Wine for Homosexual Men

There seems to be a growing number of brands targeting the lucrative gay consumer market, a trend that has been exemplified by certain bespoke services that target the gay consumer directly. In recent years we have seen a banking service, hotels, wedding boutiques, restaurants and travel websites specifically target gay consumers. The recent addition to this growing trend is the introduction of a Spanish wine, specifically marketed to homosexual men. UO! is a new brand of wine created with gay men in mind, with the packaging and website imagery tailored accordingly.

The winemakers describe their offering by defining the Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo as a blend, featuring earth tones and "wisps of flowers and fruit – the perfect accompaniment to a gathering of friends on a hot day, whether the heat comes from within or without." Antinoo, meanwhile, is a Monastrell that's "young and mature, fruity, elegant, smooth…Mediterranean.... When you try it, shut your eyes and imagine that you are licking rivulets of syrup from his body.” This is merely one example of a niche brand that has decided to targeted the growing homosexual market, and has done so successfully.

via:springwise.com

Armchair Experts Recognised

In an attempt to tap into the unlimited source of sporting knowledge that most fans seem to think they have, Nissan Canada, in conjunction with the Canadian Football League, has launched the first ever open source football ‘platform’.


The site allows fans to log on and submit their own American Football moves for their chosen team. All submissions are then ranked according to user generated votes, with the winner crowned ‘Armchair Hero’, as well as winning tickets to the cup final.

Is seems like a highly interactive campaign with some built-in longevity. A simple, well-executed idea that I wished I had thought of.

Via - Contagious

Louis Vuitton Book Promotion

Louis Vuitton will soon be releasing a book called Art and Creation, aimed at the young and aspirant who are continuing to place increasing importance to design. The book is set to cover topics ranging from fashion, art to architecture.

The brand has taken an interesting direction in promoting the new publication in the form of a beautifully crafted online trailer, which should certainly appeal to those with an appreciation for creativity.

Via - Adverblog

Importance Of The Big Picture

It seems that Miley Cyrus, of Disney’s Hannah Montana fame, has recently joined the host of other Hollywood A-listers in adopting a hybrid car in their collective effort to show how environmentally conscious and aware they are. Many of these celebrity early-adopters of Toyota’s Prius such as Leonardo Di Caprio and Cameron Diaz no doubt helped the Japanese brand immensely in their bid to be recognized as the first choice in environmentally conscious motoring. Actors who are of a less serious nature such as Will Ferrell and Jack Black also proclaim their undying love for their Prius. Even Prince Charles has converted his beloved 38 year-old Aston Martin to run on processed wine in a Royal bid to save the globe from an eventual and inevitable meltdown. What is amazing, however, is the little known fact that a Prius is far more environmentally unfriendly than some SUV’s currently gracing our roads if one took into account the manufacturing process and life cycle of the car - as many of it’s components are manufactured and produced in a very inefficient manner.

Many people praise the Prius for their fuel efficiency under city driving, but could it be that we have all become so used to technology that we have forgotten that we can simply switch the car off with the turn of a key to save fuel when we’re stuck in a traffic jam?

The automotive industry has born the brunt of the wrath from environmentalists for gradually destroying our planet. On the face of it, the criticism might seem justified. The functioning of modern cars has not fundamentally changed since the first Model T. Apart from the ever-advancing safety features, cars are fundamentally still driven by fossil fuels in internal-combusting engines. Just about every single one of them. Considering the sheer number of cars there are on our roads worldwide, the attack on the automotive industry really seems the most logical for most people.

But consider this for a second. In 2007, the UN published a 400-page report, entitled Livestock's Long Shadow, highlighting the damage done by sheep, chickens, pigs and goats. In almost every case, the world's 1.5 billion cattle are most to blame. Livestock are responsible for 18% of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together.

Added to the negative contribution by the livestock, burning fuel to produce fertiliser to grow feed, to produce meat and to transport it - and clearing vegetation for grazing - produces 9% of all emissions of carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas. And their wind and manure emit more than one third of emissions of methane, another harmful by-product which warms the world 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.

The list goes on. Livestock also produces more than 100 other polluting gases, including more than two-thirds of the world's emissions of ammonia, one of the main causes of acid rain.

