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Maverick: McCain and Palin are smokin'

Maverick: McCain and Palin are smokin', originally uploaded by Mark_Baratelli.

The McCain and Palin marketing machine now has a hold of my brain. The first thought I had when I saw this sign was "McCain." Makes me want to start smoking. That's what a maverick would do.

Banksy: Animal Social Commentary

I walked past this on October 5, 2008 in the West Village in New York City and flipped out. You have to check these videos I filmed out. The exhibit/guerilla art installation is unreal. If anyone knows the artist(s)'s name(s), please alert me.

UPDATE 10-9-08: Who: It's Banksy! Where: 89 Seventh Avenue South (near Bleecker Street) in Greenwich Village.

UPDATE 10-9-08: Website

The scene from the sidewalk




The chicken window




Nuggets up-close




The dolphin in a tuna net ride




The rabbit window




The leopard window




The security cam bird window




Sick Tweety Bird inside shop

Branding New York City: Miriam Greenberg and Willy Wong

September 24, 2008: I attended "an evening on New York City branding campaigns of past and present." (All my photos) Miriam Greenberg, author of “Branding New York City: How a City in Crisis was Sold to the World” interviewed Willy Wong from NYC & Company, the City of New York’s official marketing organization. She also spoke about campaigns from the 1970s and 80s. "They will look into the politics of urban representation and the role of branding in urban redevelopment." It was held at the Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day School (240 Second Avenue, btwn 14 and 15 st.) Source: Bustler.net

Willy Wong is the current (and very first) Creative Director for NYC & Company, the City of New York’s official marketing organization.



Miriam Greenberg and Willy Wong



That chunky logo! Wong said it was a "window."



Art promoting NYC placed in other cities/countries



Miriam Greenberg, reading from her book, and Willy Wong



The creed of NYC and Co, sort of.

They sell flatware, y'all

They sell flatware, y'all., originally uploaded by Mark_Baratelli.

NYC Window display. Simple and not stupid.

Mark Baratelli: Press

5-21-07 AdRants: "This guy uses viral dissemination to push his improv cabaret act. We're trying to decide what to say about this besides "Hrm. Very earnest." But no, we can't think of anything."

Click here to view Acting Press

Nespresso cup spills digital details

OMG OMG OMG OMG (source)

Video: Gary Vaynerchuck, better than zero

I love this message. (Source)

Lauren Feldman HATES Robert Scoble

I dunno what to say about this. So many things.

Tan Lines: the book with the marketing video

Zoo York Guerilla: Logos on Roaches

Holy crap. Roach-vertising.

Barista: Latte and a Quarter Pounder to go please?

I wrote a post about Starbucks vs McDonalds then sent the link to a Barista friend for their thoughts. They start by describing watching that 3-hour video tape. I think they offer some excellent insider views.

Latte and a Quarter Pounder to go please?
by Anonymous Barista

3 hours...to learn again. Focus: The perfect espresso shot, the perfectly steamed pitcher of milk, and "legendary" customer service. It sounds great. It was great. Personal, in-depth, uplifting. Everything Starbucks is and is striving to become
again.

While I think it was a good experience. I don't think it will drastically make changes company wide. There is just to much room for variance.

Ohhh but changes we shall have. In my heart I would like to think that the changes we
see in Bucksland were not in fear of direct competition from the McLatte. In my heart I would like to think that they don't stand a chance against Starbucks, what with our
great atmosphere, great (mostly) partners, and quality beverages we will not see any decline in customers. In my heart I would like to think that Starbucks is and always will be the McChampion.

But...my heart tells me that I think wrong. Subtle changes are being made, and it's not making the news. You will notice. Colors will change. Wages will be challenged. Rumor is MCLatte will be offering a dollar more per hour in my neck of the woods for "previously trained" Baristas.

I think it is a whole new world for Starbucks corporation and no one is really sure what to do about. They are all sitting around a table pondering, what's next? what can we do?

Cheaper, easier to acquire, novel. That is what McLatte has. Starbucks is old news to a lot of people. And when Mr. Triple Venti Vanilla Latte crams his gas guzzling Dodge Ram in for a quick biscuit and finds that the latte is just as good and a dollar and a half cheaper, he's sold. Now, when the kiddies want to play in the fungus slides while chompin' on some nugs, he can sip his latte and surf Men's Health...all without blinking an eye.

Starbucks..bah...it's just that place where the college kids do their homework now. It's gotten dirtier, what with the cut in labor due to less customers. It's not as tempting.

I love my job and hope in the future that I get to keep it. We have excellent customers and excellent partners.

We just need to find a new "excellent" to sell.

Photo Credit: Neurosciencemarketing.com

Chik Fil A anti-cereal in-store campaign

Chik Fil A is attacking cereal in a cute table-top campaign that makes snide comments about cereal (it's boring, mundane, etc) on what looks like a row of mini cereal boxes. The names of each cereal are funny. The effort caught my eye and made me question the concept of cereal: why do we have it? Why do we not have real food for breakfast? So, it deserves a post on my blog. Kudos to Chik Fil A.

Wendys red wig sign makes camera phones snap

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I had lunch at a Wendy's with some friends and saw, for the first time, this cut-out sign. It's got a man's chest and neck with a red Wendy wig on top of the cut-out. This goes along with their tv ads I've seen. We thought the sign was funny and even took turns posing in it.

We found it engaging.

The people behind me found it engaging. (I could hear them talking about it.)

It started some chatter between us.

Then I discovered what I feel like is the real reason for this signage. Someone posted a photo of themselves on their myspace profile with their face in the Wendy's sign.

Hello!

Take-aways:

1. Give consumers something unique they can use their toys (ie: cameraphone) on.

2. The piece does not have to be involved, technical or labored...if the idea is awesome. This sign is made of cardboard and sits in the store.

3. Don't feel like you always need to help the consumer share your piece. They know how.