Springtime is yard sale season, but don’t put your Ronald McDonald promotional products up for sale just yet – they could soon become collector’s items, as the McDonald’s corporation is feeling the pressure from childhood obesity activist groups to retire its fast-food-loving mascot.
A group of pediatricians, physicians, parents, and other concerned citizens – many of whom helped put Joe Camel back in his stable in the 1990s – have asked McDonald’s to stop marketing its food to children by eliminating the 43-year-old Ronald from its campaigns, including television commercials, digital and print advertisements, and promotional products. The group, which calls itself Corporate Accountability International, argues in an open letter to McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner that “contributors to today’s health epidemic are manifold and a broad societal response is required. But marketing can no longer be ignored as a significant part of this massive problem.”
Today’s blog is in honor of Oscar F. Mayer, and his branding brilliance, on the week before the anniversary of his birth.
Oscar Mayer was born on March 29, 1859 in Kösingen, Germany. Mayer emigrated to the states as a teenaged and began working at a meat market in Detroit, Michigan, eventually starting a butcher and sandwich-making shop of his own in Chicago. In the early 1900s, Mayer began branding his meats to capitalize on their popularity, a move that helped the company grow to become the American meat and cold cut production company – and billion-dollar brand – it is today. Among his most notable branding efforts is the Wienermobile – this promotional automotive item is a hotdog shaped automobile that has been touring the United States for more than 70 years to promote and advertise Oscar Mayer products.
Promotional automotive items such ascustom bumper stickers can be great tools for marketing to the masses. If you don’t quite have the funds for a custom automobile like Mayer’s, consider using car sign magnets as a more affordable alternative.
Department store operator jcpenney unveiled a new logo this week, offering the most significant change to the brand’s identity in 40 years. The design features all lower-case text with a two-tone backdrop to emphasize this alteration from “JCPenney” to “jcpenney.” They better start distributing their promotional products customized with the old logo quickly before the official debut of the new one this weekend during the broadcast of the Academy Awards. (jcpenney happens to be the exclusive retail sponsor of the Oscars.)
“Our new logo reflects the modern retailer we’ve become while continuing to honor our rich legacy,” said Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, III, chairman and chief executive officer for jcpenney. “We’ve made significant progress transforming our Company over the last several years by infusing great style into our assortments, delivering world-class customer service, and introducing new and innovative retail technologies that have made jcpenney a retail leader in the digital age.”
As more and more people invest in gadgets such as Kindles, iPads, and blackberries it is important to have the right promotional media storage cases to store, charge, and protect them.
Just last Friday, Mashable reported that Kindle books were now outselling paperbacks on Amazon, just six months after e-books outsold hardcovers. Now, Amazon can say e-books are responsible for their $10 billion earnings in a single quarter.
As portable electronics grow in popularity companies should consider using promotional phone or tablet cases to promote their brand or service. Whether a person uses there iPad in a coffee shop or a trade-show, people pay attention to the device and the case they store it in.
Similarly, consumers are intrigued by tablets and e-books and the accessories that come with them. With all eyes on electronics, get creative with brand awareness by jumping on the portable electronics bandwagon. Customizing promotional media storage cases could be the marketing factor you need to be seen.
Many companies use promotional products when re-branding their corporate logo, as they are an effective, inexpensive way to show off one’s new identity. Maybe people would have been more receptive to Gap’s new logo unveiled this week if they got some free stuff promoting the new design. Maybe not…
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.
Springtime is yard sale season, but don’t put your Ronald McDonald promotional products up for sale just yet – they could soon become collector’s items, as the McDonald’s corporation is feeling the pressure from childhood obesity activist groups to retire its fast-food-loving mascot.
