Our group decided that we were going to promote Mary Contrary, a local privately owned store in downtown Greensboro, NC.
For outdoor advertising we plan to make a chalkboard in the alley between Mary Contrary and its neighbor Shakra's spa. We will create the chalkboard out of black chalkboard paint and we will have a bucket of chalk available for our customer's kids to be able to play. This technique will also bring new customers in to the store and make our store more known. When children stop to play, their parents will be lured in to the store out of curiosity...plus, just as the shop Just Be... is known for the bubble machine on the outside of the store, we will start to be known for our chalkboard. The chalkboard will also have the name of our store painted on the top left corner and on the top right corner the item of the day will be posted daily and any specials or promotions that the store has for that week will also be displayed..this way customers are aware of what is going on in the store before they enter.
At Mary Contrary we will also give out bookmarks or magnets of Mary's Posy people to every customer. If a customer spends up to $25 they will get a bookmark and anything over $30 they will receive a free magnet. Mary's Posy people are especially made by Mary herself out of flowers from her backyard...the Posy people are then photographed and scanned onto our bookmarks and magnets. Customers can also buy plates and other decorations with Mary's Posy people printed on them. These bookmarks and magnets will start a viral marketing campaign for the store when other people see our customer's Posy People and become curious as to where they were purchased, etc.
To further our promotion of Mary Contrary we will also start a customer mailing list and each customer that gives the store 5 new customer names and emails will receive a special discount offer and each of the new customers will also receive the special offer. There will also be emails sent out monthly to let our customers know of the events and specials going on each month and to advertise special offers.
We hope these new strategies along with our monthly advertisements in local magazines such as downtown mags and women's mags (skirt) will further promote our local store and create a new customer base.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Lindsay Lohan
Every week there is a new story about Lindsay Lohan doing something crazy and dramatic. A couple of years ago she was anorexic and best friends with Nicole Richie. In 2004 she went from a full, voluptuous shape during the taping of "Mean Girls" to being all skin and stick-thin bones. During this time she also wrecked her car while she was driving intoxicated, and again was pulled over by the cops for a DUI at which time drugs were found in her car. Even incriminating pictures of her and Vanessa Minnillo were leaked to the public, displaying the two fooling around with knives. During this time Lindsay Lohan fooled around with her share of guys....
In the past couple of months Lindsay has gone from boys to girls. The media has been showing her with Samantha Ronson for some time. And every week the media goes back and fourth questioning whether or not Lindsay is interested in girls or guys now...showcasing the couples fights/romantic outings.
I think that all of the negative publicity Lindsay Lohan has gotten in recent years has actually helped the celebrity...She is more popular now than ever before...and even though she has been in movies since she was really young, she was never really recognizable until she hit the media with her bad attitude and unhealthy activities. Now she is one of the most talked about, photographed, and idolized stars of her time--people even dress up as her for Halloween.
In the past couple of months Lindsay has gone from boys to girls. The media has been showing her with Samantha Ronson for some time. And every week the media goes back and fourth questioning whether or not Lindsay is interested in girls or guys now...showcasing the couples fights/romantic outings.
I think that all of the negative publicity Lindsay Lohan has gotten in recent years has actually helped the celebrity...She is more popular now than ever before...and even though she has been in movies since she was really young, she was never really recognizable until she hit the media with her bad attitude and unhealthy activities. Now she is one of the most talked about, photographed, and idolized stars of her time--people even dress up as her for Halloween.
Friday, November 7, 2008
2008 Superbowl Ads
I went and watched the top ten ads from the 2008 Superbowl, and I will have to say that three of the commercials really stuck in my head.
Well first of all, I have never seen Rocky or the Godfather, so the Budweiser and Audi commercials that took a spin off of those two movies really didn't make sense to me. But since all superbowl commercials are really targeted toward men, I can see how both of those two advertisements would get a lot of recognition.
The three that I liked the best though were the carrier pigeon ad by FedEx, The bobble head ad by Diet Pepsi Max, and the Justin Timberlake ad for Pepsi Stuff.
