MARKETING MAYHEM + MORE
"Your body is not a temple, it's an amusement park. Enjoy the ride." Anthony Bourdain
Note from me:
THE POINT.
This newsletter has gotten increasingly more difficult to write. I try to keep my audience in mind and the content informative and entertaining. Here inlies the challenge. Marketing and/or advertising news, in particular, is not so entertaining anymore. It’s all about AI and martech and data. And yes, I do find that entertaining but I want you to see what marketing in 2023 is all about. So that is the purpose of most of the content I pass on.
There I said it. Moving on …
From Ad Week:
DTC Luggage Brand Away Uses AI to Inspire Real Vacations
The 'Extraordinary Is Out There' campaign draws attention to locations that look like dreamscapes
DTC luggage brand Away has joined the growing list of companies integrating AI in their marketing, but the goal of its new campaign is to point out the limitations of the technology.
Created by AI artist Ulises and experiential agency Superfly, the “Extraordinary Is Out There” campaign demonstrates that no matter how wild an AI dreamscape may be, there’s a real-world destination that’s just as incredible.
“While many brands have experimented with AI in various ways, at Away, we felt it was important to share our perspective on AI in a way that reinforces our core belief—that the more you travel, the better we all become,” Away chief marketing officer Carla Dunham told Adweek. “This campaign was inspired by the fascinating intersection of travel, imagination and how cutting-edge technology facilitated by AI has the power to change our experiences. We wanted to put the power of discovery back in the hands of our community, pushing their imaginations beyond their limits.”
During a two-day activation at The Brig in Venice Beach, Calif., consumers were able to fill out questionnaires to create an AI-generated world. The immersive experience also showed off postcards depicting visually spectacular destinations, such as the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park and the northern lights in Iceland.
“AI possesses the power to create dreamscapes you’d think are unimaginable,” Dunham said. “In this case, Away has deliberately disrupted AI as we know it—blurring the lines between AI and reality to show our audience that extraordinary is out there, in the real world.”
The world is not AI-generated
AF: Where there is a problem - there is an opportunity! From Ad Age:
PATRICK MAHOMES PROMOTES A COORS LIGHT BEAR—SINCE HE CAN’T PITCH COORS LIGHT BEER
Mischief campaign, including merch, springboards off NFL rules about alcohol endorsement
In a good example of restrictions rethought as opportunities, Coors Light has released a new spot starring Patrick Mahomes promoting a Coors Light bear—since NFL rules won’t let him pitch Coors Light beer.
The NFL relaxed its rules a few years ago around active players promoting alcohol, but they are still restrictive. Players in alcohol ads must be in uniform, not street clothes, and they can’t make direct product endorsements. Also, agencies can’t shoot original footage of athletes for beer commercials—they must use existing stock footage.
The new spot gets around these rules by not featuring any beer at all. Rather, Mahomes, in street clothes throughout, introduces the Coors Light Bear—and then amusingly talks about the animal in beerspeak, saying things like it’s “the world’s most refreshing bear.”
ha ha
So all this talk about AI, I tried out a video tool today for Portage Ford CDJR. It put this together for me based on my little script in about 4 minutes. I like it!
It made me laugh. Yes, it needs work. Try it out for yourself.
From Marketing Dive:
AF: Gross!
Pepsi fuses ketchup and cola to strengthen link to hot dogs for July Fourth
Dive Brief:
Pepsi is introducing a cola-infused condiment for July Fourth to shore up a positioning as the preferred soft drink pairing with hot dogs, according to a news release.
Pepsi Colachup was developed with the Culinary Institute of America’s business consulting unit. Carrying a sweet-but-tangy taste, the concoction will be available through sampling at several baseball stadiums on July 4 through partnerships with the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees.
The marketer has also teamed with top competitive eater Joey Chestnut, who’s known for wolfing down hot dogs in record numbers, to strengthen a connection to the cookout staple. The holiday effort builds on a culinary themed #BetterWithPepsi brand platform that previously focused on hamburgers and pizza.
Super excited for this!! Season 1 was so good. If you love Chicago and chefy things - watch this on HULU now.
Listening to this because on the weekends I’m all about the water, the boat, the sun, the outdoors, the cool breeze in the face. It’s great to be alive!
The Worlds Ugliest Dog. Ahhhhhhhh….
Hey Target, I’m here for it!!
May make this over the summer. Crunch!
If I had unlimited funds, I’d hit up this list and go to at least 5 per year. This is my kind of list.
Cutest damn thing EVER!
Getting one of these because I believe 100%
In Wisconsin? This restaurant ON A FARM is like out of a super cool person’s IG pics. Honestly, the dinner and view is unbelievable. Go.
Have a great day!