Nichols. She still looks gorgeous in the morning light and, holding her head high, she smiles flirtatiously at the mail carrier as she arrives home at her apartment block, replacing the walk of shame with the "stride of pride."
The viral ad for Harvey Nichols womenswear was created by DDB UK. It ends with a call to action, asking people to share their own experiences at #walkofshame on Twitter. The film is inspiring plenty of tweets, including one from FrannyCatZ, who says, "left my flat this morning at 9am only to bump into an old friend doing the #walkofshame home after annihilating raffles last night." PerryDaPlatPuss tweeted, "Before the walk of shame they scientifically plan the quickest way from point A to point B!"
Most of the tweets praise the ad, comment on how we've all been there, and pass on the link, although @franscorer noted, "Seriously -- if you could afford to shop in Harvey Nichols wouldn't you just PAY FOR A TAXI?"
Julia Bowe, group press and marketing director at Harvey Nichols, said in a statement, "We love taking something true to life and having fun with it and seeing how Harvey Nichols can make things better. We know that a fabulous outfit can cover a multitude of sins."
Set to an instrumental version of "Morning has broken" -- accompanied by the dawn chorus of birdsong -- the spot shows a series of party girls making their way home on the morning after the night before, still dressed in their best party clothes.
Self-conscious women are seen pulling down short skirts, tugging at low necklines, and clutching the killer heels that had seemed like a good idea 12 hours previously, as they limp home in disgrace.
One passes an early morning jogger, one eats greedily from a paper bag as she waits at a bus stop, one clumsily descends the steps of a subway station, and another is submitted to wolf whistles as she passes construction workers sitting on some scaffolding. All avert their gaze in their shame as they try to avoid eye contact with morning commuters.
Finally, we see a girl who bought her very flattering party outfit at Harvey Nichols. She still looks gorgeous in the morning light and, holding her head high, she smiles flirtatiously at the mail carrier as she arrives home at her apartment block, replacing the walk of shame with the "stride of pride."
The viral ad for Harvey Nichols womenswear was created by DDB UK. It ends with a call to action, asking people to share their own experiences at #walkofshame on Twitter. The film is inspiring plenty of tweets, including one from FrannyCatZ, who says, "left my flat this morning at 9am only to bump into an old friend doing the #walkofshame home after annihilating raffles last night." PerryDaPlatPuss tweeted, "Before the walk of shame they scientifically plan the quickest way from point A to point B!"
Most of the tweets praise the ad, comment on how we've all been there, and pass on the link, although @franscorer noted, "Seriously -- if you could afford to shop in Harvey Nichols wouldn't you just PAY FOR A TAXI?"
Julia Bowe, group press and marketing director at Harvey Nichols, said in a statement, "We love taking something true to life and having fun with it and seeing how Harvey Nichols can make things better. We know that a fabulous outfit can cover a multitude of sins."
Saturday, December 24, 2011
CES Watch: Monster's Noel Lee to Launch New Lines
Marketer of Beats by Dr. Dre Seeks Shop to 'Market This Stuff Properly'
It's not easy to sell people things they usually get for free. But dating back to the 1970s, Noel Lee has found a way.
The stereo systems popular back then -- amplifiers, turntables, FM tuners -- were connected by hookup wires that cost maybe 10 cents a foot and sometimes came in the box with the speakers.
In 1979, Mr. Lee founded a company, Monster Cable, and created a proprietary audio accessory: 10 feet of Monster Cable speaker wire that cost 20 times as much. "You're kidding," the retailers said. "Sounds better," he claimed.
It did.
Exotic cables are still part of the package, but today, Monster (the "Cable" was recently dropped) is best known for an accessory far more hip than wire: Beats by Dr. Dre. And retailers, which will be flocking to Mr. Lee's suite at the upcoming Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, are believers.
His legendary parties have become a fixture at CES. This past January, Lady Gaga stopped by the Monster suite to chat up Mr. Lee. In the past, Mr. Lee has hosted Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles to serenade his dealers. Next month at CES, it will be '60s popsters band Chicago (or what remains of them).
