In Your Face Advertising

You couldn't miss this ad if you tried. I am always intrigued by this form of in-your-face advertising. What better way of make itself known, than creating a street-level obstacle. Vibrant colour and sheer size make this ad an entertaining eye sore.

When I passed by this ad the following day, a small group of teenage girls waiting for the bus were snapping shots of themselves with the oversized mascara bottle, sure to make its way to Facebook, Twitter etc. Perfect.

The Dynamics of Persuasion

My trip to China (Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai) inspired thoughts of outlandish essay topics fit for just about any MIT class you could dream of. The Chinese conduct themselves with such grace and I commend them for living in such close quarters (though it is all they know). It became apparent after approximately 45 minutes in the country (still in Beijing airport) that modern-day Chinese smoke like truckers, spit like sailor and drive like maniacs, but there is something so beautiful, profound and mysterious about the history and their culture.



Let me explain the photos I have posted, because I know they are not blatantly advertising.
Everyone smokes in China. OK, that's not true. A lot of people smoke in China. Let me start by saying, unlike Canada, cigarettes are visible, accessible and inexpensive just about anywhere you go. Statistics tell me smoking in China has drastically increased in the last 30 years, ultimately leading to the death of about 2,000 people per day. By 2050, they expect this number could rise to 8,000 a day- some 3 million people a year. Click for the full article

Personally, I no longer soberly enjoy the ease of sucking approx. 42 thousands toxic chemicals into my peachy lungs. My conscious is simply too loud, and my gag reflex is too strong. However, the appeal still remains. I still somehow understand it.

These are images of a vibrant light show on a sky scraper outside of our hotel in Shanghai. I regret not recording it, but I assure you, the movement up and down, from white to golden was like the burning of a cigarette. Slowly the white disappeared towards the golden yellow filter and then was replaced by a new white line- as if to promote chain smoking. This idea taunted me for 3 nights while I was repeatedly told it was all in my head. Did it make my want a cigarette? Kind of. I told our tour guide it was subliminal messaging. She quickly dismissed me with little more than a giggle. This is a typical response from Chinese women when they do not want to hurt your feelings by declaring that they think you're wrong. Perhaps MIT ingrained in me the idea that everything I have ever been told is a dirty, fabricated, ideology infused, economically motivated lie...

China seems a bit disillusioned with respect to what is perceived to be real and what is fake, or replicated. No, just flat out fake. 15 percent real and 85 percent perception, I say. They are living breathing people, who make decisions, work, love, communicate, spit like sailors (I still can`t get over that). Yes. But they live in a fabricated, highly populated, highly polluted bubble. I realize this as our tour guide pulls out her "Gucci" wallet and explains that this mornings "fog" is due to the massive amount of fireworks lit 3 nights ago. I begin to wonder if the 200 foot cylindrical structure flying past my window is really a "fog"stack...

No, Thank You MAC

It has been ages since I have purchased anything from MAC. Were talking, probably 2 years. Not because I don't use their products anymore, but (for a product-whore like myself) it simply takes a few years to get through everything I accumulate.

I am very aware of the fact that MAC obtained my personal information upon my very first visit. This reality was refreshed last year when my Aunt purchased her first piece of MAC makeup (a clear lip gloss, because colour or sparkle may actually kill her). When asked for her information, she basically told them to stuff it, and considered not purchasing at all. The idea of coughing up personal information along with the 20 bucks for a tiny gloss was too much for her to swallow. Interesting

Perhaps that is the difference between her decade and mine, though I do believe the younger generation is becoming leery of exposing themselves to a lifelong sentence of junk-mail in exchange for free bunny ears with the purchase of 10 frilly panties (real life promotion).



SO, I purchased an incredible lipstick (light pink glaze: HUE) around Christmas time. I was asked my name at the check out, I assume they access my account. There is likely a log of the purchases I have made within the last year, or so.

Fast forward to yesterday. I received a sealed white envelope with my name on it from MAC. I pulled out a solid black postcard. Classic, sleek, edgy. Large white letters "thank" me for my purchase and ask me to "visit them again soon!". What a pleasant and completely unexpected, not to mention unnecessary surprise. Excellent marketing. I will "return soon".

Top marks for simple and personal.

10/10

Jackson Triggs

Jackson Triggs Savignoin Blanc was once my go-to wine. Inexpensive, white, easy drinking; good combo for a university student. I have since developed an acquired taste for expensive Merlot (I graduated in October; it didn't take me long :) out with the white, and in with the red!
J.T's collection of whites and reds have always been memorable to me. Good label, easy enough.
Day 2 of a winter cottage mission last weekend left my family and I out of wine and into town. The local LCBO (let me provide a visual: a trailer on cinder block supports with a well aged fluorescent LCBO sign glowing above it.) Needless to say, the vintage section was bare, so back to the inexpensive, easy drinking go-to wine I went. J.T Unity Merlot.

The new Jackson-Triggs labels (as of 2010) provides clarity, when selecting a VQA wine from the non-VQA wines (apparently a very important distinction). The new line-up includes three tiers plus the non-VQA tier. Due to an immense amount of consumer loyalty uncovered by research studies, the Jackson Triggs name remains on all of the four tiers.

The non-VQA wines, once called "Proprietors’ Selection", are now titled:"Unity" (one of the many bottles enjoyed at my cottage). That happens to be a brand name Vincor once used for a selection of wines blended from Ontario and British Columbia grapes. That concept didn't fly so Vincor recycled the brand, perhaps a reflection of their level of creativity? No, I would argue it has a little to do with the difficulty in finding names free of corporate branding.

The Unity wines show fairly well with their crisp white labels. The name of the varietal is displayed in a coloured panel at the bottom. Directly under the variety is a tag line announcing the wine as a blend of “international and Canadian wine.”

I'm delighted to see their use of the 2D smart phone scancode. A clever introduction that brand manager, Casey Howe says is "making the back label work a lot harder". This barcode in particular links the consumer to a wine descriptor, pairing ideas, recipes and special offers. I dig it.



Now, my favourite new addition: the cork. Everyone loves a freebie, so here it is: the cork acts as an invitation for the consumer to bring it back to the winery for a complimentary tasting. Not only does it make the consumer realize there is a winery, but because JT is known to be Canadian, it is likely close by. Once spring hits, I can tell you where I will be heading.

7.5