If you ask me, Chipotle’s new ad is depressing.

It’s no wonder given the success of Chipotle’s first ad that they would try to repeat the effort.  But to my mind the new film, "The Scarecrow," created by Moonbot and featuring Fiona Apple is such a downer it doesn’t make me want to buy anything.  The animation is gorgeous, and the song is haunting.  But the factory scene reminds me of “Soylent Greens,” which doesn’t exactly stimulate my appetite. 

It’s too bad, because the previous commercial, “Back to the Start” actually persuaded me to eat at Chipotle for the first time ever.  I liked the food and would eat there again, but not after seeing this commercial. 

Apparently, it’s all about the game, which is being touted as a free arcade-style game for the iPhone and iPad.  But what about those of us who don’t play games and have a Samsung?  Maybe they think we’ll eat more if we are depressed.  Come to think of it, they may be right.

Here’s the commercial if you missed it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUtnas5ScSE

Nudd, T. (2013, September 12, 2013) Ad of the Day: Chipotle Makes Magic Yet Again With Fiona Apple and a Dark Animated Film.  adweek.com. Retrieved September 12, 2013, from http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/ad-day-chipotle-makes-magic-again-fiona-apple-and-dark-animated-film-152380

NFL nail polish? Sounds like a great idea to me.

I once painted my nails, fingers and toes, navy blue with a white stripe – my swim team colors.  So when I read that Cover Girl was partnering with the NFL to offer nail polish for its 32 teams, I could only think – What took you so long?

Given that 44% of NFL fans are now female, and NFL merchandise bought by women increased by 125% versus year ago in January 2012, I would say the time has come. (Greenberg, 2013)

P&G is going all out for the launch, which will include “fanicures” and “mobile manicure stations” at games, “NFL Style Lounges” at stadiums offering NFL gear and sessions with a stylist, and a Pinterest contest for the best football finger nails.

I say – pass the Gang Green shade please!

Greenberg, K. (2013, September 4)  Covergirl Manicures NFL Team Colors.  mediapost.com.  retrieved September 4, 2013, from  http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/208423/covergirl-manicures-nfl-team-colors.html#axzz2dxlH3jKZ

I’m not sure that I want healthy eating tips from an elevator.

Captivate Network, the folks who deliver video to your work elevators and lobbies, have just announced a new partnership with SparksRecipes.  As a result you will soon be seeing recipes and healthy eating tips as you ride the elevator to your floor.  (Sass, 2013)

I’ll admit that I occasionally glance over to see the weather or read a business headline, but recipes?  I don’t think so.  There’s a time and a place for everything and for food edit, that’s not it.

Sass, E. (2013, August 27)  Captivate Taps SparkRecipes For Food Content. mediapost.com.  Retrieved August 28, 2013, from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/207912/captivate-taps-sparkrecipes-for-food-content.html?edition=63916#axzz2d59WVyUJ

Cloudy with a chance of shampoo ads

Have you checked the weather today?  If you did, The Weather Channel knows what you want to buy.  As the company’s Chairman and CEO, David Kenny points out “people generally check the weather because they’re planning to do something.”  And now that the checking is being done on mobile devices they have been able to piece together patterns that allow advertisers to target their best prospects very precisely.  (Rosman, 2013)

For instance, thanks to this data, Pantene was able to place ads for a new anti-frizz shampoo next to weather reports indicating that it would be a humid day.  Wow.  And a bit of digging has indicated that sales for Michaels Stores crafting materials surge when the forecast calls for rain three days in advance, so they are considering sponsoring long range forecasts.  Hmm.  Maybe Xanax should consider that option too.  Clearly the possibilities are endless.  Color me intrigued. 

Rosman, K. (2013, August 15)  Shopping Up A Storm.  The Wall Street Journal.  pD1

Note to NAD about Coors Light – Really?

The National Advertising Divison (NAD) of the Advertising Self-Regulatory Council has referred Miller Coor’s ad claims for Coor’s Light to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for review.  The claims in question are: “the world’s most refreshing can,” “beer on the inside, science on the outside,” and “smoother, more refreshing pour.” 

Apparently these claims imply that the Coor’s Light can is technologically superior to others and therefore provides more refreshing beer.  Really?  I thought it was all meaningless gibberish.  And MillerCoors has declined to provide substantiation because they too consider the claims to be puffery. (Bachman, 2013)

But, what I want to know is why either organization is wasting their time on something like this when they should be looking at the health claims being made by unhealthy foods which are fueling the obesity crisis. 

Bachman, K. (2013, August 13)  MillerCoors Rebuffs Ad Industry Review of Coors Light Claims.  adweek.com.  Retrieved August 14, 2013 from,  http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/millercoors-rebuffs-ad-industry-review-coors-light-claims-151826

Feminine Hygiene Products Gone Wild

For as long as I can remember, marketing for feminine hygiene products has been pretty dull and unmemorable, not to mention the fact that it all seems to be the same.  But just when you thought that it was impossible to bring creativity to the category, two clever marketers have proven that nothing could be further from the truth.

First up was Bodyform, a UK maxipad maker.  It started with a Facebook rant by a Brit accusing the company of false advertising.  Richard Neill pointed out that the happy women portrayed in the company’s ads bore little resemblance to the possessed little girl from The Exorcist that his girlfriend becomes each month.  The company decided to respond with a humorous YouTube video apologizing for their use of metaphorical imagery and falsehoods in their advertising. 

I’m still not sure if Richard and his letter were real, but the exchange was hilarious.  And while I don’t have a handle on how sales have responded, the effort did win a gold Cyber Lion at Cannes this year and my class said they would be willing to give the product a try.

Here’s a link to an article that includes both the letter and the video.  (Nudd, 2012)

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/maxipad-brand-goes-blood-brilliant-reply-facebook-rant-144500

And here’s just the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpy75q2DDow

Next up is was Hello Flo with its introductory video “The Camp Gyno.”  It’s beyond funny.  And I have to admit it brings back many memories of my camp days.  And no, I was not the camp gyno – but I remember her well.  Posted on July 28^th, as of today the spot has over 5 million views.  We’ll have to wait and see if sales follow. 

In the meantime, if you haven’t seen the video you can check it out now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XnzfRqkRxU

And once you finish laughing you can ask yourself, why don’t the big guys do ads like these?

Nudd, T.  (2012, October 16)  See Maxipad Maker Bodyform’s Brilliant Reply to a Man’s  Facebook Rant.  adweek.com.  Retrieved June 26, 2013 from http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/maxipad-brand-goes-blood-brilliant-reply-facebook-rant-144500

Dobrow, L. (2013, August 1)  “The Camp Gyno” Brilliantly Introduces Hello Flo Brand To Women.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved August 1, 2013, from http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/205918/the-camp-gyno-brilliantly-introduces-hello-flo-b.html#axzz2bPNkoFTz

This Cheerios Ad Made Me Cry.

I have to admit that I totally missed the controversy about the recent Cheerios ad.  I also missed the fact that it featured a biracial couple despite having seen it many times.  I guess that’s what happens when you spend your life in Manhattan where you can hear 12 different languages being spoken when you walk down the street, and couples of every conceivable combination are easily observed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYofm5d5Xdw

But this new ad, made me cry.  How about you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSNAdo9Czns