Michael Shostack was in Chicago today and stopped by the Gap's (Product_ RED) promotion at its store on Ohio and Michigan. He wasn't too impressed with the promotion reporting the throngs of people had but about five seconds to view celebs Oprah Winfrey and Bono from far across the other side of the street behind barricades. In the early Chicago cold weather today wasn't enough, that five second view was blocked by an army of red jacket-wearing Gap employees who lined up in front of the stores entrance, blocking what little view there was of Oprah and Bono as they made their way from their cars to the strore's entrance. Blocked view or not, Michael did snap a pretty good shot of the pair as they made their way inside, commenting Orpah looked very, very tiny. Check out his full coverage of the event here along with additional photos.
Following Slash, Spinal Taps Nigel Tufnell (Christophr Guest) makes an appears on stage atop a pile of VWs and notices, "this amplifier has airbags." It's all part of the automakers promotional deal with guitar maker First Act in which guitars are given to those who buy new Volkswagens.
Today, we received a cryptic email directing is to a Belgian website called Unknown Frequencies which delivered explosive, full screen imagery that made it look like your computer was being attacked by some sort or killer virus. It then delivered an onslaught of IM windows in quantity only the likes of girls with naked pictures on their profiles would ever receive. After a few more ominous messages, the site said to check our email October 11 for more information. We don't need to wait. We already figured it out.
Strangely, as soon as this full screen takeover begin, it reminded us very much of a movie review we had read back in August for the Kristen Bell film, Pulse. And, sure enough, after spending a bit more time with the site, seeing a directory tree with YouAreNowinfected.com flash by early on and following that link, we were redirected to pulsethemovie.net.
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To promote its new Exilm EX-1000 10.1 Mega Pixel camera, Casio has set up Too Much Detail, a sit that shows just how powerful the zooming capability of the camera is. In fact, the zooming capability of the camera is so powerful it can zoom and pan right past the couple disrobing in the foreground and onto the very old couple having a bit of their own fun in the background. The fun part is zooming and panning around the and past the foreground images to find out which of 12 pictures the old couple is in. Once that image has been located, you can enter a sweepstakes to win the camera.
The site does a great job illustrating the features of the camera, avoids boring tech and spec stuff and offers up a bit of fun at the same time. There's also a little clip that goes along with the site that reveals why finding thr old couple might be a bit embarrassing to the foreground hotties.
Not that this particular movie needs any promotion since everyone's already sen it or they're already lined up for the DVD but Disney felt it necessary to put together, Dead Man's Mail, a "create a customized pirate and make it speak whatever you tell it to" promotion just in case the two people who haven't seen Pirates of the Caribbean 2 are aware of the DVD's release.
At this rate, there will be approximately 116 Volkswagen commercials floating around by next year if Crispin keeps up its current pace. In this next outing, Volkswagen has partnered with guitar maker First Act in a promotion called V-dubs rock to give everyone who purchases a particular model with a guitar that features a seat belt as the strap and a plug that lets you tap into the vehicle's audio system. To show it all in action, former Guns N Roses guitarist Slash - now with Velvet Revolver - rocks out. Not that everyone wants a guitar but it's still a nice promotion all the same.
To make it even easier to merch you, Target provides an option to receive a Weekly Ad via e-mail. If it were any easier they'd buy the products themselves, wrap them up and send over a pair of cute chicks in red uniforms and a gigantic Target truck to deliver them to you along with beer and hell, why not, maybe even a cheese calendar. But of course you have to do the buying, otherwise all Target's efforts are moot.
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Want a new Dooney & Bourke handbag? Head over Candystand where candy maker Wrigley's has partnered with Dooney & Bourke to host a contest to give away handbags. It's all to introduce the company's new packaging for its line of Cream Savers. In a separate promotion for Juicy Fruit, Wrigley's is offering a sweet looking, tricked out gaming laptop.
While all is said to be revealed Monday, a site called Chef's Rights Now is home to a movement that gathers together New York city Italian chefs who are experiencing some sort of empty restaurant syndrome and, while it's not a fist bump, are pulling together to fight the problem. Who knows. It's probably another Axe promotion whereby all the chefs will suddenly start using Axe deodorant thus attracting the ladies who will thusly attract the men which, together, will thusly fill the restaurants which will thusly end the problem. Oh but that's way too simple. It's probably for one of a million of their food brands.
Ogilvy Public Relations Interactive Marketing VP tells us there will be a pseudo protest in Times Square October 5. One of the categories he's filed his story under is Travel & Tourism. We have no idea what that indicates but it' certainly not deodorant. Whatever. We'll know Monday.
Classing up the GAP's cheesy Watch Me Change promotion, Talbots has launched a dress-me-up site to support its Classic Girls Getaway promotion which offers people a chance to win a trip to one of several locations for a three day stay and a $500 shopping spree. To enter, a 200 word essay is required to tell Talbots why the person should be awarded the trip. Oh yea, and you can play dress while standing in front of images of the Getaway trip locations. While we like the promotion, there's something about the accompanying music that is a bit more suggestive than probably intended.
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