New Dye Makes You a Blonde Where It Really Matters

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Forget about getting your eyebrows to match - there are more important bushes to beat. Betty Beauty is a spankin' new do-it-yourself dye set for your betty. (Can we say for the record we think that term is lame?)

The use of "betty" was altered by Betty Beauty to signify, not a hot chick, but a hot chick's holy grail. And apparently men can be betties too because surveys reflect an unusually high number of men (and women between 60 and 85, for that matter) are tearing their products off the shelves.

So your new boyfriend - or for that matter, your grandma - might have a secret for you, and yes - it could be pink. Your world just got a little more fucked-up, didn't it? - Contributed by Angela Natividad

by Angela Natividad    Nov-15-06    
Topic: Packaging, Strange



GoDaddy's Daddy Drools For Danica

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This really qualifies as old news but since it was overshadowed earlier by Motorola and we were prompted by our monthly GoDaddy email, we'll share with you that GoDaddy has, in addition to Motorola and many others, hooked up with Danica Patrick to sponsor her Andretti Green Racing car. In a video that includes the unveiling of the new #7 Team Motorola IndyCar, GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons interviews his new "GoDaddy Girl" in a most excruciatingly awkward manner that can only be likened to Joe Simpson obsessing about his daughter Jessica's 34DD's. While Bob reads from cue cards, Danica sits next to him and through her bored demeanor, you can just hear her say, "What the fuck am I doing here with this cheese ball?"

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by Steve Hall    Sep-21-06    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Good, Packaging, Sponsorship, Super Bowl 2007



'TV Guide' Begs For Readership With Popcorn Promotion

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Never one to accept the fact on screen guides have crushed their print business, TV Guide is getting together with Orvill Redebacker popcorn in a TV That Pops promotion that will place dollar off coupons and a chance to win eight complimentary issues of the magazine on boxes of the popcorn. The promotion will be aided by FSIs, POS displays and online ads. There's also a "TV That Pops Sweepstakes Challenge" that will award one lucky person a trip to TV Guide's After Party in LA following the 2007 Emmy Awards.

by Steve Hall    Aug-28-06    
Topic: Magazine, Newspaper, Online, Packaging, Point of Purchase, Promotions



Red Lipstick Adorns New City Coffee Cups

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If you're one of the few people daring to grab a cup of coffee from a New York Street vendor, you may receive a cup that looks like a woman wearing red lipstick has already used the cup. Makeup retailer Sephora, with help from PromoMedia Concepts produced coffee cups branded with a store opening message along with an imprint that makes the cup look like it's been sipped before. It certainly grabs the attention. After all, no one wants to drink out of someone else's coffee cup and this lipstick sure does make one look closely to make sure it's just an imprint and not the real thing.

by Steve Hall    Jun-22-06    
Topic: Good, Guerilla, Packaging, Specialty



Tyson Celebrates Cannibalism On Packaging

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One really has to wonder what goes through the mind of a designer sometimes as indicated by some recent Tyson packaging. Brenner Thomas points out this bit of odd packaging from the food giant for its Sunset Strips chicken strips on which an image of a chicken appears to be eating itself...well...a chicken strip, that is. One might argue it looks like a french fry but we doubt it. Apparently, cannabalism is alive and well in the chicken business.

by Steve Hall    May-22-06    
Topic: Bad, Brands, Packaging



Lingerie Shopping Bag Sure to Cause Attention

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We've seen all manner of tricked out shopping bags from bags that make it look like you are carrying a gun to bags that place your hand inside a mouth to bags that make it look like you're being hung from your hair. Now, we have a bag that, when properly carried, makes it look like you're walking down the street in your underwear. We're not sure who the advertiser is but we're sure the bag's visual is far too distracting for anyone to notice. OK, it's Blush.

by Steve Hall    Apr-23-06    
Topic: Good, Packaging, Specialty



Ad Agency Creates Branded Girl Band

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We all know those mythical days of corporately untainted music are over and have given way to overly commercialized, manufactured pop groups. Noting that trend, Saatchi & Saatchi UK figures they nor their clients should be left out of the fun and have created a band for hire. Saatchi has brought together four twenty-something girls (not shown in the photo) who will completely give themselves over to the whim of the advertiser who chooses to cough up the dough to sponsor them. Everything from the name of the band, musical style, lyrics, clothing, the food they eat and the liquid they drink will be under control of the advertiser.

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by Steve Hall    Apr-18-06    
Topic: Guerilla, Packaging, Trends and Culture



Krystal Restaurant Puts Customers Faces on Packaging

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Apparently, there's this really popular restaurant in the South called Krystal. Who knew? We sure didn't and we also didn't know the chain's website has a very attractive spokesperson named Krystal to guide visitors around the company's website. Aside from that, Krystal has this thing called Krystal Lovers Hall of Fame, an area that features Krystal lovers from around the restaurant's six state area.

Their big thing is the Krystal Hamburger box or the Cheese Krystal box, boxes full of small, square burgers. Hmm, sounds a lot like White Castle. That's because, as a commenter points out, it's the southern cousin of White Castle. Krystal will now feature its Hall of Famers on these boxes as a promotion.

by Steve Hall    Apr-10-06    
Topic: Packaging, Point of Purchase



Some Editing Converts Coffee Cups Into Self Esteem Message

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While self-esteem isn't exactly the sort of thing one seeks when buying a cup of Seattle's Best coffee but, as Not Only But Also points out, the stupid legal message on coffee cups explaining to morons that coffee is, well, hot, also, with a bit of editing, delivers the nice, self-esteem building statement, "you are extremely hot." Just call this some inconsequential trivia for your next caffeine-fueled creative concepting session. See the before and after here.

by Steve Hall    Feb-10-06    
Topic: Packaging, Strange



Wacky Packaging Gets Attention For Hot Sauce

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Created by Neiman Group, hot sauce and condiment company TorchBearer Sauces has recently launched a new set of product labels and website to reflect the wackiness of the packaging. Each sauce takes on a different character name and the qualities of that character are highlighted in stories that appear on the labeling.

Neiman Group Creative Director told AdCritic, "The work is oddball because the target consumer is, well, kind of weird. We're talking to people who are connoisseurs of substances that leave blisters, cook up ulcers and light their hair on fire. They're a little bit insane, a lot of fun and a heck of a lot more colorful that your average Joe." Very interesting work. See it all here.

by Steve Hall    Oct-14-05    
Topic: Campaigns, Packaging