All three of these ads, as most all of superbowl ads, use humor as the message appeal. Since most commercials are targeted toward men during the Superbowl, most all advertisements either use the message appeal of sex or the appeal of humor. And then both of the Pepsi commercials use movie stars, probably to appeal to the younger audience.
After watching the Diet Pepsi Max commercial I really want to try the beverage and see if its any good.
Usually all the Budlight commercials are my favorite during the Superbowl. Budlight always uses humor as a message appeal and their commercials always succeed in making me laugh. This past year's Budlight commercials were pretty good, but they weren't my favorite.
Well first of all, I have never seen Rocky or the Godfather, so the Budweiser and Audi commercials that took a spin off of those two movies really didn't make sense to me. But since all superbowl commercials are really targeted toward men, I can see how both of those two advertisements would get a lot of recognition.
The three that I liked the best though were the carrier pigeon ad by FedEx, The bobble head ad by Diet Pepsi Max, and the Justin Timberlake ad for Pepsi Stuff.
All three of these ads, as most all of superbowl ads, use humor as the message appeal. Since most commercials are targeted toward men during the Superbowl, most all advertisements either use the message appeal of sex or the appeal of humor. And then both of the Pepsi commercials use movie stars, probably to appeal to the younger audience.
After watching the Diet Pepsi Max commercial I really want to try the beverage and see if its any good.
Usually all the Budlight commercials are my favorite during the Superbowl. Budlight always uses humor as a message appeal and their commercials always succeed in making me laugh. This past year's Budlight commercials were pretty good, but they weren't my favorite.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
What I Like and Don't Like in Advertisement
What I Like!!!
Starbucks Free Cup of Coffee for Voters-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2J8KJDsqqY
On November 4th, election day, Starbucks is giving a free tall coffee to all voters. For their ad campaign, the company's message appealed to guilt and fear, asking the audience, "What if we all cared enough to vote?"
Then the company continued the ad by answering their own question, prompting the audience by saying if we all did vote (100% of us) our country might be a better place, and our world might be a better place. That is a lot for each citizen to carry on his/her back; that each person's vote could determine their own future, other citizen's future, the country's future, and possibly the world's future. And strikes fear when the viewer realizes when the polls close there is no way to go back and vote and try to make a change.
The ad really hits home and gets the audience to think what would happen "if we cared as much on Nov. 5 as we care on Nov. 4th?" The ad then finishes by telling the viewer that if he/she goes out to vote on election day, then Starbucks will give him/her a free coffee!
I love this ad because it is straight to the point, and gives multiple reasons and incentives for people to go out and vote on election day. I think it is very important for everyone to voice their opinion and vote, because their one vote could really make a difference in our country, especially in the state that we are in right now. And Starbucks's advertisement states just that, and helps the viewer realize that 100% of people should vote...and in getting to this point, Star buck's even questioned viewers and it almost made me feel as if the company was trying to tell the viewer that he/she would regret not voting. Plus, it gives incentives to vote such as people will not regret the decision to vote, one vote could change the country and world, and all voters get a FREE CUP OF COFFEE!!
The Speech PSA-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLdFreZRw0s&feature=related
This was a commercial for MTV's Think campaign, "it's your (sex) life". This commercial definitely appeals to humor, but it also has an underlying message of fear. The ad starts off with a girl putting her pants and jacket back on, and a guy in a dorm room bunk bed asking the girl, "are you leaving?"
Then the girl proceeds to give a one minute speech on how she will never sleep with a guy without a condom and that it was absurd for the guy to even think that she would ever consider having sex without a condom. In her speech she even refers to the guy in the bed as "Guy I Almost Slept With" and tells him she has one rule about sleeping with someone and that is "you gotta use a ticket if you wanna ride the ride". The girl even asks the "Guy she almost slept with" if he really thought wearing a thin piece of lubricated rubber between their hot, sweaty bodies would be worse than staying the night alone?!!!....
I thought this advertisement was hilarious...and the speech seemed to be something no guy would ever want to hear, but one that every guy should hear. The ad almost seems like it could happen in real life. But it conveys a message very clearly... THINK. USE A CONDOM. At the end of the ad..across the bottom of the screen it says "YOUR BODY. YOUR RULES" and I know how most girls like to set their own rules and be bossy whenever possible. The girl in this ad told the boy her own rules and made it so either he had to follow her one rule, or he ended up empty handed....in this case, the boy ended up empty handed.
What I don't Like
Axe Dark Temptation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2q0rPWF4Jw
We all know what commercial I am talking about, and I am just really turned off by the content of the ad. The message of this ad is supposed to appeal to sex, and while I am usually open to sexual and provocative ads (usually I find these ads somewhat humorous) I find this commercial almost disgusting.
First of all, the boy in the commercial was actually good looking BEFORE he put the Axe body spray on...and then he just became a walking candy? I don't get it...He breaks off his nose and puts it into two girls' ice cream cones? How sexy or hot is that? Why would anyone want a guy with a hole in his face where a nose should be? How is that attractive? Plus, after he becomes chocolate his eyes become beady and bug like and creepy! And then girls start licking his face? and biting his butt? (I am not sure about anyone else, but those are two things that I do not participate in with my boyfriend or guy friends). Not to mention the commercial ends with one of his arms melting off and the other being torn off by a passing vehicle!!
The ad turns from being very sexual to what reminds me of a horror flick.
Plus, although the ad says the new Axe Dark Temptation is as irresistible as chocolate, I am still left wondering how a chocolate boy with a missing nose and two missing arms has anything to do with a body spray. Plus, in comparing the scent to be as irresistible as chocolate really turns me off...since I used to work at ColdStone Creamery and I used to come home smelling of chocolate all the time, and believe me the scent was not irresistible. It made me sick. Too much of a good thing is OVERKILL!! And I don't think this advertisement was very enticing.
Aussie's Opposites Attract Spray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBEO8t9XIGo&feature=related
In this commercial a kangaroo is getting a massage when Aussie's Opposites Attract Hair Spray shoots out of the kangaroo's pouch. This advertisement is supposed to be humorous, however, when the Aussie Spray pops out of the Roo's pouch, it actually looks as though it is popping out of somewhere else...if you know what I mean...
In turn, this commercial actually grosses me out. Who wants to use hairspray when it has popped out of a kangaroo's vagina?
On top of this, the information was not beneficial or cohesive. The narrator actually says, "Don't get rubbed the wrong way" and for the longest time, as a viewer of this commercial, I am sitting here pondering exactly how that has anything to do with hairspray?
Oh, and one more thing, even if the hairspray did seem to shoot out of the kangaroo's pouch, I am stuck wondering why a kangaroo would be carrying around a bottle of hairspray, in her pouch or any other holding place.
Starbucks Free Cup of Coffee for Voters-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2J8KJDsqqY
On November 4th, election day, Starbucks is giving a free tall coffee to all voters. For their ad campaign, the company's message appealed to guilt and fear, asking the audience, "What if we all cared enough to vote?"
Then the company continued the ad by answering their own question, prompting the audience by saying if we all did vote (100% of us) our country might be a better place, and our world might be a better place. That is a lot for each citizen to carry on his/her back; that each person's vote could determine their own future, other citizen's future, the country's future, and possibly the world's future. And strikes fear when the viewer realizes when the polls close there is no way to go back and vote and try to make a change.
The ad really hits home and gets the audience to think what would happen "if we cared as much on Nov. 5 as we care on Nov. 4th?" The ad then finishes by telling the viewer that if he/she goes out to vote on election day, then Starbucks will give him/her a free coffee!
I love this ad because it is straight to the point, and gives multiple reasons and incentives for people to go out and vote on election day. I think it is very important for everyone to voice their opinion and vote, because their one vote could really make a difference in our country, especially in the state that we are in right now. And Starbucks's advertisement states just that, and helps the viewer realize that 100% of people should vote...and in getting to this point, Star buck's even questioned viewers and it almost made me feel as if the company was trying to tell the viewer that he/she would regret not voting. Plus, it gives incentives to vote such as people will not regret the decision to vote, one vote could change the country and world, and all voters get a FREE CUP OF COFFEE!!
