Schupp Company Blog

Mud Splatterings

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

So, I was out playing golf with a client yesterday and after one particular sloppy shot I noticed mud splatterings on the back of my hand.  I tried to wipe them off on my shorts several times but they didn’t come off.  Well towards the end of the round, I dipped my towel in water and proceeded to scrub off these little light colored brown spots.

They still wouldn’t come off.  What?

It dawned on me after about 30 seconds that these were not mud splatterings, but age spots.  Yes, my friends, I just officially became older than middle age.  It sucks but there is nothing that can be done about it.  Well, there actually is something that can be done.  Haven’t you seen those infomercials on TV about the cream that removes age spots?

One of my pet peeves is people who go to great lengths to look younger than they actually are.  Joan Rivers comes to mind.  My God.  She is something like 85 but she looks like someone who is . . . 85, with a rubber face stretched to the point of snapping back into original form.  Holy crap, what was that . . . a sonic boom?  No, Joan Rivers’ face lift stitches popping.  Anyway, I’m 54 and I’m OK with looking 54.  Just one more year closer to death.

With that cheerful last thought, I bid you adieu.

Posted in Miscellaneous, Water Cooler | No Comments »

The Past, Present, and Future of Advertising

Friday, August 13th, 2010

I’m often not compelled to compile links throughout the week, but for some reason this past week has felt a little different.  With an influx of information coming through at all angles, sorting through the good and the bad can often be an agonizing issue, but this week the good just kept getting better and the bad decided not to show.  Below you’ll find some of the most well written articles I’ve read in the past few weeks.  What’s the common thread?  They all focus on the new, the old, and the in-between of the advertising industry.  Interested yet?  Read on.

This week we take a look at the past, present, and future of advertising.   We witness the end of a cultural revolution as Alex Bogusky continues to confess why he left the ad world to pursue a new life of fearless and sustainable creativity.  We read about what’s keeping advertising alive, and why those that say it’s practically six feet under are dead wrong.  We learn how to leverage social media and how to restructure the typical agency model to cater to a new type of consumer and more importantly, a new type of client.  Lastly, we’re given access to some of the most inspiring thinkers in the biz, offering ideas and insights on the future of digital and links to the most important books, blogs, and people leading the way.

And so it begins…

Advertising is Undead

When radio came out, print was supposed to die. When TV came out, radio was supposed to die. When the inter-webs were born, TV was supposed to die. The reality is that with every new medium, or adjustment to a medium, new tools become available to advertisers.  Those that claim “advertising will fail” are grossly misinformed.

Three Key Lessons to Learning Social

These are challenging times for corporations and ad agencies alike but they’re also exciting. The future is characterized by accelerated change and we all must respond accordingly.  You don’t sell to a community, you support it.  Business isn’t changing, it’s changed.  You want social media success?  Quit resisting the demands of becoming social.

Alex Bogusky Tells All:  Why He Left the World’s Hottest Agency

Over the past two decades, the ad business has changed utterly, with digital imploding linear 30-second spots, earned media usurping paid media, and consumers co-opting brand conversations.  Bogusky’s insatiable appetite – and foresight – for change kept him ahead and on top.  Find out how he got there, how he stayed there, how he defied those around him, and how business will change now that he’s gone.

Books, Blogs and People to Follow

The digital community is extremely open and collaborative when it comes to offering advice, recommendations, and insights on what is and isn’t working in the industry.  There are inspiring ideas floating around the Internet, but oftentimes you’ve got to know of the right people and the right places to look before you can truly benefit from the free-flowing influences of the community.  Edward Boches takes the guesswork out of the process.   Happy (un)hunting.

Tags: Advertising, facebook, marketing, news, schupp company, social media, trends, work
Posted in Advertising, Culture, Online, Water Cooler | No Comments »

Levi’s takes experiential marketing to a whole new level.

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

It’s classic. It’s American. It’s entertaining. It’s engaging. It’s collectible. And it seems to be experiential marketing at its finest.

Well, it looks like Levi’s is at it again. On the heels of their Pioneer Sessions music program (where Levi’s invited contemporary musicians to re-make the songs that inspired them), Levi’s is launching what looks to be another amazing consumer marketing program.

