"G" Confusion

Note to readers: the Gzone is not to be confused with the Gspot... Also not wise to use the Gzone in conjunction with the Gspot... Now there's a concept for a phone design! I know all you ladies out there follow me ; )

"What's up in your bowl, man?"

Finally - they listened. After Cingular discontinued my insurance plan because I had too many water damage claims, I asked why can't they just come up with a waterproof, droppable phone for all the klutzes out there? Well - here it is folks, Made for Marie - the Verizon Gzone.

I'm also true fan of Verizon's point of purchase display marketing. The phone is placed inside a fish bowl with a live goldfish. A sign tells customers in the store to "CALL THE FISH". Apparently the fish responds very favorably to the Verizon Ringtone and starts to swiggle swagger around.

You Have to See it to Believe it.

Check out these unbelievable Integrated Media campaigns by Campfire. They really light my fire.


For Sega's ESPN NFL Football Launch

For the launch of the first AudiA3 in the US

a city WITHOUT ads?

This post was pulled from one of my favorite blogs at www.campfiremedia.com

Make sure to watch the case studies above on Beta 7 and Audi: Art of the Heist

There is a remarkable set of photos on flickr from Tony de Marco of São Paulo, Brazil, (population over 10 million), which outlawed all outdoor advertising in December, 2006. The law doesn’t stop at billboards, either. Provisions also ban all other forms of publicity in public spaces, including handling out fliers, ads on busses and taxis, even banners pulled by airplanes and ads on blimps are all outlawed.

This story in the International Herald Tribune has some particularly choice quotes from both sides of the debate.

The law is “a rare victory of the public interest over private, of order over disorder, aesthetics over ugliness, of cleanliness over trash,” Roberto Pompeu de Toledo, a columnist and author of a history of São Paulo, wrote in the weekly newsmagazine Veja.

“Disorder,” “ugliness,” and “trash” may sound harsh, but the population of over 10 million citizens must have agreed or the politicians wouldn’t have bothered.

Perhaps even more startling, however, is the reaction from the advertising industry:

“I think this city is going to become a sadder, duller place,” said Dalton Silvano, who cast the sole dissenting vote and is in the advertising business. “Advertising is both an art form and, when you’re in your car or alone on foot, a form of entertainment that helps relieve solitude and boredom.”

Wow.

Where is your loyalty?

Yesterday my friend sent me an email asking all people to avoid pumping at any exxon or mobil gas stations. The idea is this. These guys own most of the oil and thus control prices. If you go to other stations that are smaller, they eventually have to lower prices and then the other guys will lower prices too. Good idea but pretty much everyone would have to do it. Plus, I don't ever look who owns the gas station. I just cringe at the idea of stopping to pump money down the tank of my car. $70 dollars to be exact. That's what I get for having a little man's revenge quad cab tundra.

Anywhoooo, so today I was forced to skip my local gas station because for some reason it was surrounded by caution tape. I decided to go to the shell up the street which I don't frequent very much. I was pumping gas and then it happened. I heard a pretty ladies voice telling me what the weather was going to be like all week. I look up and there is a good looking weather woman telling me my local weather from a television. Incredible I thought. I like this. Then a jack in a box commercial flashed on the screen and I instantly wanted french toast dipper thingies which looked delicious. Finally, the gas pump illustrated to me why this gasoline was better for my car than other companies.

I almost felt better about paying $70 for gas. Why I don't know. I would still feel better if every gas station was equipped with a pretty lady offering free ball washing. But hey that may just be me. Others may like watching a little weather and info while they wait.

Here is Somethin' EXTRAordinary for ya!

SNOW! Yup, several inches of snow... in April. Oh how I do love the Midwest!

The Middle to the End

http://mymindshare.com/b/secure/disintermediation.php

This is a cute little stick figure video about what's going on in advertising today.

Do you have a Secret?

We all have secrets. Frank invites you to send him your secrets on an anonymous postcard.

Check out some other people's secrets at:

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

Out of Box Book Marketing

Check out this author's website for her newly released book. Quite amusing.

http://noonebelongsheremorethanyou.com/

Balls are large and small, balls are for us all

Think Big. That's how the saying goes. The anti - box aims to personify this thought. Thinking outside the cultural box to create new and insightful ways to inspire. Let me ask you a-boxer's of America, is size really whats important?

Today everything seen as improved is made larger, faster, or more flashy. Cars, Trucks, planes, advertising campaigns, beverages, bold is beautiful as they say.

Is this the end of little ideas, little inspirations, and little people. Is it all about size. Is it all about large balls. Does the size of balls drive the size of ideas. I say nay to large balls. Its not the size of the balls but rather the ferocity and drive behind those with the balls in their hand. Remember a-boxers, balls are large and small, and balls are for us all.

My Inspiration Gear

Everyone has their own way of getting inspired. I like to make clothes. INSPIRACLOTHES.

Enough already with the Mildly Amusing Box jokes, here is the REAL DEAL

The Old Model of Advertising is COLLAPSING and the New Model is UNBUILT.

Media agencies, Fortune 500 companies, Broadcasters, Newspapers, and everyone else involved in trying to promote a brand through the traditional 30-second spot and print advertisement certainly have their undies in a bundle. It seems the internet is just so much better at satisfying a media addiction than a magazine and that no one really wants to pay attention to that commercial– the nerve! Long Live TiVo.

It is clear that the Advertising rules of the past are exactly that - of the PAST. Ad agencies and marketers are no longer the chief creators of content. Platforms such as YouTube, Myspace, Forums, and Blogs have empowered CONSUMERS to create their OWN content, including content containing brands. Take note future brands, YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE IN CONTROL. Consumers are eager to take on this responsibility. It is no longer possible to tell the consumer "Just Do It" and expect them to obey. For a brand to succeed, active engagement, active MEANINGFUL engagement between the brand and the consumer must take place. Okay is NOT good enough, it is actually worse than doing nothing at all. If you have something to pitch, you best be doing it right because consumers are pretty damn smart. Really.

I am personally eager to be involved in this CHAOS. In times of CHAOS the most original minds in business win. So get out of your box and create. This post was inspired by the untalented psychic who told me nothing but lies and horse crap, but who also said I should write more. Voila.

This article on AD AGE explains what I am talking about in more depth: http://adage.com/article?article_id=115712

Interesting...

The BOX is the direct descendant of the CHEST.....

hmmmm.

Calling all box busters... no pun intended

Imagine a world where no one thinks outside the box...think about how redundant everything would be.

You know, if people hadn't thought outside the box sex wouldn't really be that fun.

Kama sutra= Kama NO NO

If you enjoy "busting boxes" in the sack, you might enjoy balls as much as Marie and me.

Busting Boxes all ova the place! A call for Action.

Fellow box busters, let us unite in our quest to fight off rigid, brown corrugation. Balls all around. Cheers to the end of paper cuts and squares.

To join our journey in the fight against boxes please call 1-800-BOX-BUST.