#ifihadglass: Application for Awesomeness

For those of you who haven’t yet heard of Google Glass, stop reading my blog and go check this out (but come back after). My attempt at explaining it would not do it justice.

Up to date? Good. Google Glass is about to change the world as we know it. It basically does everything your iPhone does without having an iPhone. Only Google could come up with a product this innovative. I bet Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave that Apple didn’t hatch this first.

The technology is only $1,500, which is close to nothing if you really think about what it does. But the money is not the issue, Google Glass is starting small, only allowing a select group of people to purchase the product. How do you get selected? Basically you get 50 words, 5 pictures, and 15 seconds to convince Google you’re awesome enough to own Glass. Am I awesome enough to own Glass? Probably not. Am I going to apply? Hell fuckin yeah!

The company is taking a very smart and well thought out approach with this limited edition launch. They’re releasing a product that is innovative and unparalleled to an exclusive group of people. This will obviously “up” the hype and drive techies crazy, that way when they launch the product to the public, the buyer desire will be HUGE. This also gives them a chance to test the product and see what types of improvements need to be made. Since you have to apply, there’s going to be some really awesome people doing some really awesome things with glass, which will give Google some BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL advertising material.

All I can say is, check it out. I’ll post my application upon completion.

You should apply too!

Paying it forward: The $5 Lesson

Last week, through a class I’m currently in called Green Brand Strategies, we were given the opportunity to present a strategy plan to Kevin Tuerff, the genius behind Enviromedia. Enviromedia is an agency based out of Austin, Texas that believes that doing the right thing is not only “the right thing” but the best business tactics. They work exclusively with brands who have already committed to or have an authentic desire to do right by mother nature and human kind. You might wonder what kind of person it takes to have enough guts to build an agency- in an industry that is so often dubbed deceitful and shady- that truly strives to save the world one brand at a time. That kind of person is Kevin Tuerff. Now, I don’t know Kevin well, and I don’t want to write about my analysis of his psyche that led him to where he is today, but I will tell you how ten minutes of his time changed my outlook on life and reaffirmed why I am going down the career path that I am.

Kevin stood up in front of our class, 45 passionate but nervous college students, quickly introduced himself, and then retrieved a full envelope from his pocket and stated “I am going to do something I have never done before”. He walked up and down the aisles handing out 5 dollar bills to every single student in the class room. “This is the first time- and probably the last- you’re ever going to be paid to o to class” he joked. As we all hesitantly took our share from the man most of us considered to be a demi-god, the explanation came. Kevin told us how on 9/11/2011 he flew on a plane from Paris that was supposed to land in New York City, because of the terrorist attacks, his plane was forced to make an emergency landing in a remote town of Northern Europe. The small village took in all of the passengers and hosted them until they could return to New York City. Kevin explained how this experience, and the kindness of random strangers, changed him forever. His agency now runs an annual “Random Acts of Kindness Week” which happened to fall on his visit to Eugene. The five dollars were a challenge for each of us to go out, and not buy $5 worth of beer, but do something random and kind for another.

I chose to keep the 5 dollar bill Kevin gave me. Its currently stuck to my wall above my desk as a reminder to do good everyday and that small acts of kindness make the world a better place. But DON’T WORRY, I’m not being stingy. I promise to use another 5 dollar bill to answer Kevin’s challenge when the right moment presents itself. Stay tuned. (Check out #payitforward to see what my peers did with their $5)

Babylandia, Beyonce, Blackouts, and Brandbowl: an Ad major’s perspective of SBXLVII

I am a football fan. Kind of. I grew up in a football family and go to one of the best college football schools in the nation. I love cheering on my teams, but to be honest, unless its the Ducks or GB Packers (I must have a thing for green and yellow), I kind of lose investment.  However, the Super Bowl is one of those things that you just don’t miss. Its the pinnacle of the game, the best of the best. Its anti-American not to at least pretend to enjoy it. This year, however, it wasn’t just the football or peer pressure calling me to watch the game. It was brands and Beyonce. Any culturally aware person knows that the Superbowl is supposed to show the best of the best of TV commercials. It’s the greatest time of year to watch TV! Here is my personal review of the best and worst of Brand Bowl 2013 with a few extra shout outs (Beyonce)!

For a complete list of all the ads in order (with video) click here.

Audi “Prom” (Venables, Bell and Partners): Top 5 favorite ads of the night. Can I date this kid? Audi did an amazing job of bringing youth and recklessness to a brand usually targeted to 40-something lawyers. How can you not be on this kid’s team? This commercial was original, relevant, and perfectly executed.

Hyundai “Team” (Innocean): This ad combines a fearless kid, great storyline, kickass music, and a really smart tagline (gather your team). Perfectly timed to be aired at the Superbowl, the only thing this ad left me wanting was to see this kid’s team kick the bullies ass at football. Hyundai’s commercial will strike chords with soccer (football) moms everywhere.

Go Daddy “perfect match” (Deutsch NY): Ew. Wait, what? They’re still kissing? Ew. I’m gonna go grab a drink. BRB. Well you gotta admit, Go Daddy really outdid themselves with this one. I heard it took 45 takes to get the scene right? Poor Bar Refaeli…

Doritos “Goat For Sale” (N/A): Don’t get it.

Best Buy “Ask Amy” (CP+B): I feel like this advertisement was trying to capitalize on Amy’s outlandish and sometimes immature persona, but for me, its missed the mark. I would’ve expected more from one of America’s funniest people and one of the best ad agencies in the world.