The Speech PSA-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLdFreZRw0s&feature=related
This was a commercial for MTV's Think campaign, "it's your (sex) life". This commercial definitely appeals to humor, but it also has an underlying message of fear. The ad starts off with a girl putting her pants and jacket back on, and a guy in a dorm room bunk bed asking the girl, "are you leaving?"
Then the girl proceeds to give a one minute speech on how she will never sleep with a guy without a condom and that it was absurd for the guy to even think that she would ever consider having sex without a condom. In her speech she even refers to the guy in the bed as "Guy I Almost Slept With" and tells him she has one rule about sleeping with someone and that is "you gotta use a ticket if you wanna ride the ride". The girl even asks the "Guy she almost slept with" if he really thought wearing a thin piece of lubricated rubber between their hot, sweaty bodies would be worse than staying the night alone?!!!....
I thought this advertisement was hilarious...and the speech seemed to be something no guy would ever want to hear, but one that every guy should hear. The ad almost seems like it could happen in real life. But it conveys a message very clearly... THINK. USE A CONDOM. At the end of the ad..across the bottom of the screen it says "YOUR BODY. YOUR RULES" and I know how most girls like to set their own rules and be bossy whenever possible. The girl in this ad told the boy her own rules and made it so either he had to follow her one rule, or he ended up empty handed....in this case, the boy ended up empty handed.
What I don't Like
Axe Dark Temptation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2q0rPWF4Jw
We all know what commercial I am talking about, and I am just really turned off by the content of the ad. The message of this ad is supposed to appeal to sex, and while I am usually open to sexual and provocative ads (usually I find these ads somewhat humorous) I find this commercial almost disgusting.
First of all, the boy in the commercial was actually good looking BEFORE he put the Axe body spray on...and then he just became a walking candy? I don't get it...He breaks off his nose and puts it into two girls' ice cream cones? How sexy or hot is that? Why would anyone want a guy with a hole in his face where a nose should be? How is that attractive? Plus, after he becomes chocolate his eyes become beady and bug like and creepy! And then girls start licking his face? and biting his butt? (I am not sure about anyone else, but those are two things that I do not participate in with my boyfriend or guy friends). Not to mention the commercial ends with one of his arms melting off and the other being torn off by a passing vehicle!!
The ad turns from being very sexual to what reminds me of a horror flick.
Plus, although the ad says the new Axe Dark Temptation is as irresistible as chocolate, I am still left wondering how a chocolate boy with a missing nose and two missing arms has anything to do with a body spray. Plus, in comparing the scent to be as irresistible as chocolate really turns me off...since I used to work at ColdStone Creamery and I used to come home smelling of chocolate all the time, and believe me the scent was not irresistible. It made me sick. Too much of a good thing is OVERKILL!! And I don't think this advertisement was very enticing.
Aussie's Opposites Attract Spray
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBEO8t9XIGo&feature=related
In this commercial a kangaroo is getting a massage when Aussie's Opposites Attract Hair Spray shoots out of the kangaroo's pouch. This advertisement is supposed to be humorous, however, when the Aussie Spray pops out of the Roo's pouch, it actually looks as though it is popping out of somewhere else...if you know what I mean...
In turn, this commercial actually grosses me out. Who wants to use hairspray when it has popped out of a kangaroo's vagina?
On top of this, the information was not beneficial or cohesive. The narrator actually says, "Don't get rubbed the wrong way" and for the longest time, as a viewer of this commercial, I am sitting here pondering exactly how that has anything to do with hairspray?
Oh, and one more thing, even if the hairspray did seem to shoot out of the kangaroo's pouch, I am stuck wondering why a kangaroo would be carrying around a bottle of hairspray, in her pouch or any other holding place.
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