SavvySugar

Lady Body Wash What?

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:00:00 -0800

Old Spice has been making increasingly insane and funny commercials for their body wash, and although they're usually addressed to guys, the latest spate all have the ladies in mind. I'm tempted to buy Mr. Bella some of this stuff myself in hopes of diamonds, tickets to that thing I love, boat rides, and more. Do any of you use, or frequently smell, a man who uses this stuff? Is it any good?

Apple Less Afraid of Menstruation Than Tampon/Pad Companies

TresSugar — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:15:35 -0800

Apple might not be afraid of using terms that conjure up images of a woman's monthly menstrual cycle but advertisers - and many of us - are. The tendency to avoid saying menstruation at all costs is matched only by those bears in Charmin commercials included just to distract us from toilet paper's true use. The results can be much more awkward than just blurting out: "This is for your period" or "I have my period." Actually when you think of it, period is a euphemism too!

Some of the leading euphemism include:

"A hygienic problem" - From a vintage Kotex ad that never even says what it's for.
"Calendar days" - This one doesn't really make sense, but I get it.
"Difficult days" - Sanitary napkins promise to make them easier.
"Mother Natures' monthly gift" - I wouldn't really call it a gift, but Tampax would.
"That not-so-clean feeling" - A classic!

And some colloquial highlights:

"Surfing the crimson wave" - from Clueless, of course.
"Aunt Flo" - I wonder if women named Flo mind this one?
"Communist invasion"
"The Curse" - A little dramatic, isn't it?
"On the rag" - Always seemed vulgar to me.

What's your favorite?

KFC Lights Up Markets With Branded Fire Hydrants

YumSugar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:50:11 -0800

Looks like KFC isn't ready to give up its moment in the spotlight just yet. It's switching its marketing game plan and replacing pitches on potholes with flyers on fire hydrants.

To get the word out about the new Fiery Grilled Wings, KFC is giving two cities in Indiana, Brazil and Indianapolis, $7,500 so local officials can improve their cities' fire safety - and emblaze Colonel Sanders's face onto their hydrants and fire extinguishers. In return for the advertisements, the fast food company will help the two cities pay for new extinguishers and hydrants.

Since I don't know all the details, I'm rather ambivalent about the arrangement. For instance: Is the signage permanent? Does it help the city's taxpayers? I suppose it's no different from selling space on public transit, but I'm awed by the way companies continue to find new places to stick their logos. How do you feel about it?

Source: KFC and Flickr User zoezulka

Flashback! His and Her "Bundlers" Foreshadow the Snuggie

TresSugar — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:45:50 -0800

This 1975 cold-weather fashion treat claims to be "sexy on her" and "smoothly good-looking on him." It also hints at the "snuggly fashion" trend to come.

Source

Campbell's Emphasizes Oodles of Noodles With New Campaign

YumSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:30:02 -0700

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of its celebrated chicken noodle soup, food company Campbell's has really used its noodle. Yesterday, the 140-year-old company launched a bold campaign called "Slurp" to get consumers to think about its staid soup in a new way.

To promote the fact that there are 32 feet of egg noodles in every can of its chicken noodle soup, the corporation partnered with ad agency BBDO New York and Traction Creative. They've erected a giant billboard with a 54-foot noodle coming out of it, which appears to be slurped by a mannequin standing in a window three stories above.The billboard is near Manhattan's Times Square and will be displayed on the corner of 7th Avenue and 53rd Street for the next four weeks, where it will attract plenty of attention in a high-traffic area.

The campaign is cute - I only wish I could see the billboard in person! - and I learned something new (I would never have guessed there are 32 feet of noodles in every Campbell's can). What do you think of the marketing effort? Does it make you want to buy Campbell's chicken noodle soup?

Source: Flickr User Vagamundos

Pepsi Draws Controversy For Amp Drink iPhone App

YumSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:50:33 -0700

Looks like Burger King isn't the only food brand that toes the line between cutting-edge and crass. PepsiCo, the maker of new energy drink Amp, has gotten flack for its latest iPhone launch.

"Amp Up Before You Score" is a free iPhone application that offers young men pointers on how to get in bed with 24 different types of women. Selections include "Sorority Girl," "Treehugger," and "Punk." Amp fans can then detail their conquests on the app's Brag List.

Backlash soon followed, with many accusing Pepsi of demeaning and objectifying women. Amp tried to appease the furor with an apology on Twitter, although it seemed to only want to heighten the buzz around the brand by introducing the Twitter tag #pepsifail.

What do you think of the move? Check out the video after the jump

Kellogg's Testing Logo Corn Flakes in the UK

YumSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:20:07 -0700

From Chanel suckers to LV-inspired cupcakes, fashion labels and food have been teaming up in unusual ways. But this trend may be headed in a direction that even the most brand-beset consumers couldn't have comprehended.

In an effort to quash imitators, cereal brand Kellogg's is developing laser technology in the UK to burn its logo onto individual Corn Flakes. "Now you'll always be able to tell your Corn Flakes from your corn fakes!" Kellogg's UK tweeted yesterday.
The company intends to use concentrated beams of light to print a toasted trademark logo without altering the cereal's taste, and is going to test batches before deciding whether or not to put branded flakes in all Corn Flakes boxes. If successful, the logos could be put on other brands, such as Special K and Bran Flakes.

Helen Lyons, lead food technologist for Kellogg, said, "We want shoppers to be under absolutely no illusion that Kellogg's does not make cereal for anyone else. We're constantly looking at new ways to reaffirm this, and giving our golden flakes of corn an official stamp of approval could be the answer."

Source: Twitpic User KelloggsUK

Italy's Fashion Houses Pay Tribute to Coca-Cola

YumSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:50:53 -0700

Milan's 2010 Spring Fashion Week just came to a close, and in addition to revealing their latest collections, Italy's premiere fashion houses also partnered with Coca-Cola to raise funds for earthquake victims in Abruzzo, Italy.

Female designers Donatella Versace, Alberta Ferretti, Angela Missoni, Anna Molinari for Blumarine, Veronica Etro, Silvia Venturini for Fendi, Consuelo Castiglioni for Marni, and Rossella Jardini for Moschino dressed up Coca-Cola Light's trademark clear bottle for sale at an auction during Milan's "Tribute to Fashion" show.

I like them all, but my hands-down favorite is the iconic woven Missoni design, followed closely by the Moschino milk parody and Blumarine's flirty fruit pattern. To see each bottle, read more.

Guess What This Ad Is For?

TresSugar — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Hint - looks can be deceiving.

Bus Shelters to Milwaukee Teens: Pregnancy Stinks

TresSugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 07:00:00 -0700

It’s back to school for teens all across the nation. In Milwaukee, they’re taking this opportunity to make bus shelters bear the awful truth to teenagers: teen pregnancy stinks. How exactly? By featuring the image of a pair of huge, feces-stained diapers that claim to be scratch and sniff.

Actually, it’s only teen pregnancy that stinks, as the fine print will tell you:

This doesn’t really stink. But the consequences of teen pregnancy sure do. And this is just part of the ugly mess you’d be getting yourself into. Get the facts at babycanwait.com.

I wonder if the people who get close enough to read the writing are disappointed they don't get to smell crap? If you want to see what it looks like up close, read more.