| Gaffey's May Newsletter - Monday, May 11, 2009
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Gaffey's May Newsletter
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| Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions. |
International Dairy Queen may be onto something. The fast food chain, which specializes in frozen treats, recently used a promotion to "bribe" bloggers to write about its new Sweet Deals Menu.
Are you fluent in Snacklish? Probably not. The nonsense language was invented by Mars Snackfood U.S. in support of its Snickers brand candy bars. Snacklish turns every word or name into something that reminds people of a Snickers bar.
It was hard work at the Winter X Games 13 competing against the world's best in snowboarding and other exhilarating (yet exhausting) activities. Recognizing this, Coca-Cola's line of Fuze juices and teas created the "Fuze Haven" at Aspen, CO.
The movie Watchmen, which is based on a popular Alan Moore graphic novel by the same name, has easily been the most heavily hyped and promoted film of the 2009 movie season so far. For much of February the ads were nearly impossible to miss, as was the buzz generated by the press. And, there was no shortage of logoed, collectible swag to feed the movie's frenzied fan base.
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| Gaffey's April Newsletter - Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Gaffey's April Newsletter
April 6, 2009
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The cold beverage category isn't exactly a hot place to be right now. Consumers are inudated with choices. Whether it's old-school cola or new-school antioxidant beverages, it's tough to stand out. At the same time, consumers are spending less on liquid refreshments.
Captain D's has a simple message for consumers: It has a sit-down quality food at fast-food prices. To announce this loud and clear, the 580-unit restaurant chain created a "What You Get" TV spot which took on Red Lobster head to head. People leaving Red Lobster restaurant were intercepted and asked to taste Captain D's food.
Kenny Powers is a former baseball star who returns to teach physical education at his old middle school. It sounds like a fairly wholesome plot, until you learn this new HBO show is executive produced by Will Ferrell and stars Danny McBride of Tropic Thunder and Pineapple Express fame.
Like many corporate decision-makers, marketers are under a lot of pressure. Agency decisions and creative work are under more scrutiny than at any time in recent history. So the digital branding and design firm Moosylvania decided to do something about it: try and comfort potential clients.
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April 2009
Welcome to promotion connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions.
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| Gaffey's March Newsletter - Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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March 2009
Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in our promotions.
Anyone who has ever attended college has likely experienced at least on battle of the bands competition. The scene generally involoves a few wannabe rock stars with semi-tuned instruments and loud amps. Boru Vodka, for the second year, decided to pay homage to these rockers via its online "Defend the Bar Band" competition.
Small- and medium-size businesses have a lot of online marketing agencies from which to choose. Still, agency OrangeSoda feels it has the best search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click offerings.
America hasn't exactly had a strong run of late when it comes to its workers. Many are struggling to make ends meet; others are fighting for their jobs. Dickies, the brand that outfits many of our hardest workers (as well as some hipsters), decided to honor the hard working men and women who give it their all each and every day.
Cuties, a cross between a sweet orange and a Chinese mandarin, knows that things can go ugly without the right marketing support. That's why when Cuties hit stores in November, it did so with a $7 million integrated marketing plan that included ads, promotions and events that positioned its product as a healthy snack option, especially for the children, in a fun, playful way.
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| Gaffey's February Newsletter - Wednesday, February 11, 2009
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February 2009
Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions. We are trying a new thing this month; we are going to send one section of our newsletter out each week. Let us know what you think!
If quirky marketing is your bag, then Crumpler may be your bag company. The Aussie carrying-accessory maker has been known to promote its line by holding "Beer for Bags" trading events in its stores and by putting its logo on fruit stickers in supermarkets.
Madagascar: The Crate Escape was a working title for the animated blockbuster Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Since several plot twists in the film series involve animals being crated of escaping crates, Paramount/DreamWorks wanted to promote the picture using plush animals presented in a crate.
Dragon boat racing originated as an ancient Chinese ritual intended to win the good graces of river dragons. Today, it's a widely growing sport, reminiscent of crew - and at least one group of cancer survivors has adpoted it as a way to win back their well-being. The group, called Dragon Boat Charleston, recently organized Charleston's first-ever Dragon Boat Festival.
On any given night, the clean-up hitter on minor league baseball's St. Paul Saints likely wouldn't be called skinny. Muscular maybe or occasionally a tad overweight, but for one week this past season, all the players we dubbed the "Skinny Saints." This was part of a unique naming rights deal that the Skinny Water brand struck with the team.
