I guess I'm not the only one who likes the Dos Equis ads.

I have always found the Dos Equis ads amusing, particularly the radio ads, which allow me to use my imagination more than the tv commercials do. 

And I thought that their effort for Halloween, including a social media tie-in -- send us your pics, win a trip to New Orleans to meet the most interesting man -- sounded like a winner . (Corr, 2014)

But I don't drink beer.  So I had no idea whether they were in fact effective with their target audience.

Well, now I do.  According to data provided by Beer Marketer's Insights, Dos Equis is the fastest growing beer brand in America.  1.6 million barrels were shipped in 2013, up 116.6% versus 2008.  (The campaign began in 2006.)  (Frohlich, 2014)

Who says advertising doesn't work?

Corr, A. (2014, October 15)  Dos Equis' Most Interesting Man Offers Halloween Advice.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved December 26, 2014, from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/236260/dos-equis-most-interesting-man-offers-halloween-a.html

Frohlich, T. (2014, December 17)  America's Fastest Growing Beer Brands.  247wallstreet.com.  Retrieved December 26, 2014, from http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/12/17/americas-fastest-growing-beer-brands/

Bring on the Thin Mints!

In case you haven't heard, the Girl Scouts are going digital.  That means you can now satisfy your craving for Thin Mints, or if you're weird, Samoas, without even venturing outside.  Sounds like a recipe for diet disaster. 

But from their standpoint it was an interesting dilemma.  The goal for cookie sales (other than raising $800 million yearly) is to teach girls how to sell directly to others, and how to handle money and follow-up deliveries.  (Forbes, 2014)

Hmm.  That makes sense to me.  And given the fact that so many kids today are struggling with face to face contact in their social media driven worlds, a goal worth hanging on to.  And I for one would be willing to forgo my Thin Mints to help a girl gain some self-confidence.  How about you?

Forbes, T. (2014, December 1)  Girl Scouts Open The Door To Cyber Sales.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved December 11, 2014, from

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/239119/girl-scouts-open-the-door-to-cyber-sales.html

I hope the movie is as much fun as the commercials.

With the launch of the final Hobbit movie rapidly approaching (December 17) partner videos are beginning to appear. 

So far I have only seen Air New Zealand's safety video.  As with their tie-in to the previous release, it not only makes me want to see the movie, it makes me want to visit New Zealand.  And it's lots of fun.  If you haven't seen it yet, you can check it out now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO6al0rglD0

Watching it makes me wonder why other advertisers don't step forward to make sponsor safety videos.  It's a rare instance with a captive audience that might actually be grateful for your efforts.

Also on board for the launch, Greyhound has announced that they will be partnering with the movie in their first ever cinema campaign.  Kim Plaskett, VP of Marketing, points out that cinema is a great way to reach people (i.e. young men) who are difficult to reach through traditional media.  And of course the timing is perfect. (Baar, 2014)

But I have to admit that I am rooting for a even weirder tie-in to emerge, something like Denny's hobbit inspired menu of 2012.   Of course it will be hard to top Gandalf's Gobble Melt and Bilbo's Berry Smoothie.  But here's hoping someone is up to the challenge.

(2014, December 4) Baar, A. Greyhound Takes Movie Audiences To Middle Earth.  mediapost.com. 

Retrieved December 5, 2014, from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/239461/greyhound-takes-movie-audiences-to-middle-earth.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=78462

(2012, October 25) You Shall Not Fast!  adelaidenow.com.au.  Retrieved December 5, 2014, from

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/movies/you-shall-not-fast-dennys-hobbit-menu-takes-movie-tie-ins-to-weird-level/story-e6freeuc-1226503066119?nk=aa73dad2f00e992f47f132df7f5a4831