Coca Cola “Cameras” (Wieden +Kennedy): W+K killed it again with this ad. Sweetly ironic and purely optimistic, this ad accomplishes the great challenge, which is to take something not necessarily connected to the brand and connect it successfully. This takes skill, creativity, and knowledge of human emotion. This commercial has all 3.

Oreo “Whisper Fight” (Wieden + Kennedy): When I first saw this ad during the game, I couldn’t hear the whispering, so I was very confused. On watching it a second time, this ad nails it! Check out how Oreo and W+K is doing what every good brand should be doing, taking social media outlets to the next level. Check out their Cookies vs. Creme campaign on Instagram.

Calvin Klein “Concept” (Baron + Baron and CK in-house agency): I like looking at hot male bodies as much as the next girl, but I was not a fan of this one. What’s this ad for again? Motor oil? Oh.. no, wait, cologne? All my guy friends are texting/getting up to grab beer. Bring back the football players.

Bud Light “Journey” (Translation): I have mixed feelings on this one. While this ad was pretty weird and a little difficult to follow, their campaign tagline of “It’s only weird if it doesn’t work” is PURE GOLD.

Go Daddy “Your Big Idea” (Deutsch NY): This was Go Daddy’s redemption ad and by far the most relevant advertisement for their services that anyone has ever seen. They should’ve been doing this a long time ago.

Budweiser “Brotherhood” (Anomaly): All I can say is “YES”. Top 5 ads of the night. Good god, who thought Budweiser and Clydesdale could be such softies. And setting this story of brotherhood against “Landslide”. My first commercial tears of the night go to this ad.

Taco Bell “Viva Young” (Deutsch LA): Loved the commercial- who wouldn’t love some octogenarians YOLO-ing- but why is this song in spanish? Kind of makes it seem like a cheap ripoff of the Chevy Sonic Super Bowl 2012 ads that made that song so epic.

HALFTIME: HOLY SHIT HALLELUJAH BEYONCE! She is unreal. The most amazing singer, performer, woman, mom, ever! She is absolutely so fierce and she simultaneously made males and females alike fall in love with her while also breaking their hearts at the realization we will never be here/date her. Also, bringing back Destiny’s Child? Yes please! Thank. You. Beyonce.

Chrysler’s Jeep “America Will be Whole Again” (Global Hue): Another Top 5. Some have called it exploitation, but I think it truly was about having the guts to touch on one of America’s current heartbreaks, and it was necessary to show their new partnership with USO. I have family serving in Afghanistan and watching military homecomings is my soft spot. Second tears of the night award go to this commercial. And of course they had to make it a whole two minutes, right? AND they used Oprah!?! Bring on the Kleenex.

Blackberry “Z10” (BBDO London): In an iPhone world, you’ve got to be creative to break through. Many smart phone ads fall flat in trying to be the iPhone. This advertisement takes the opposite approach and I think it works. Showing the things the Z10 can’t do is original, gutsy, and stands out among the iPhone wannabes.

Meanwhile at the Super Dome:

Back to the ads…

Wonderful Pistachios “PSY Get Crackin” (created in-house): No, just no. PSY is over. Gungnam Style is hopefully over. This ad was too little too late.

Ram Trucks “Farmer” (Richards Group): Another holy shit Top 5 moment. This may not have been the most original ad I’ve ever seen, but it was 2 minutes of pure passion. My grandpa is a rancher/farmer in Montana and I swear this commercial was written about him. And are you kidding me? Whats a better way to appeal to a bunch of football watching Americans than with farmers, trucks, and God. This commercial uses beautiful imagery and one of the most powerful monologues I’ve ever heard.

Kia “Space Babies” (David & Goliath): This is my final Top 5 award of the bowl. How can you not love this commercial? Babies and baby animals dressed as astronauts? Super funny and any parent can relate to this situation.

Overall, the game, the ads, and the half time show made this year’s Super Bowl a success.

I will leave you with this.

Starbucks’ new reusable cups: responsible branding or greenwashing?

My Green Brand Strategies class has changed me to be come an observer and critic of consumer waste and “green” practices. I hate to admit this, but I probably throw away (or recycle when available) 7 paper coffee cups a week. One per day. Thats 7 cups, 7 cardboard sleeves, and 7 plastics lids. In a year, thats 2,555! Not great for the environment, I’ve got to change. I went into a Starbucks to get a coffee and saw that they were now selling reusable cups for a dollar. A DOLLAR! Great deal, right? Pre-J460-me would have thought so, but with my new knowledge on sustainability in branding, I decided to look into this a little further. And here is what I found.

-The cups are reportedly made to last for a month if used everyday. After that, they need to be recycled.

-The cups are made with a polypropylene commonly referred to as #5 Plastic. This material is used in many types of containers and packaging and commonly ends up in landfills because it is difficult to recycle and most counties do not have the resources to do so. 

-At a dollar once a month, consumers who choose to use the Starbucks reusable cup will be saving Starbucks the expense of paper cups and generating steady revenue for the company. 

-Free advertising! Consumers who purchase the cup with be sharing the Starbucks logo and new perceived “green image” with the consumer market. “Wow, look at Starbucks doing good things for the environment. I think I’m going to start buying my coffee there so I can get a reusable cup too”. 

-The cups generate repeat business. It’s a safe assumption that anyone who purchases the reusable cup will be returning to Starbucks to purchase coffee and receive their ten cent discount (whoa there!) 

-Consumers still have to remember to bring their cup to Starbucks each time they make a purchase. Starbucks is essentially shifting the responsibility to the consumer. 

There you have it! If you feel confident in your ability to remember the cup and recycle it appropriately, then go for it! Starbucks has the right idea, but developing ways to see the reusable cup plan through could improve their sustainable efforts.