January $1000 Drawing winner is Kim Underwood from Des Peres, MO. Congratulations!
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| Gaffey's January Newsletter - Wednesday, January 07, 2009
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Happy New Year! January 2009
Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep
you informed of the latest trends in promotions.
We all know it's good to eat our fruits and vegetables. Now, Chiquita Brands is trying to make it even better. Consumers who purchase Chiquita and Fresh Express fruits and vegetables can earn "Fresh Funds". This "Healthy Rewards for Healthy Living" consumer loyalty program, launched in September, presents consumers with points redeemable for a host of prizes.
Hoping to add a little spring to its step, The Athlete's Foot began a rebranding effort earlier this year. The venerable athletic shoe and sportswear retailer has opted to move away from its name (which is also an itchy fungus) and toward the acronym, "TAF"
There's a pretty good chance that if you went to a Major League Baseball game this year after the All-Star break, you were exposed to a Sharp Aquos high-definition television. Sharp Electronics, which spent its second year as the official HDTV of MLB, ran a complete lineup of fan activities and promotions throughout the second half-season.
Making a storefront stand out from all the others in the same strip mall isn't easy to do - or is it? John Pflughoft, owner of Jodati Inc., dba Blockbuster, distinguishes his video stores with SkyDancers (www.skydancersintl.com) - "dancing" inflatables featuring a fan inside that continually pumps air through their bodies, making them sway, bend and "dance".
December $1000 Drawing Winner is Ann Alizabeth Delahanty from Louisville, KY. Congratulations!
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| Gaffey's December Newsletter - Tuesday, December 09, 2008
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Gaffey's December Newsletter
Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions. Read Promotion Connection to spark ideas and find out about upcoming marketing opportunities for your organization.
When your restaurant chain is called Biggest, naturally you want big promotional ideas - even for your kids' meal toys. For help, the El Salvador-based hamburger chain of that name turned to a kids' promotion specialist.
Every marketer of pharmaceuticals knows what a headache it is to try to reach busy physicians with new messages about their product and samples.
Thousands of students will have no excuse for forgetting their notebooks this semester. Brands ranging from AT&T to Warner Bros. have opted to sponsor the All By Students multi-subject notebook.
This year's Pepsi 500 had a lot more competition going on than just a car race. The NASCAR event served as the backdrop for a three-day singing competition.
November $1000 Drawing Winner is Matthew Loessin from Columbus, TX. Congratulations!
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| Gaffey's November Newsletter - Monday, November 03, 2008
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Last year, independent label Bluhammock Music created the first ever Blu Party to showcase its artist and keep live music in the mix at upscale events in the Hamptons
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| Office Items Get the Job Done for Staffing Service |
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On-the-job training is an essential part of business, but what about on-the-job marketing? It works for creative-staffing firm The Boss Group. The company makes sure to provide the talent it places with plenty of Boss-branded goods to use in the offices where they're working.
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| Gaffey's October Newsletter - Wednesday, October 08, 2008
| October 2008 |
Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions. Read Promotion Connection to spark ideas and find out about upcoming marketing opportunities for your organization.
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| • Sandwich Chain Cooks up Environmental Promos |
When a company is based on an island as beautiful as Puerto Rico, it's easy to see why they'd take an interest in preserving the environment. Besides sponsoring beach clean-up events and awareness-raising programs at school and hospitals, El Meson Sandwiches incorporates environmental and other public-service messages in their kids' meal toys.
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| • Plush Mailing Stirs up Pandamonium for Restaurant |
In their natural habitat in China, panda bears eat almost nothing but bamboo. Does that mean they're an odd choice as ambassadors for a new beef-centered menu item at a restaurant? Not when the restaurant is Panda Express, a leading Chinese quick-service chain with more than 1,000 outlets.
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| • Flash Drive Makes Plug for Performance Group |
It's kind of hard to categorize Blue Man Group. The offbeat show revolves around three mute, bald, painted-blue performers who combine comedy and technology with percussion-heavy music played on instruments made from PVC piping and other unusual materials.
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| • Humane Society is Barking up Right Tree |
Upfront gifts from non-profits to prospective donors are nothing new, but they're usually low-cost items like address labels, greeting cards and notepads. Not so with a recent mailing from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
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| • September $1000 Drawing Winner |
September $1000 Drawing Winner is Mandy Murphy from Dallas, TX. Congratulations!