Levi’s has partnered with Alamo Drafthouse to celebrate the spirit of Americana with a tour of American cinema.

Throughout August, the Alamo and Levi’s will be taking the Rolling Roadshow to the people under the unified banner of ‘We Are All Workers.’

The Rolling Roadshow is a nationwide tour of free outdoor 35mm movie screenings, which pair renowned films with the famous locations where they were shot or set. All Rolling Roadshow screenings are free and open to the public. Some screenings may even feature surprise celebrity guests, and each location will feature additional, sideshow events.

The lineup looks something like this:

Aug. 6 – JACKIE BROWN at Los Angeles’ Del Amo Fashion Mall
Aug. 7 – DIRTY HARRY at San Francisco’s Washington Square Park
Aug. 8 – THERE WILL BE BLOOD at California’s Kern County Museum
Aug. 8 – CONVOY & RED DAWN Double Feature at the Ft. Union Drive-In in Las Vegas, NM
Aug. 13 – THE BLUES BROTHERS at Chicago’s Joliet Prison
Aug. 14 – ROBOCOP at Detroit’s Russell Industrial Center
Aug. 19 – ROCKYTHON! (ROCKY I-III) at the Philadelphia Art Museum
Aug. 20 – ON THE WATERFRONT at Hoboken’s Pier A Park
Aug. 27 – THE GODFATHER Part II on a Manhattan rooftop near Little Italy

But aside from launching a movie tour about self-made Americans to engage jean-wearing boys and girls across the country, what really caught my eye was in the details.

Each event features a limited-edition movie poster print. Levi’s commissioned Olly Moss to create the series. These are true pieces of art, and below are a few of my favorites from the series in case you were wondering what you could buy me for my birthday.

The events are even being promoted on iTunes in their movie section. Now I know what you’re thinking, “Nobody uses iTunes!” And yes, I appreciate your sarcasm as much as my own. But, you can also find everything you need to know about the Roadshow on Levi’s Facebook page, on which there are over a half million followers.

But this is what really tied the whole experience together for me – Gowalla.

Gowalla is an interactive, location-based (geo-caching) scavenger hunt game for your mobile device. Josh Williams (one of the originators) believes that trips are the ultimate feature of Gowalla. If you check in at multiple locations (taking a virtual tour) you receive the icon for that trip upon completion. It’s really social gaming – kind of like what people are doing with Foursqare only cooler (in my opinion).

To extend the experience beyond the feature presentation, Gowalla worked together with Levi’s and Alamo Drafthouse to create Gowalla Trips highlighting scenes from the films for nine of the Rolling Roadhouse tour cities. Describing the New York trip:

… in conjunction with the screening of The Godfather II, we’re offering a Gowalla trip you can’t refuse: Trace the path of Vito Corleone from Ellis Island through his boyhood home and stomping grounds in Little Italy, grab some cannolis at Caffe Reggio, visit the site of Luca Brasi’s death, Vito’s narrow escape from the hospital and more.

The trips can be accessed by following Levi’s on Gowalla. Plus, there’s a promotional overlay. The first 50 people to complete the respective Trip in each city will receive a VIP package to attend the corresponding Rolling Roadshow screening.

For me, the Rolling Roadshow has it all: great movies in great cities, limited-edition art, celebrity appearances, social media extensions, mobile gaming, the chance to win and, best of all, a common thread that strings it all together for the Levi’s brand. Oh, and did I mention it’s all free?

Levi’s has raised the bar for experiential marketers everywhere. I just wish there was a cool movie set in St. Louis so there’d be a chance I could see the festivities in my city firsthand. I guess playing Escape from New York in the Lou would’ve been too confusing.

Tags: Advertising, Alamo Drafthouse, facebook, Levi's, Movies, social media
Posted in Advertising, Culture, Online, Water Cooler | 1 Comment »

Facebookers Who Annoy Me

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Last year, CNN posted an article describing the 12 most annoying types of Facebookers. I rediscovered the list recently, after a friend had posted it on her profile. I scrolled through each description, hoping to find those seriously annoying individuals in my newsfeed called out for their negligence. For the most part, the author’s depictions were in tune with my own opinions. But I think there are many more aggravations that occur in my newsfeed that must be further addressed.

The Locator. