Out to Launch
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Yellow Tail defies gravity. New Balance lets runners focus on their run, and little else. Nissan Altima is put through the wringer. Let's launch!
  • The BC Dairy Foundation launched The Weak Shop, an online and brick and mortar store in Vancouver where the calcium-deficient can purchase products that help improve their quality of life. Without milk, bodies might feel weaker, making the simplest tasks daunting. Like eating, for example. Enter the Food Lift, a contraption that brings dinner to you, rather than using a fork. See the ad here. Chair Pants might be my favorite product. Two chair legs are attached to pants so when you're waiting in line and feeling sluggish, you can lean back and sit down. Watch the infomercial here. Additional infomercials feature a Support Hat, which keeps one's head upright via suction cups and the Wallet Walker, an invention similar to "walking a tiny dog, without the mess." Some of these outlandish products can actually be purchased, with proceeds benefiting KidSport BC, a program that provides sport grants for kids. BCDF is also looking for consumer-created ideas on additional products. The winner gets a MacBook Pro and will work with an industrial designer to make his or her vision into a reality. DDB Canada created the campaign and Rob Johnston, an industrial designer, crafted the products.

    Apple launched three ads in its ongoing "Get a Mac" campaign. "Broken Promises" shows an enthusiastic PC touting the launch of Windows 7, an operating system sure to be devoid of problems found in past OS. Mac is not so convinced. Cue the flashback. PC and Mac go back in time to relive previous discussions about Vista, Windows Me, Windows 98 and Windows 95, while PCs continually urges Mac to trust him. See it here. "PC News," seen here, connects to a live feed of people switching to a Mac rather than upgrading to Windows 7. "Cut that feed. Let's go to a commercial," says PC. "We are a commercial," responds Mac. The final ad, "Teeter Tottering," features a woman switching from a PC to Mac based on Mac's high customer satisfaction rating. TBWA/Media Arts Lab created the campaign and handled the media buy.

    This is not an ad for Energizer. Some trivia: Duracell bunnies predate the Energizer bunny, but Duracell let its U.S. trademark expire; Energizer snatched it, and voila: no more Duracell bunnies stateside. Duracell Lithium batteries are so strong, that each battery packs the strength of not one, but thousands of pink bunnies. A group of rabbits take on the strength of a tornado, sumo wrestler and elephant in a European ad, seen here. "Bunny Fusion" was created by Ogilvy, Paris and produced by Chuck & Lulu, Paris.

    As a runner who's recovering from a foot injury, I desperately wanted to like this ad. The concept is good but the execution, not so much. New Balance created a video set to run in conjunction with the New York Marathon and aimed at a young running demographic. Apparently, a male running demographic, since I saw zero female runners in the nearly two-minute video. We have a man running throughout New York with a pair of feet, resembling horns, poking from his head. He passes runners sans feet on head and makes a beeline to the nearest hospital. An X-ray shows what we already know -- and surgeons perform the delicate task of removing his old shoes and fitting him with a pair of New Balance. He leaves lighter and passes a waiting room full of men with the same problem. "Think about your run, not your feet," closes the ad. Watch it here. I much prefer the Marathon-themed outdoor ads and T-shirts, seen here, here, here, here and here. BBDO New York created the campaign.

    Nike's Jordan brand launched "Slap," part of the "Become Legendary campaign." The moral of this ad is simple: teamwork is vital in succeeding, and if you want something bad enough, you need to work at it, even when you're tired, frustrated and ready to give up. Athletes are shown pushing themselves through the pain and displaying a range of emotions, good and bad. See the ad here, created by Wieden+Kennedy New York.

    Yellow Tail wine is "Open for Anything" in two TV ads that launched Oct. 23. A couple operatically cries over a bottle of spilled wine in "Tragedy." The man does some searching and finds two additional bottles. Crisis averted. See it here. Wine defies gravity in "Swirl." A woman swooshes wine from her glass into the empty glass of a man standing above her. And then they're married. Really. Watch it here. The BurnsGroup New York created the ads. 

    Abuse your Nissan Altima all you want; it's nothing compared to the rigorous testing it goes through prior to being sold. To the song "Love Hurts," Altima owners drive through potholes, open their car door against a pole and see a child kick a ball close to the front headlights. And the Altima is easily able to withstand each obstacle. See the ad here, created by TBWA/Chiat/Day Los Angeles.

    ADP Small Business Services launched a print campaign showcasing actual clients enjoying their favorite activities. "Paid by ADP" ads are running in Accountant Today, Accounting Technology, CPA Technology Advisor, Journal of Accountancy and CPA Journal. Look for one client relaxing outside her Volkswagen Bus and another fishing in the early hours of the morning. See the ads here, here and here. Nelson Schmidt created the campaign and MayoSeitz Media handled the media buy.

    Random iPhone App of the week: LSN Mobile created a "Local News, Weather and More" app that culls news and information from its 170 local broadcast affiliates. The free app allows consumers to access local breaking news, video clips, weather, sports scores and school closings. In addition, users can share news and content with other users on any network or any handset via SMS or email. The app is available in the App Store.