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| Gaffey's September Newsletter - Wednesday, September 10, 2008
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7-Eleven Rocks Out with Branded Guitar Picks
Convenience store chain 7-Eleven was looking to get consumers to 'walk this way' right into its stores with its May Guitar Hero: Aerosmith promotion.
USB Ports Prove to be the Right Choice
Human resources professionals are busy people. Besides hiring and firing employees, quarterbacking 401(k) programs and spearheading training initiatives for the company, they are also responsible for health-care decisions.
Monroe Says 'Save a Squirrel'
Monroe Shocks and Struts has a message for all the animal lovers of the world: "replacing worn ride control components could improve vehicle steering, stopping and stability - and just might save the life of an innocent squirrel darting across the street."
Green T-shirts Against Toxicity
Computer screens, cell phones adn microwave ovens contain all sorts of toxic elements, so it's best not to put them in a hole in the ground when they're no longer of use. But, the reality is most of these items are carted away and put in landfills.
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Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed on the latest trends in promotions. Read Promotion Connection to spark ideas and find out about upcoming marketing opportunities for your organization. |
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| Gaffey's August Newsletter - Thursday, August 07, 2008
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 August 2008Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions. Read Promotion Connection to spark ideas and find out about upcoming marketing opportunites for your organization.
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Wall-E Sees Trinkets as Treasure
For many video game marketing programs, choosing the right promotional product takes a little creativity. Marketing the latest action game or kids' title may not offer some obvious choices. This wasn't the case for video developer THQ Inc. when it came time to promote Wall-E video game which hit shelves June 27.
Tecate Gets a Kick Out of Authentic Soccer Promos
With category leader Corona experiencing soft sales, Tecate is looking to take the opportunity to establish itself as the authentic Mexican beer. One of its strategies to show consumers its heritage was by holding its "Futbol Tecate" events throughout the month of July.
Dippin' Dots' Journey to the Center of the Earth
For the up-and-coming frozen treats company Dippin' Dots, its movie tie-in with New Line Cinema's Journey to the Center of the Earth was a big deal.
IHOP's Most Valuable Pancake Butters Up Fans
For half a century, the International House of Pancakes has been stacking them tall or stacking them short. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the popular breakfast chain has hit the road. For May to September, "IHOP's Discover America Road Tour" will hit 61 Minor League Baseball games in 27 cities across 8,500 miles.
The July $1000 Drawing winner is Melissa Wood from Fort Mill, SC. Congratulations!
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| Gaffey's July Newsletter - Wednesday, July 09, 2008
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Green-Focused Campaign Delivers for Postal Service
It's an ongoing marketing dilemma: How can advertisers prevent their direct-mail pieces being perceived as junk mail? The United States Postal Service (USPS) has one idea: Make sure your mailings are as eco-friendly as possible - and they've designed a new "environmentalist" campaign to help marketers do it.
Plush Mailing Stirs up "Pandamonium"
In their natural habitat in China, panda bears eat almost nothing but bamboo. Does that mean they're an odd choice as ambassadors for a new beef-centered menu item at a restaurant? Not when the restaurant is Panda Express, a leading Chinese quick-service chain with more than 1,000 outlets.
Healthcare Promo Is Fine Specimen of Marketing
When HealthPartners adopted the slogan "A New Way to Look at Healthcare," they wanted to make sure their marketing looked different, too. "When we reviewed ads from our competitors, we found a lot of very similar, unremarkable ads," says Larissa Rodriguez, director of care-delivery marketing. "We decided to do something that would make out online patient services stand out - something unique and fin that would create a buzz and get people talking."
Sandwich Chain Cooks up Environmental Promos
When a company is based on an island as beautiful as Puerto Rico, it's easy to see why they'd take an interest in preserving the environment. Besides sponsoring beach clean-up events and awareness-raising programs at schools and hospitals, El Meson Sandwiches incorporates environmental and other public-service messages in their kids' meal toys.
The June $1000 Drawing winner is Jonathan Thornton from Westminster, CO. Congratulations!
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JULY 2008
Welcome to Promotion Connection, our monthly newsletter to keep you informed of the latest trends in promotions. Read Promotion Connection to spark ideas and find out about upcoming marketing opportunities for your organization.
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