A Refreshing New Offering from Intuit
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Like any good American, I was doing my taxes recently. I’m a TurboTax gal. I’ve used it for the past 6 years and it’s pretty easy. As I got closer to the end, fingers and toes crossed hoping for a refund (it didn’t work), I came to a screen with an ad for Mint.com. Well this is new, I thought. Those smart folks at Intuit – you know, the makers of TurboTax, Quicken, and QuickBooks – have a new product.
The name, Mint, might make you think refreshment like the plant or may make you think of making money. I like both so I checked it out. The site aggregates all of your bills, accounts and debts into one site so you can budget and easily keep an eye on your accounts. I like budgets (she says with a smirk).
But the reason I really like it? It is endorsed by Intuit. Intuit has established itself as a financial software resource and immediately I trusted my information would be secure and accurate on Mint.com as well. It turns out Intuit acquired Mint.com late last year. Before the acquisition, I wouldn’t have given the site a second look. Tying Mint.com to Intuit gives it immediate credibility and positive associations.
I tried Mint.com out and it was very easy to use. The problem is that I’m a little paranoid when it comes to giving my information out online despite Intuit’s stellar reputation for security. So, for the moment, the only mint in my life is in my green tea.
My Goodness
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For 250 years, Guinness has been refreshing thirsty beer-lovers across the world. And, on St. Patrick’s Day, no celebration is complete without this Irish legend.
To many, Guinness is so much more than a beer, it’s an experience of pure joy. Envision the Guinness experience: the request, “Guinness please;” the 119.53 second pour; the cascade; the first sip.
What was developed from humble beginnings has become one of the world’s most successful brands. Its advertising from the 1930s is considered art. Fanatics make pilgrimages to Guinness Storehouse for a pint. Its logo can be found on anything from shirts to hats to toy trucks to cufflinks. In Africa, its ads transitioned into a movie called "Critical Assignment" starring a character of its own creation called Michael Power. And, in 2007 it was estimated that 10 million glasses of Guinness were enjoyed around the world each day.
So, this St. Patty’s Day, as you enjoy a Guinness or two (if you're of legal age of course), take some time to savor a little bit of the history in your glass. Sláinte!
"May you live as long as you want and never want as long as you live." - Irish toast
And the Oscar Goes to...
Watching the Academy Awards last night, you may have noticed something missing...from the Hyundai commercials.
Jeff Bridges, now an Academy Award winner, normally provides the voice behind the commercials; but Hyundai pulled him after he was nominated for the best actor award in Crazy Heart.
Stand-ins (or voice-ins) for Jeff Bridges, included Catherine Keener, Kim Basinger, David Duchovny, Richard Dreyfuss, Michael Madsen, Mandy Patinkin and Martin Sheen.
Hyundai walks away a winner too. The car company gets kudos for going along with the rules (the Academy limits any nominee from appearing in advertising during the awards), AND it now has a Oscar-winning spokesperson.
[Sic] of Bad Grammar?
![Things That Make Us [Sic]](https://brandsalsa.addisonwhitney.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/sicbook1.jpg)
If you know the difference between good and well, and that and which, then today is your (not you're) day to unabashedly correct and edit bad grammar. *Finally!*
National Grammar Day was established in 2008 by Martha Brockenbrough, founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar (SPOGG) and author of Things That Make Us [Sic].
As a holiday, National Grammar Day is probably too (not to or two) new to have traditional celebrations, but at the minimum, I think it affords you the freedom to use proper English, and to help others do the same, without feeling like a hoity-toity grammar snob. Red pens ready!
Bring on the ads!
So it looks like this year’s Super Bowl will be the Saints versus the Colts. Boring. Bring on the commercials!
This year, the price of a Super Bowl ad has dropped to around $2.5 million from $3 million last year. In addition, some of Super Bowl past’s most iconic brands have dropped out this year. In lieu of advertising Pepsi is focusing on online and social-responsibility efforts and FedEx isn’t advertising for the second year in a row. This means no Justin Timberlake (Pepsi) and no crazy carrier pigeons (FedEx). Dang.
For other brands, like smaller companies or those looking to increase awareness, this is a great opportunity. Just think of all the exposure Cash4Gold received last year thanks to a little help from MC Hammer and Ed McMahon. This year, Emerald Nuts and HomeAway are hoping to generate some buzz among the 100 million viewers.
It got me thinking about what a great opportunity this would be for a smaller company. Of course, some companies don’t have $2.3 million to throw around for a one-time, 30-second ad. So, let’s venture into the world of make believe. If you could give a 30-second spot to any company for this year’s Super Bowl, what company would it be?
Verbal Branding Elves
Ashley Hollingsworth, aka Zippy Angel-Pants
Favorite Movie: Elf
Favorite Treat: Chocolate covered cherries…sometimes I think I might be the only one that feels this way.
How do you trim your tree? Balls, lights, a big giant star and strings of little red beads.