Wouldn’t it make sense then, for all those who claim to care about the environment to reduce their meat consumption first of all, rather than changing their cars? Or why not choose a diesel-driven sedan that independent test have verified as far more fuel-efficient than the Prius under mixed driving conditions? Could it be that their choice of cars is simply a way of easily showing that they genuinely care about the environment, rather than actually having to go the whole mile and changing all of their habits that may cause harm to the environment?

Cross-referencing a list of about 40 Prius-toting celebrities, only about 10% of them are vegetarians too. Is it that they aren’t as serious about saving the environment as they claim, or could it be that they, like millions of regular folks out there, simply jumped on the car-bashing campaign without understanding the other causes of our environmental downfall?

THE BIG PICTURE

It is the very complicated idea of global-warming that has led a lot of people, however well intentioned, to focus on issues that might not be the most direct contributors to the plight of our planet.

While we can all make minor changes to our lifestyles in order to better the world that we share - to do so without fully understanding all the causes would surely mean that we wouldn’t be as efficient in dealing with the problem as we could be. To denounce those with an interest or stake in the automotive industry seems full of hypocrisy.

Yet another example of those who are so ready to jump on the green consciousness movement without fully seeing the big picture can be found on Facebook. A quick search for the term “green consciousness” returned 145 groups, along with countless profiles of users who claim that they care for the environment. But do they know that by being part of the Facebook community, they are in fact helping to produce as much as half of the carbon emissions as that produced by the whole of New York City?

Added to which, Facebook has recently become a popular destination for photo sharing for users. With around 10 billion photos already uploaded on Facebook, and 4 separate file sizes per photo saved by the company, the company officially holds 40 billion photo files. 33 billion of these files were loaded on Facebook servers within the last 18 months alone.

This equates to 30000 photos uploaded onto Facebook per second, meaning that 38500 kW per second are needed to enable photo-uploads alone – or 124 cars with 309 kW running at maximum capacity per second to fuel this photo-sharing addiction.

WHAT ABOUT NOW?

It’s clear that the world is in trouble, of that there’s no doubt. But the inevitable question arises as to what we do to try and turn a dire situation around. Some of the world’s savviest investors have already placed billions of their own dollars on funding the development of green technology. They have recognized that the current downward spiral in terms of our environment will eventually lead to a host of solutions from bright minds from all over the world, and they have placed their bets accordingly in the hopes of a major payout a few years down the line.

But what can us mere mortals do about helping the environment in the mean time? Obviously we need to all do our bit to conserve energy and limit harmful output until a better, more financially viable option becomes available. But most importantly, we need to ensure that we are focusing our angst in the right direction by understanding the big picture, without which we could all very well land up driving, in Jeremy Clarkson’s words, “’orrible eco-boxes” that produces far more environmentally harmful by-products in the car’s lifetime than more “traditional cars”.

Companies that are providing consumers with far more balanced motoring options – with a long-term view and continuous improvements to providing greener options should be applauded for their efforts, and supported accordingly.

Motoring isn’t merely about transportation. It’s the joy resulting from the sense of freedom and independence one derives from driving that has made cars as popular as they are today. Let’s not lose that element of fun in our bid to latch on to temporary, and often inaccurate and inefficient ways to solve the environmental problem.

Brand History Made Interesting

Johnnie Walker's latest viral effort is a fantastic example of the power of a simple idea coupled with consistent brand messaging can be so compelling.

Beautifully written and executed in one single shot lasting around 6 minutes by BBH London and starring Robert Carlyle, this is one history lesson you'd willingly sit through again and again.

Via - Campaign Live

Nokia’s Smartest Phone Ever

In a world where the efficiency and technology on your phone affects your productivity, a phone is no longer a tool used only for voice calls. Brands that where not traditionally ‘cell phone brands’ such as Apple and LG have challenged the more established cell phone manufacturers and are leading the race in innovation and usability. Nokia has responded with the N97, Nokia’s smartest phone so far.

The N97 is the first Nokia phone to use a large touch display, but also has the traditional key pad for those who are not entirely comfortable with touch screens. It is also the most powerful smart phone with 32GB internal storage. The innovation includes live, up to the minute, news updates and Facebook live page. With so much competition in the technology and cell phone industry, the consumer is the ultimate winner as Nokia takes on the competition.

