| In The News |
Ford Takes Crossover To The Edge
Ford said on Monday that it would support its 2007 Ford Edge crossover with an urban marketing
campaign featuring Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Kelis. MORE
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Subaru Driving to the 'Roadshow'
Subaru will replace Toyota as a national sponsor of the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, the public
network?s highest-rated show. MORE ?
High Drama Defines Wal-Mart Re-Pitch
The twists and turns continued last week as Wal-Mart searches for a new advertising agency in
what has become one of the most bizarre selection processes in recent memory. MORE ?
Three Execs Latest To Exit in AOL Shuffle
Three top executives are leaving Time Warner Inc.'s AOL, including Jim Bankoff, executive
vp-consumer and publisher services, sources said. MORE
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NBA, Southwest Fly Promotion
The NBA and marketing partners Southwest Airlines and Sprite this week will launch the ?Slam Dunk
One Sweepstakes.? The effort will offer a grand prize of two tickets to an NBA playoff game with an NBA legend, which includes roundtrip air travel
on Southwest for the winner and a guest. MORE
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| Short Takes |
NOT EXACTLY ?BUSINESS 101?: A women?s lingerie company (Which, now that we see it in print, seems redundant: Is there ever a MEN?S lingerie
company?) is offering up a unique marketing plan for the New Year. Vu Azul asks for your e-mail address, with a promise to send you a listing of
its newest daily product, every day, for 90 straight days. "In talking with women's clothing shoppers, one thing that became very clear was
that they were searching for a way to stand out from the styles worn by the women surrounding them. These women were seeking style and color which
would empower them with their own unique preferences," said a company rep. To which we say, ?Oh, please.? The company notes that it has a ?product
line of everything from imported lingerie to figure-enhancing corsets and fajas.? (Corsets? FAJAS??) Don?t customers like to feel
undergarments, and maybe try them on first? The more daring among you can sign up at Vu Azul.com. Meanwhile, we guys will still be buying ours in
three-packs at Wal-Mart.
BUT THIS IDEA WE CAN GET BEHIND (PUN UNINTENDED): Over in the U.K., the folks at Virgin Mobile have noticed a trend that they?re more than happy to
promote. According to British industry newsletter Brand Republic, women have taken to handing their camera-phones to clerks in lingerie shops,
asking them to snap a photo of the women themselves wearing the knickers they?d like to receive for Christmas. The women then (If you can believe
Virgin Mobile; but why would they lie?) send the photo, along with their measurements, to that ?special someone,? accompanied by a not-so-subtle
hint that the garment would make a lovely gift. Virgin Mobile has dubbed the trend ?Knick Pics.? Can?t wait for that one to hit these shores?
NO SOCKS APPEAL HERE: The people behind a series of interactive personality assessments, better known as Tickle.com, have released the findings of
their 2006 Holiday Shopping Study, which includes holiday shopping trends related to location, age, credit card use, attitude, timing, and more.
While the findings are rather extensive, we can tell you that they found the least-popular Christmas gift is (Drumroll, please?) socks, and
this was followed closely by fruits and nuts. And, not surprisingly, some 63% of respondents said it was better to receive than to give. But
Tickle also found ?It isn't always about the gifts. Turns out that everyone's favorite holiday traditions are getting together with loved ones and
decorating the house, not shopping for and getting gifts.? Whew! To make your voice heard in similar surveys, head over to Tickle.com. Tell ?em
Scrooge sent you.
A "GIFT" WE CAN DO WITHOUT: A Rockville, Md., company called Snoozester offers wake-up calls that you request by going to their Web site. Seems a
little farfetched to us, but whadda we know? But now the company may be stepping over the line a tad by offering a Corporate Wake Up Call Service.
Yes, now your company can arrange to have you awakened at home, in a message ?branded with the company logo and tailored to meet the
organization's needs? as well. Snoozester is pushing this for
companies as ?an affordable way to expand their benefits package while offering a valuable service to employees.? (It?s a BENEFIT?) Like it?s
not bad enough that we have ?work dreams,? but now they want to wake us up, too? Maybe we should follow George Costanza?s lead and just move in under
the desk.
Sorry for all the Christmas-related stuff lately; it seems it?s all anyone?s talking about. And next week will be even worse, as marketers tout
the best New Year?s parties anywhere, which none of us can afford to attend. (Deep Sigh.) Send along your holiday notes to
rthompson@brandweek.com
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There's no use in glossing over it, a Cheetos-flavored lip balm was a cheesy idea. And that Salvadore Dali deodorant stick? So bad it was surreal.
MORE?
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Contrary to the advice offered in TV spots for Las Vegas, some things that happen in Vegas should not stay in Vegas, such as the insights and
innovations garnered at the Marketing to Men Summit.
MORE?
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