Out to Launch
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Burger King launches proud Whopper. Kozy Shack pudding launches a yummy website. Let's launch!
  • SKYY Vodka has launched a marketing platform called "West of Expected" that puts a cosmic spin on life lessons. Only as each ad progresses does the viewer realize each lesson actually works to make a night out with friends even better. In "Attraction," the host describes the importance of a "wing-lemon" as opposed to a wing-man, to bring an apple and orange together. See it here. I love "Friend Request." In it, the host describes the social media term in a more face-to-face manner: "Buy me a drink... Put your phone down." Watch it here. "Coaster" encourages people to use their phones as coasters and enjoy the people you are actually seeing. And the first person to check their "Texts" has to buy the next round of drinks. Our cosmic host urges people to "Toast" to positive things, because who wants to toast to negative things? See it here. He also uses a mouse and chunk of cheese to illustrate how tipping a bartender can equate to a seamless night of flowing drinks for you. Watch it here. The ads, directed by Mike Maguire, will air on ESPN, FX, AMC, IFC, Bravo, Comedy Central, Logo, TBS, TNT, NBC and VH1. Venables Bell & Partners created the campaign.

  • Where does old technology go to die -- or retire? I always thought the answer was the bottom of a landfill, but an amusing campaign for Nimble Storage paints a different future for storage technology of yesteryear. The "Golden Years" campaign, which launched in San Francisco and New York City, begins with the TV spot, "It's Time to Retire Your Old-School Storage." The ad, targeting storage vendors using outdated technology, shows a hip, happening retirement community, with a pool, shuffleboard and loud Hawaiian tops worn by residents. The only difference is the residents here are jumbo-sized data storage units that now have time to relax, sit by the pool and drink iced tea. "Let your old-school storage enjoy their golden years," closes the ad, seen here and created by Hub Strategy & Communication.

  • How will you prepare for the opening of "Transformers: Age Of Extinction?" Diehard fans will go to great lengths to illustrate their excitement, especially fans that drink Big Red soda. Beef & Sage created an amusing 60-second spot showcasing hard-core fans of the movie franchise preparing for the opening of the latest movie installment. These fans go big, propelled by their favorite red soda. One fan makes a Transformer from a large hedge in his yard; another fan knits an intricate sweater, while one man takes chest waxing to an extreme. Fans can collect a series of Big Red cans with eight different designs. Watch the video here.

  • "We are all the same inside." That's the simple message relayed in an online video for Burger King. The company has a restaurant situated at the heart of the San Francisco Pride Parade route where it added a limited-edition Proud Whopper to the menu. The beginning of the video polls passersby about the Proud Whopper. Some people think it's great while others, with their faces kind of blurred out, do not. Guests who ordered the Proud Whopper weren't sure if there was anything different about the sandwich, but once they tasted it, they discovered that it was the same Whopper as always -- but wrapped in a rainbow-colored paper with the message: "We are all the same inside." All sales from the Proud Whopper will be donated to the Burger King McLAMORE Foundation, for scholarships benefiting LGBT college-bound, high school seniors graduating in spring 2015. Watch the video here, created by DAVID Miami.

  • I could go for some rice pudding right about now. Kozy Shack pudding launched a redesigned website that's good enough to eat. The new site is very social media-heavy, yet easy to navigate. There's a timeline highlighting the evolution of Kozy Shack, along with Pinterest-esque blurbs illustrating the love of tapioca, rice pudding and flan. The 50-year-old pudding company still makes its product in slow-simmered, small-kettle batches using real ingredients like rice, milk, sugar and eggs. The brand's rice pudding, for example, only contains six ingredients total. Colle+McVoy created the site.

  • Calling all people sharing names with the founding fathers. Mr. Peanut wants you... to hit up his Facebook page for free peanuts and Presidential wigs. That's right, if your name is George Washington, Martha Washington, Betsy Ross, John Adams, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, John Jay or James Madison, and you click fast enough, freebies will be yours. Mr. Peanutwill thank the first 50 people with founding father names by giving them a free can of Planters and a Presidential wig to wear on July 4. TBWA created the campaign.

  • Victorinox Swiss Army Watches launched a 2:20 online video starring a musician, firefighter, chef, fencing instructor, designer and photographer. Each person describes the importance of loving what you do career-wise, and embracing one's uniqueness and authenticity, while being honest and passionate about your day job. There's next to zero branding, but if you look closely, you'll notice that each person is wearing a Victorinox Swiss Army Watch. Check out the video here, created by MeringCarson.

  • Forget the term Bridezilla. The woman about to be married in an ad for Sanuk shoes looks more like a "Bride Bomb," and she's about to go off. And explode, she does, throwing a tantrum for an unknown reason. Most of the bridesmaids are cracking under the pressure, except for the one wearing Sanuk shoes. Her feet are comfortable, so she can tackle this out-of-control situation in a calm, relaxed manner. When the bride destroys her wedding cake, the mellow bridesmaid takes her cue and prepares for the walk down the aisle. See the video here, the second ad in Sanuk's "Never Uncomfortable" campaign, created by Ignited.

  • Random iPhone App of the week:Mizuno running created a mobile baton app that raises money for Back on My Feet, a national organization that uses running to help the homeless get back on their feet personally and financially through job placement and other resources. Runners or newbie runners can download the free app in the App Store or by visiting www.ifeverybodyran.com. Once you register, you have one week to log as many miles as possible. For every mile run, Mizuno will donate $1 to Back on My Feet. Once your week of running is complete, you can pass the baton to another runner via social media. The relay runs until Aug. 25, and runners have until Aug. 18 to download the app, created by McKinney.