Via: nokia.com

S.A Business Schools Defy Recession

While a majority of the business sectors are experiencing the negative effects of the economic downturn, with many businesses struggling to survive; the South African business school environment is defying the recession.

Although these institutions are modest about declaring their worth, the income generated annually by Wits annual is estimated at R1bn. Some Business schools' annual turnover is well over R100m. Wits signed a single R23m contract with a parastatal last month. The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has begun work on a new R450m campus at their Soweto Campus. Pretoria University's Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) has recently completed a R100m expansion. All of this proves that Business School brands are recession resistant.

Demand for executive programs such as the MBA qualification has never been so high in South Africa. This demand is in line with International trends. Jeanette Purcell, CE of the London based association of MBAs states that, “International demands for executive education have hit record levels”. The result is a greater demand on business school brands to ensure effective communication to gain control of this booming industry.

Via: Financial Mail

Coca-Cola - Freestyle

Coca-Cola, seeking to give more freedom to consumers' desire for exclusivity and customisation, has launched what they termed as "the soda fountain of the future".


Called Freestyle, these dispensers are set to offer more than 100 flavor options. There are traditional sodas, flavored waters, carbonated or non-carbonated beverages, energy drinks and so on.

Apart from the highly technical nature required for these machines in order to ensure purity of taste for each drink, they are also installed with a communications system that allows business data to be sent back to Coke's headquarters in Atlanta. The machines upload data about beverage consumption, peak times, and popular locations. Coke can also talk back to the machine, letting it know if a particular flavor needs to be discontinued or recalled and causing it to stop serving the drink immediately.

Below is the first look at the machine's touchscreen interface, designed by Bsquare Corporation.

Via - Fastcompany

Interactive Digital Graffiti

For decades graffiti artists have been actively fighting for their skills to be accepted as an art form, yet society still associates it with vandalism. A UK based company called YR Wall, is set to change all perceptions about graffiti.

The company is launching an interactive digital graffiti wall. The wall avoids the typical negative connotations associated with graffiti, as no paint is used. Graffiti artists paint on a projection screen using a can that's actually an infra-red beam controlled by a button and tracked using a computer vision system.

The spray can’s button works like a cordless mouse and each can is connected to a specific colour. Although this form of virtual digital graffiti will not match the adrenaline of real street graffiti it is a solid contribution to the graffiti renaissance and enables the public to truly celebrate graffiti as an art form.

via: yrwall.com

The Aston Martin You Won't Want

Behold the prototype Aston Martin Cygnet - which is likely to go into production in the 'not too distant future', according to Aston Martin and expected to be priced at about £20,000.

According to Aston Martin's chief executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, the Aston Martin Cygnet will 'apply Aston Martin design language, craftsmanship and brand values to a new segment of the market'.

Why then, is the baby Aston based on one of the most accessible and mass produced cars in the world, the Toyota iQ?

With the downturn in the world economy no doubt affecting the sales figures for the luxury marquee, it's understandable that Aston Martin would need some kind of a boost in order to stay afloat. But is this the best way to go about it or has Dr Bez simply lost his mind?

Via - Brandchannel

Enjoy A BigMac While Your Car Recharges

The trouble with the idea of rechargeable electric vehicles is the lack of infrastructure to support the system. Sales for rechargeable cars would not take off until there are convenient recharging stations and with international corporations so far being fairly lackluster in installing such systems the concept has yet to gain the momentum as was initially touted.

McDonald's, in collaboration with a company called NovaCharge, seems as though they are about to change the status-quo. The fast food chain is said to install special hybrid parking in a new North Carolina chain, complete with electric vehicle charging stations. NovaCharge’s ChargePoint Network system is a connected model that provides subscription-based access for owners of rechargeable electric cars.

It has been reported that batteries would take between 2 and 4 hours to charge, which is somewhat longer than what an average consumer would like to spend at McDonald's, no doubt. However, it is a fantastic initiative and with McDonald's vast global footprint, they can really make a difference if they chose to.

Via - RedFerret

Kanye West – Louis Vuitton Collaboration.

In a first for French luxury fashion giant Louis Vuitton, the brand has collaborated with American based Hip Hop artist Kanye West to create limited edition designer Louis Vuitton sneakers.

Marc Jacobs, Creative Director for the Louis Vuitton, approached Kanye West after the success of his collaboration with Nike. Kanye West and Nike collaborated to create the Nike Air Yeezy in 2003. Louis Vuitton is launching ten Marc Jacob designs of the Don sneaker.

West commented on the collaboration by saying “I’ve always stressed my passion for design and Louis Vuitton is at the forefront of groundbreaking design”. The sneakers launched in the U.S on the 6^th of July at $ 650 (R5 200) per pair.

Via:headhoncho.com

Expressing Transparency

Air New Zealand has recently launched a new campaign in oder to highlight the company's policy of transparency. Whereas other airlines have increasingly been adding hidden charges in order to supplement constantly falling revenue, Air New Zealand believes that they have nothing to hide.

The campaign, which includes print and a 45 second TVC, as well as a re-made safety video, have already brought Air New Zealand a lot of attention. The campaign features the Air New Zealand staff carrying out their daily duties in uniforms that has been painted on using body-paint. The usually boring safety instruction video, called the "Bare Essentials of Safety" are also given by employees who are nude except for body paint and strategically placed seat belts and can be viewed on YouTube.

The commercial, "Nothing to Hide" has already been viewed over 2 million times on YouTube since the 6th of May, when it was originally uploaded.

Via - New York Times

Micro-financing via Cellular Phones

Entrepreneurs in developing countries have had difficulty bridging the technological divide between their countries and the technologically advanced western world. Innovative attempts to catalyse development in poor countries through the use of computers; in initiatives such as Kiva and C4 world have failed. These initiatives are aimed at bridging the gap between Western and African entrepreneurs by offering mentorship and micro-financing via websites.

There are more budding entrepreneurs with cell phones compared to those with computers. Mobile Movement has introduced a mobile phone solution that will enable entrepreneurs in developing countries to gain access to micro finance and mentoring from western donors by using their cellular phones.

The process works as follows: potential financiers and mentors view the profiles of entrepreneurs and business ideas from developing countries through a central secure website. The financiers can place a comment and the system then sends that message directly to the entrepreneur’s cell phone. When the entrepreneur replies, the system notifies the interested financier. The final steps are done entirely via cell phone, the financier can transfer money to fund the entrepreneur via paypal and continue mentoring them via sms. The system is a solid attempt in establishing a stronger relationship between businessmen in the western and developing countries. Lets all hope the criminal element, which is a virus for development, does not spoil the party.

Via: springwise.com

JetBlue's Innovative Launch

In a bid to build buzz for its new routes from New York's JFK and Boston's Logan International to LAX, JetBlue airline is counting on a stream of tweets and videos produced by a host of YouTube "stars".

The airline has used a plane complete with wireless internet access in order to facilitate constant streaming for the JFK-to-LAX flight.

All of the content producers received a free flight but most received no other monetary compensation. A few were paid by Howcast to produce how-to videos featuring JetBlue. The airline requested that all the bloggers to disclose the relationship in whatever videos they produce and to keep them "family-friendly."

The experimental campaign was supported with billboard and radio to support the online content.

Via - AdAge

Solar Supecar

Swedish supercar marque Koenigsegg has joined forces with NLV Solar AG, a company specialising in the accumulation of solar energy to produce the first solar powered supercar.

The companies have agreed to create a test vehicle with a new and unique propulsion system which enhances solar power combined with an energy accumulator unit. The car, named Quant, will feature a thin solcar-cell film, giving it a striking new look which should attract a lot of attention when it's unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Salon.


According to Koenigsegg: "The projected curb weight of 1780 kg is very light considering that it is a battery-powered, four-seater, luxury performance car. This is partly due to the two-motor installation which weighs in at only 140 kg – a remarkable achievement considering the power output of 512 hp and maximum torque of 715 nm which allows the Quant to deliver 0–100 km/h in 5.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 275 km/h."

Truly impressive specs from a marquee known for truly impressive super cars.

Via - Koenigsegg

Your Perfect VW Via Twitter

VW recently launched an initiative aimed at helping Twitterers everywhere find their perfect Volswagen.

VW set up a rich media banner which invites users to submit their Twitter profile name, which is analysed by the system and returns with a recommendation of the perfect VW according to your charateristics.