Mr. Lee, who in a prior life was a design engineer at the Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory, is an unabashed self-promoter. In 2004, he bought the naming rights to Candlestick Park, home of the San Francisco 49ers. For four years it was Monster Park. He spent about $50,000 for his first CES event in 1979. "The cost was extravagant then," he said, adding that it consumed most of his marketing budget, and still does.
Monster Cables didn't fly off the shelves. "We did it the hard way, a demo at a time," said Mr. Lee, 63. "I went out to retailers and did thousands of demos. I used a switch box, Monster Cable on one side, regular cable on the other. People didn't believe what they heard."
While electronic accessories aren't particularly hot topics among consumers, they generally offer higher profit margins -- up to 40% or more -- than big-box items like TVs or computers. Apple retail stores do especially well with his merchandise, Mr. Lee said.
Audiophiles question the sonic integrity of the Beats line (the most expensive pair sells for $500), but annual sales are estimated at $500 million, and Beats have expanded the headphone market. Rappers 50 Cent and Ludacris have endorsed their own brands, and more are grabbing onto the branding trend.
A study earlier this year by the NPD Group, a marketing research firm in Port Washington, N.Y., found that artist endorsements ranked high in headphone purchases. Those priced at $100 or more grew to 3.5% of the market in 2010 from 2% the year before.
"Headphones have become as much of a fashion statement as an audio accessory," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis at NPD.
"The deal with Dr. Dre was collaborative," said Mr. Lee, who leveraged his relationships with high-profile musicians to get access in 2000. The rapper (real name Andre Young) and longtime rock producer Jimmy Iovine "were looking to do their brand on some product," he said. "They were looking at loudspeakers, but people don't buy loudspeakers any more. And we were already developing headphones at that time."
In a life-imitates-art twist, Monster has just released a slick, $750 speaker system-cum-iPod dock that's designed for music lovers who grew up listening with headphones. The company also plans to release a slew of new headphones and accessories at CES.
"Now we got to market this stuff properly," said Mr. Lee, who says he's never employed an ad agency and is actively shopping for one now to handle his account. Any takers?
The stereo systems popular back then -- amplifiers, turntables, FM tuners -- were connected by hookup wires that cost maybe 10 cents a foot and sometimes came in the box with the speakers.
In 1979, Mr. Lee founded a company, Monster Cable, and created a proprietary audio accessory: 10 feet of Monster Cable speaker wire that cost 20 times as much. "You're kidding," the retailers said. "Sounds better," he claimed.
It did.
Exotic cables are still part of the package, but today, Monster (the "Cable" was recently dropped) is best known for an accessory far more hip than wire: Beats by Dr. Dre. And retailers, which will be flocking to Mr. Lee's suite at the upcoming Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, are believers.
His legendary parties have become a fixture at CES. This past January, Lady Gaga stopped by the Monster suite to chat up Mr. Lee. In the past, Mr. Lee has hosted Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles to serenade his dealers. Next month at CES, it will be '60s popsters band Chicago (or what remains of them).
Mr. Lee, who in a prior life was a design engineer at the Lawrence-Livermore National Laboratory, is an unabashed self-promoter. In 2004, he bought the naming rights to Candlestick Park, home of the San Francisco 49ers. For four years it was Monster Park. He spent about $50,000 for his first CES event in 1979. "The cost was extravagant then," he said, adding that it consumed most of his marketing budget, and still does.
Monster Cables didn't fly off the shelves. "We did it the hard way, a demo at a time," said Mr. Lee, 63. "I went out to retailers and did thousands of demos. I used a switch box, Monster Cable on one side, regular cable on the other. People didn't believe what they heard."
While electronic accessories aren't particularly hot topics among consumers, they generally offer higher profit margins -- up to 40% or more -- than big-box items like TVs or computers. Apple retail stores do especially well with his merchandise, Mr. Lee said.
Audiophiles question the sonic integrity of the Beats line (the most expensive pair sells for $500), but annual sales are estimated at $500 million, and Beats have expanded the headphone market. Rappers 50 Cent and Ludacris have endorsed their own brands, and more are grabbing onto the branding trend.
