Will co-branded food trucks make you want to switch your cable provider?

In what has to be one of the most interesting media ideas I have heard of lately, Time Warner Cable is augmenting their sponsorship of Major League Baseball’s All-Star game with ballpark themed food trucks.  The trucks will offer foods linked to specific MLB cities, so the “Taste of Kansas City” truck will offer BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, while the “Taste of Miami” will have fried fish sandwiches.  The trucks will appear all over New York City – the host of this year’s game – and profits will be donated to charity. (Goetzl, 2013)

The only discernable link to TWC is the fact that TWC is the WiFi sponsor of MLB All-Star week and the trucks will offer a surrounding hotspot.  Is this enough?  Will this campaign help sell Time Warner Cable to the New York market?

Goetzl, D. (2013, June 24)  TWC Uses Food Trucks For All-Star Promotion.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved June 26, 2023, from  http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/203221/twc-uses-food-trucks-for-all-star-promotion.html#axzz2XM5rwB6j

Hey guys, pass the mascara.

According to JWT’s new “State of Men” report, guys -- Gen Y guys in particular, are so comfortable with their masculinity, and so insecure about their looks that they too are turning to makeup to enhance themselves.   (Moses, 2013)

Skin care is a no brainer, as Dove realized when they launched their very successful Dove Men+Care line in 2010, with 60% of Gen Y men agreeing that it was acceptable for men to use skincare products.   But 18% of them also say it’s acceptable to use foundation makeup, 14% are ok with nail polish and 12% have eyeliner in their medicine cabinets.   (Berelowitz & Ayala, 2013)

So what do you think?  Is it time for Maybelline to reach out to men?

Moses, L. (2013, June 19)  Millennial Guys Are Turning to Makeup.  adweek.com.  Retrieved June 19, 2013, from  http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/millennial-guys-are-turning-makeup-150313

Berelowitz, M. & Ayala, N. (2013, June)  JWT The State of Men.  jwtintelligence.com.  Retrieved June 19, 2013, from  http://www.jwtintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/F_JWT_The-State-of-Men_Trend-Report_06.04.13.pdf

Will product placement in a movie, based on a video game, make people want to buy a Ford Mustang?

As part of its 2014 celebration of the Mustang’s 50^th anniversary, Ford has announced that they will be developing a campaign based on “Need for Speed.”  The latest version of the EA game is due out in November 2013, while the movie will premiere in March 2014.  The Mustang will be featured prominently in the movie’s cross-country race.  And, Ford will support both the launch of the game and the launch of the movie. (Greenberg, 2013)

The last time a movie made me want to buy a car was when The Italian Job remake featured the Mini Cooper.  So what do you think?  Will this be an effective campaign?

Greenberg, K. (2013, June 10)  Ford Gets The ‘Need’ For Mustang.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved June 12, 2013, from  http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/202107/ford-gets-the-need-for-mustang.html#axzz2W0moSCw8

Will you buy your dad bacon for Father’s Day?

The folks at Oscar Mayer must have been putting in a long night when they came up with the idea of bacon gift boxes.  The three limited-release gift packs, available exclusively online, each contain 18-20 slices of bacon along with one of three gifts in a velvet jewelers box.  The three gifts to choose from are a stainless steel money clip, a pair of cuff links, and a multi-function tool.  (Lukovitz, 2013)

It certainly sounds like it might be right up dad’s alley.  What do you think?  Will you bite?

Lukovitz, K. (2013, June 5)  Oscar Mayer’s Men’s Gift Packs ‘Say It With Bacon’  mediapost.com.  Retrieved June 5, 2013, from  http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/201826/oscar-mayers-mens-gift-packs-say-it-with-bacon.html#axzz2VPCgXRI7