It's a great example of a brand integrating itself into new consumer environments in a non-obtrusive yet simple way.

Via - Adverblog

Pep's Pep Talk Goes Viral

It'd seem that the secret behind FC Barcelona's recent Champions League triumph over Manchester United is out, and has gone viral in a very short period of time.

Barcelona's young and enigmatic coach Pep Guardiola enlisted the help of The National Catalonian TV to edit a video which was shown to Barcelona players prior to kick-off as a new and unusual form of motivation. The clip highlighted the best of Barcelona's 08/09 Season which was mixed with scene's from the blockbuster hit Gladiator.

According to Viralblog, the clip has now gone viral and has amassed over a million views on YouTube within 4 days of it's YouTube debut. It's an amazing example of the power of internal branding and demonstrates that when everyone within your organisation pulls together for a common purpose, the eventual success and word-of-mouth for your brand yields a far higher return on your initial investment.

Via - ViralBlog

Pay As You Want Advertising Agency

With the recent global recesion, businesses have had to adopt strategies that will enable them to survive this economic downturn. One of the uncharacteristic business behaviors as a result of the recession is businesses are adopting pay-as-you-want schemes. Magazines, restaurants and hotels have led the way, now an advertising agency in the U.K is offering its clients a payment option that allows them to pay what they think the work is worth.

The briefing process begins when client submits a work request form with Agency Nil. Using temporary, freelance staff and recent graduates, the agency gets the work done by the deadline requested. It's then up to the client to decide how much the work is worth. There are standard costs that are agreed on before work commences these include: travel, proprietary research tools and production.

Lebber the co founder of the advertising agency states “The system has been terribly lopsided for a while now, and I hope this can be the start of a breaking point in the industry on some level. It won't depress the market—the price will still come up and down, and work will get done just the same. Except now, it won't be based on a set amount of hours to fill or stay under, and work can get done for work's sake. For quality's sake. For the client's sake."

Via: agencynil.com

Dr Pepper Speaks A New Language

Dr Pepper, a distinctly American brand, has reached out to the youthful Hispanic market with their latest initiative.

Vida23 (meaning living one's life to the 23 flavours found in Dr Pepper) includes three main components. The first and biggest of the efforts involves a gigantic tractor-trailer that serves as the roving home for "Club23" - a Dr Pepper-themed mobile dance club and gaming center.

On the campaign site, users can download an exclusive song written specifically for the campaign and add their own flavour to it by remixing the track. Information for when and where the Vida23 mobile dance club/gaming centre will feature can also be found on the site.

With Dr Pepper expecting to spend between $15 million and $18 million on Hispanic advertising this year, the bold initiative should go some way to ensure that this important and increasingly confident target market adopts the brand within their core brand repertoire.

Via - Hispanic Marketing Weekly

Retail Dramatised

Furniture shopping is usually not a dramatic experience. One usually decides on the budget, shops around until you find the right item and then begrudgingly hand over the cash in exchange for your item - a myth IKEA London aims to dispel with their latest initiative called Flat Pack - The Opera.

The guerrilla campaign features an opera show performed in front of an unsuspecting audience for four nights only. The show takes advantage of ready-made Ikea sets to represent different areas of domestic life, while a guide helps the audience navigate from one scene to another. Customers can also take advantage of a special "opera meal deal" served in-store.

The interesting initiative should give the retailer a lot of worldwide PR which would serve to further highlight the brand's innovative spirit.

Via - Flat Pack

Bad Times Boot Camp For Retrenched Professionals

The American economy contracted at a surprisingly sharp 6.1 percent rate in the first quarter as exports and business inventories plummeted. Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the current global recession will "surely be the longest and deepest" since the 1930s.The global recession has resulted in more than one million job losses in the U.S.

An American personal trainer Alex Light has created free boot camp classes for retrenched professionals. The concept aims to help unemployed people get fit and boost morale during the hard times. Light himself a victim of the recession states “the training is held 3 times-a-week, we aim to get fit and meet new people. With hard work and dedication together we will find the solutions to our individual problems.”

Light now hopes to spread the concept across the globe, pursuing sponsorships in order to keep the classes free and become self employed. Light hopes that when the recession ends the people will get employment and continue training as paying customers.

via:Badtimesbootcamp.com