By: Katie Corbut, Account Coordinator
Everyone has been talking about it. There’s been plenty of gossip. Fists were clenched and sighs were heard throughout the office, and possibly even the world.
Continue reading "The Change that Shook the Universe (ish)" »
By Drew Shields, Creative Intern
Yesterday morning I awoke to an interesting story on the Today Show about how the founders of US Fidelis, the automotive extended warranty firm, had been indicted on multiple felony charges. The laundry list of white-collar crimes was read over mugshots of the owner brothers, followed by a slideshow of expensive cars, watches, and helicopter shots of million-dollar mansions bought with defrauded money. Turns out that after an damning NBC investigative report in April 2009, the company discontinued selling its services in December 2009 and declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2010.
At this point, the company's clearly down for the count, but I elect to take this opportunity to kick it while its down to learn a thing or two about "misleading" marketing messages: chiefly, how not to market a service so it is perceived as a skeevy scam.
By Joe Sweeney, Associate Creative Director
In the latest American news item that should be a non-story, an image in a J. Crew catalog has inspired a vociferous debate, including a column from Fox News contributor Dr. Keith Ablow that positioned the clothing company as cultural instigators, bent on destroying humanity as we know it.
“These folks are hostile to the gender distinctions that actually are part of the magnificent synergy that creates and sustains the human race,” Ablow writes. “They respect their own creative notions a whole lot more than any creative Force in the universe.”
So just what’s in this ad anyways? Osama bin Laden wearing a Stripe Boatneck Sweater over a Linen Henley Tank? No. It’s a candid shot of J. Crew president and creative director Jenna Lyons, laughing at home with her son Beckett. She’s holding one of his bare feet in her hands, and his toenails are painted pink.
By Christian Nole, Account Service Intern
Some people love to complain; so it was really no surprise that when Southwest Airlines experienced some technical issues with its aircrafts, a lot of customers, bloggers, and even some media outlets were quick to put Southwest on trial. I, on the other hand, like to consider myself a rational person. If you haven’t heard about it yet, Southwest Airlines had a little mishap on Friday. I will admit that it was concerning to hear about Southwest having issues with a hole in a plane, especially because I have always looked to Southwest as my first choice in air travel. However, there is a silver lining (not in the planes of course; that would have prevented depressurization).
By Bob Travers, Principal
For the fourth year in a row Apple has been number one on FORTUNE Magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. Not surprised here. Personally, I love Apple products and as a matter of fact, I own six Apple products including two iPhones (my wife’s and my own). And at the marketing communications company my partner and I own we have multiple Apple computers, products and accessories.
So I am what you would call a loyal purchaser of the Apple brand. And why am I so loyal? Because I know they will always deliver to or exceed my expectations, in what we in the marketing world call key moments of truth. Whenever I interact with Apple, whether it’s through the features or benefits of the product I’ve purchased, or when I call their customer support or technical support services, I’m continuously satisfied, for the most part beyond my expectations. As I counsel my clients, a great brand not only delivers what a customer is looking for, the overall experience is always a positive one.
However, in my opinion and I’m sure it’s shared by thousands of Apple customers across the country, Apple has blown it big time with the launch of the iPad 2.
By Brittany Frey, Account Manager
Every year during the month of March, McDonald’s brings back the Shamrock Shake to select stores (remember this point as I will reference it later) across Canada and the United States.
Introduced in the 1970’s and credited for paving the way for bringing other seasonal drinks to the marketplace, including Starbucks' pumpkin and eggnog-inspired lattes, the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake has created an almost cult-like following of peppermint-craving consumers, with hundreds of Facebook fan pages dedicated to the Shake.
By Alyssa Mayer, Account Manager, Interactive Strategist
My love affair with Apple has been going for seven years now, dating back to my first iPod mini. My most recent purchase was the iPhone 4 through Verizon. Apple has always gone above and beyond with their service. When iPods broke, Apple provided new ones. When my MacBook Pro battery died, Apple had a new replacement battery waiting. These are the characteristics that keep me coming back (oh, and the products are sweet!).
However I was extremely disappointed in Apple yesterday morning. I arrived at the Galleria Mall in Buffalo, NY at 7am, to wait in line for the iPad 2. I had been told Sunday that they would be available at 9am Tuesday when the store opened. I sat in line, chatted with a few customers about our love of Apple and our excitement to own an iPad 2.
By Joe Sweeney, Copywriter/Associate Creative Director
The cover story of Sunday’s Buffalo News involved a pair of decaying properties owned by local developing giant and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino. But what really interested me was a sidebar piece about a billboard that’s been on one of said buildings for months. Greeting drivers on the Niagara Thruway, it screams in bold yellow type, “Spineless Stan Lipsey & The Buffalo News threw WNY under the bus.”
By Kathleen Rooney, Senior Vice President
I'm on a drug, and it's called Charlie Sheen.
Seriously, I've become addicted to watching this very lucky, over-paid, semi-talented actor in a first-class meltdown. Probably because he is a very lucky, over-paid, semi-talented actor who is paid a bazillion dollars a year to pretend he's somebody else on a show I've never even watched.
Is his crazy act for real? I guess it's about as "real" as The Real Housewives of Insert City Here. Or a bunch of brats living together in MTV-land. Or even one of The Apprentice franchises, where stars such as the new British-accented Larry King, mean girl Omarosa and Skinny Margarita founder Bethenny were introduced to American TV junkies. What an auspicious launching pad The Donald has created for us.
It is reassuring to know I'm not alone. Millions of us were watching when the new Larry King gave him a prime time hour so he could "set the record straight." By that point, Charlie seemed a little tired and slightly more sane, having chain-smoked and ranted for probably 12 hours at least. I hope he's taking it easy today.
Is my addiction to Charlie going to require some sort of rehab? And if so, can I come out stealing jewelry like Lindsay? Or breaking into houses like Robert Downey, Jr.? Or maybe try my hand at shoplifting like Winona Ryder? Seriously, what will become of me once I'm no longer Jonesing for Charlie Sheen?
Well, there's most certainly some other over-paid, semi-talented personality waiting in the wings. And that's very reassuring, because I'm gonna need me another dose of reality when I get clean from my addiction to Charlie Sheen.
By Jeff Bucki, Senior Copywriter
Like many long-time fans of the Buffalo Sabres, I was thrilled to watch new owner Terry’s Pegula’s introductory press conference. There is a lot of excitement about Pegula, and clearly much of it has to do with his wealth. The thing that got me charged up wasn’t his resources, but rather his passion for the team and the way he directly communicated this to the public.
All you needed to see was Pegula’s reaction to hockey legend Gilbert Perreault to get a feel for what this guy is all about. His voice cracking with emotion, Pegula unabashedly told Perreault, “You’re my hero.” The beautiful thing about this moment was how raw and sincere it felt. As they say, you just can’t script stuff like this. It was magic. Right there, Pegula had won over even the teams’ most jaded fans. And he did it by being real.