A study earlier this year by the NPD Group, a marketing research firm in Port Washington, N.Y., found that artist endorsements ranked high in headphone purchases. Those priced at $100 or more grew to 3.5% of the market in 2010 from 2% the year before.
"Headphones have become as much of a fashion statement as an audio accessory," said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis at NPD.
"The deal with Dr. Dre was collaborative," said Mr. Lee, who leveraged his relationships with high-profile musicians to get access in 2000. The rapper (real name Andre Young) and longtime rock producer Jimmy Iovine "were looking to do their brand on some product," he said. "They were looking at loudspeakers, but people don't buy loudspeakers any more. And we were already developing headphones at that time."
In a life-imitates-art twist, Monster has just released a slick, $750 speaker system-cum-iPod dock that's designed for music lovers who grew up listening with headphones. The company also plans to release a slew of new headphones and accessories at CES.
"Now we got to market this stuff properly," said Mr. Lee, who says he's never employed an ad agency and is actively shopping for one now to handle his account. Any takers?
JANET JACKSON NAMED NEW FACE & BODY OF NUTRISYSTEM + COMMERCIAL
After writing the self-help book, True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, Janet Jackson has decided to use her personal experience to motivate women to conquer their battle with weight gain. How is she doing this you ask? By stepping forward as the newest spokesperson for Nutrisystem!
A few days ago, Janet stopped by ABC’s Good Morning America and revealed why she decided to be the face and body of the popular weight loss program:
“It’s a matter of learning how to keep it off, that maintenance and they have a program for that. My success plan is to just be healthy and feel good about me. All of us, we have that one pair of jeans that we have a relationship with…I’m able to look in the mirror. I couldn’t do that before. I’m very grateful to be able do what I love most, what I really feel I’m was here to do and that’s to help others.”
A few photos from her photoshoot were released earlier this week and Janet looks great! Check out her official commercial for the diet program below as well. I must say, Ms. Jackson has been glowing and looking very happy lately! I’m sure the new boo, Wissam Al Mana had a little part in this, too. *smiles*
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
McDonald’s Ad Features Craig Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear”
Off top, this one isn’t an obvious example of tanning. A major corporation dropping a rap song in a commercial filled with African-Americans in an attempt to tap into the “urban” market isn’t exactly ground-breaking or all-inclusive. Target marketing is about as old as..well…marketing. At worst, this spot may be considered a bit generic.
To really grasp the underlining tanning taking place in McDonald’s latest Big Mac/Mac Snack ad, a brief foray into the annals of hip-hop history is necessary. In 1994, a visionary businessman and burgeoning label executive, Puff Daddy, came up with a novel marketing idea to promote two of his new acts: Craig Mack and The Notorious B.I.G. Craig Mack had just snagged a hit record with “Flava In Ya Ear,” which featured Biggie on the remix. To help push his two artists, Puff distributed CDs in actual McDonald’s Big Mac cartons—one side for Big, one side for Mack. It was a genius idea at the time, and helped build the buzz for one of the greatest emcees ever to do it: The Notorious B.I.G.
Although McDonald’s inclusion of Craig Mack’s “Flava In Ya Ear” is targeting a specific market, in a sense the company is paying tribute. Whether this homage is intentional is uncertain, but it is a complete role reversal. 17 years ago, Puffy leveraged Mickey D’s to sell his artists. 17 years later, Micky D’s is leveraging Diddy to sell its burgers. Watch the full spot below.
Source: www.TanningofAmerica.com
DIDDY PRESENTS FULL LENGTH CIROC “RAT PACK” COMMERCIAL
CÎROC Ultra Premium Vodka and Sean “Diddy” Combs just released a full length commercial in celebration of the holiday season. The shorter version was released last week, but here is a version with a little more dialogue.
In rat pack style, Diddy along with a lot of his celebrity friends head to a holiday party in Las Vegas. The advert features music from the late Frank Sinatra’s song ‘Luck Be a Lady’ and features a plethora of stars including: Chad Michael Murray of ‘One Tree Hill’, Michael K. Williams of ‘Boardwalk Empire’, Jesse Williams of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, models Eva Marcille, Jessica White, actress Dania Ramirez and a list of others.
Friday, December 16, 2011
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