Sometimes when I'm on the subway I see these little kids holding up a piece of paper and some candy bars. They have this whole speech down pat that they are supposed to read to strangers in an attempt to get them to purchase a $5 snickers bar.
The reasons are always for their schools and communities but you have to wonder... aren't there other ways to raise money besides having these 9 year old kids begging for money on the street. What exactly does that teach them? They are ignored by 98% of the people who see them and the other 2% just feel bad and therefore give them the money and have them keep the candy bars.
It seems as though the practice is making them sell themselves rather than just work for what they deserve.
Also, it is not the responsibility of a 9 year old to raise money for his/her public school. Kids should be enjoying their childhood rather than spending it trying to raise money for "how to kill a mockingbird"
Monday, February 19, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Selling Out in Suits
Last night I went to the Duke vs. Boston College basketball game (I am not a fan of either but had to attend in order to get tickets for this weekends dame). During one of the time-outs the jumbo-tron showed a commercial of no other than Boston College's head coach, Al Skinner. Skinner was standing in a local suit shop for those men who are "a little bigger than most." I guess with NCAA rules making sure that you can't make money off players you have to resort to making money off of the coaches.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
The Silent Sit Smiling
Boston's Bomb Scare. Whether you view it as a guerilla marketing campaign gone horribly wrong or a hint that the police force needs to be more aware of media culture, it's been taglined as the Boston Bomb Scare. Turner issued a corporate apology that aired on their show and also paid the city of Boston 2 million dollars for damages caused because of the debacle. And this was all completely avoidable.
If someone had called up the police station and simply told them to look on the shows website to see that the "bomb" was a martin, most of the drama could have been avoided. So why didn't anyone who knew what was going on even try stop it?
The alleged bombs were also placed on the doors of at least two stores on Newbury Street of Boston two days before the giant scare. People working in the stores found the aliens and kept them but also kept silent and didn't say anything about the meaning behind them to the police.
It would have taken a few minutes out of somebody's day to simply call and notify the police of what was going on and yet they didn't. And when the police force reacted the way that they did these same city dwellers who didn't want to say anything before sneering at the officials for an unnecessary reaction to a marketing campaign.
The opinions of the marketing campaign are split in half between people who loved it and people who despised it, the same kind of feelings that almost every superbowl commercial had. So, in the end, maybe Turner did this in atttempt to save over two million dollars of advertising money that they could have put into the superbowl.
If someone had called up the police station and simply told them to look on the shows website to see that the "bomb" was a martin, most of the drama could have been avoided. So why didn't anyone who knew what was going on even try stop it?
The alleged bombs were also placed on the doors of at least two stores on Newbury Street of Boston two days before the giant scare. People working in the stores found the aliens and kept them but also kept silent and didn't say anything about the meaning behind them to the police.
It would have taken a few minutes out of somebody's day to simply call and notify the police of what was going on and yet they didn't. And when the police force reacted the way that they did these same city dwellers who didn't want to say anything before sneering at the officials for an unnecessary reaction to a marketing campaign.
The opinions of the marketing campaign are split in half between people who loved it and people who despised it, the same kind of feelings that almost every superbowl commercial had. So, in the end, maybe Turner did this in atttempt to save over two million dollars of advertising money that they could have put into the superbowl.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Hallmark and Cupid
Historical Fact: Valentine’s Day is celebrated in remembrance of Saint Valentine. He was beheaded on February 14th. Totally romantic isn’t it.
People either hate it or love it. But whether or not it’s a Hallmark holiday, Valentine’s Day is certainly one of their most important times of the year for Hallmark, Godiva, Jared’s and the endless other companies who target lovers.
The advertising is usually the same. Boy gives girl flowers. Boy gives girl chocolates. Boy gives girl diamond ring and a kiss. But why not consider having the girl give the boy something. Or, even better, how about having the girl being the one to “ignore” Valentine’s Day.
People either hate it or love it. But whether or not it’s a Hallmark holiday, Valentine’s Day is certainly one of their most important times of the year for Hallmark, Godiva, Jared’s and the endless other companies who target lovers.
The advertising is usually the same. Boy gives girl flowers. Boy gives girl chocolates. Boy gives girl diamond ring and a kiss. But why not consider having the girl give the boy something. Or, even better, how about having the girl being the one to “ignore” Valentine’s Day.
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