Archive for January, 2010
Virgin Active keeps it real with stories
Posted on 19. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
"I don't want to get fat."
Going to gym can be a little daunting if you’re not Ryk Neethling. The last time we were at the sports science institute we limbered up to the swimming pool ready to try tackle a few laps and promptly made some official looking guy in a track suit look very uncomfortable [like he needed the toilet or something] as we eased our softly-sculpted frame into the calm shallows.
Luckily at Virgin Active it seems like it doesn’t matter whether you understand the difference between VO2 Max and Cytomax – you’re welcome all the same.
We heard one of the radio ads the other day and thought we’d tuned into a ‘radio reality show’. Unscripted, recorded in a gym with loose, technically-incorrect language and honest stories, they just kinda work. There are apparently more than 30 radio ads in the campaign – so the chances of hearing the same ad twice are rather slim. [thanks Izzie]
We also smaak the campaign photographs that were shot by Andrew Brauteseth – who traveled 11,499 km’s on local flights to find the real members of the gym.
Check out some of the stories here
Radio tracks:
Tracy McGregor – the face of Njoy
Posted on 19. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
Mmmm - cigarettes
There’s something a little odd about health shops selling a product that gives you a hit of nicotine via an electronic cigarette device, which is now endorsed by a South African model.
Plants use nicotine as a type of poison to protect themselves against insects and humans get addicted to the stuff which has no nutritional benefit. Healthy? Far from it! And in California – the safety of these products is starting to be questioned.
Last year, an FDA analysis found that e-cigarettes contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals – including an ingredient used in anti-freeze. The FDA, which seized several shipments of e-cigarettes, is embroiled in a court battle with e-cigarette manufacturers over whether the agency has the authority to regulate the product.
Nicotine is a drug. If we could get 100% pure Afgan heroin from an electronic dispenser and buy it from Wellness Warehouse, TheSkim would have a permanent smile on his face and we wouldn’t have to worry about putting Clarins dark skin foundation through as a business expense.
Something just doesn’t feel right here. Surely the product should at least warn you about the addictive properties of nicotine?
More about Tracy McGregor – the Face of Njoy from Heat
[thanks Bruce]
The Heart Attack Grill – brutal honest marketing that works
Posted on 19. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
Mmmm - makes ours a double
A doctor in the US has given up on trying to convince people to live healthier lives and has decided to profit rather from their desire to kill themselves.
He’s opened a greasy burger joint called the Heart Attack Grill – no jokes – that specialises on serving food your dog would die eating. Unsurprisingly the place in Phoenix, Arizona has become wildly popular with fat people wanting to gorge their arteries with crap.
There is nothing but burgers – named after bypass surgeries, according to their prodigious sizes and stupendous caloric content – real fries, and “heavy” soft drinks. The waitresses are unashamedly sexy, dress in naughty nurses costumes and carry out mock “checks” on their “patients” before, during and after they’ve eaten, in order to see if they’re up to it. [via]
Yummy. But at least they’re honest and blatant about exactly what you’re getting there.
Website: The Heart Attack Grill
Cherryflava’s 2010 product range
Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
The Cherryflava Peep Show
To kick off 2010 we’ve compiled and printed a range of sexy, new, packaged Cherryflava products that literally look good enough to wrap your lips around.
The Cherryflava Peep Show, our SecondBase marketing workshops, BRAND HOOLIGANS and our Cherryflava.com adverting rate card all have flash new packaging that we’re pretty happy with. The other beauty of them is that whenever the office Wii breaks, we can use them for a bit of Frisbee golf as well.
Warwick Wine Estate launch their gourmet picnic experience
Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
Mike Ratcliffe and Jeremy Sampson eye the brie
Being a company that fully understands the branding power of a great experience, we were lucky enough to be invited to test drive a gourmet picnic at Warwick yesterday. Mike and his team have transformed a section of their picturesque farm into a picnic experience that’s not short of great detail. Tapping into the global trend of marketing collaboration, he’s teamed up with celebrity South African chef Bruce Robertson – who designed the perfect food combination for the setting and the wine. And the combo of talents works just fine.
Fueled by chilled crystal goblets of fruity Sauvignon Blanc and interesting company there are far worse ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. [thanks Mike]
BTW – if you’re a fan of packaging design, be sure to check out a bottle of the Warwick ‘Black Lady’ Syrah. A more touchable bottle of wine surely doesn’t exist in South Africa.
More: Warwick Gourmet Picnics
More: See the Warwick ‘Black Lady’ Syrah after the jump
New and improved ways to sell cars
Posted on 18. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
Alfa in a trolley
Car dealers are struggling more than most to sell their wares. So they are turning to radical advertising strategies to try’n lure potential drivers to part with their cash.
The perfect billboard
Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
mmmm...booootiful
[thanks Chelsea]
The Coca-Cola Happiness Machine: Why don’t they all work like this?
Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by Cassandra.
Coca-Cola and marketing agency Definition 6 recently set up a new viral campaign featuring ‘happiness’, free gifts, and a Coke Machine.
Car guards that were given the Audi R8 plan to change the world
Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
We’re almost expecting the ‘anonymous businessman’ that granted a gift of an Audi R8 to two Cape Town car guards to reveal himself as an ABSA vehicle credit adviser in a couple of weeks, but until then – the duo have cut a hole in the bonnet of the R1.4 million sportscar and are taking donations to help others in need.
Hmmm – Top Gear are coming to town soon…Audi are making a big noise about the E-tron…World Cup?
More about the story here
Adidas get into bed with Darth Vader for 2010 Star Wars collection
Posted on 15. Jan, 2010 by Jonathan Cherry.
Throw David Beckham, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk, Neil Armstrong and Darth Vader into 60 seconds of well-shot footage with cracking soundtrack, back it up with a collection of snappy gear linked to one of the most iconic movie franchises of all time and you have geeks…and cool kids…around the world frothing at the mouth to get their money out and their weak, sweaty hands onto some Star Wars Adidas merchandise.
Have to say – we seriously dig this ad. Most have cost a pretty penny, but it’s going to pay off for Adidas in spades. The force is strong with this one.
Check out the collection here.