Favorite Tradition: Baking cookies for Santa
Favorite Reindeer: Comet
Maghan Cook, aka Batty Bing-a-Ling
Favorite Movie: A Very Brady Christmas
Favorite Treat: Chocolate Covered Pretzels
How do you trim your tree? Colored lights (LED, of course), and a flimsy, too-small, slightly crooked star on top because it makes me laugh
Favorite Tradition: Cinnamon rolls first thing Christmas morning
Favorite Reindeer: Donner and Blitzen (because, NERD ALERT, I learned recently mean Thunder and Lightning in German)
Jenna Wise, aka Bouncy Candy-Lips
Favorite Movie: A Christmas Story
Favorite Treat: Moms Fruit Cocktail / Dream Whip Salad
Favorite Tradition: 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TNT, I watch the movie once on Christmas Eve and NO LESS than four times on Christmas Day (what?)
What do you trim your tree with? Colors for the last few years have been silver, dark blue and teal plus the introduction of a new ornament every year.
Favorite Reindeer: Vixen, duh. And Dancer. It's too hard to choose!
Joanne Lee, aka Cheerful Tum-Tums
Favorite Movie: The Year Without Santa Claus
Favorite Treat: White Trash
Favorite Tradition: Egg hunt! ... no, that's not right... Fireworks! ... no, no, doesn't sound right either ... Drinking green beer! Yes, that's it.
What do you trim your tree with? Hedge Clippers :)
Favorite Reindeer: Blitzen-- cuz he must drink lots of eggnog (and green beer) with a nickname like that.
Paula Weigel, aka Dingy Twinkle-Toes
Favorite Movie: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Favorite Treat: Philly Cheese Balls & Brie Bites (no way I can pick just one)
Favorite Tradition: Decorating the day after Thanksgiving.
What do you trim your tree with? Hand-made ornaments from my childhood
Favorite Reindeer: Donner ... or Donder ... whatever his name is, I like it!
War & Words
The National Museum of Language in College Park, MD is curating an exhibit on the role of the War of 1812 in the development of American English. (Thanks to the Visual Thesaurus for the tip)
The role of the museum is to promote a better understanding of language and its role in history, contemporary affairs, and the future. Orin Hargraves' post highlights some interesting history on the plight of Noah Webster to further separate his language from that of established Samuel Johnson.
From the Language Lounge on Visual Thesaurus:
Perhaps the greatest lexical victor of the war was the much older word spangled, which got promoted to a plush job that it will keep forever. Francis Scott Key, unavoidably detained on a ship in Chesapeake Bay on a September night in 1814 and compelled to watch the bombardment of Fort McHenry by Royal Navy ships, was moved to write the words that eventually became the national anthem. The epithet "star-spangled," interestingly, goes back to the 16th century but never seems to have been applied to anything but the sky until Key's moment of inspiration for the Star-Spangled Banner.
Float: Energizer Bunny
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Most of us remember the Energizer Bunny television advertisements that started in the late 80s. The bunny, wearing oversized sunglasses and flip flops “interrupted” our commercials in all of its bunny glory. What started as a parody of Duracell’s commercials developed into Energizer’s own breakthrough campaign. The storyline was easily incorporated into other advertisements and the Bunny endured for years to come. It has consistently symbolized the idea of perseverance and endurance, ironically describing both the product (long –lasting batteries) and the brand strategy itself. By the 90s, the Energizer Bunny became recognized as a national symbol. Today, this marketing icon is known as one of the top signature characters of the 20th century.
Not surprisingly, the Bunny was introduced to the renowned Macy’s Day parade in 2006. For its third parade appearance in 2008, with Macy’s permission, Energizer celebrated the Bunny’s 20th birthday by bringing the commercial to life. What is now known as the “Great Escape” involved pre-meditated police involvement for a surprise at the end of the parade route. As the rest of the precession turned north onto Seventh Avenue, the Energizer Bunny continued its way down 34th Street and kept “going…going…and…going”. Attendees were very entertained and the campaign as a whole has continued to translate well to the nature of the brand. Watch the Bunny’s Thanksgiving Day Parade video here.
By: Ashley Popham
New Ways to Give Back and Get Involved!
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Google and Yahoo compete for our questions and curiosities. Now they both lend their powerful search engines to help us give back and get involved in our communities.
Read more
Tea Freaks
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Attention all Sweet Tea Lovers ...McAlister's Deli has heard your demand!
July 23, 2009 has been dubbed FREE TEA DAY. On this day, participating McAlister's Deli locations (participation may vary) will be giving away free tea. Obviously there is a 'one per guest limit,' and the offer is not valid for catering orders or gallon purchases... but who wouldn't love a refreshing sweet tea to cool down during these hot summer days? Besides, everything tastes better when it's free!
Check out the official Tea Freaks website for more information surrounding this event. Here you will find weekly "Free Tea" episodes, and Tea Freak merchandise, such as tshirts, being sold on the site.
So find a participating McAlister's Deli near you and enjoy some FREE TEA!
Contributed by Carrie Friedrich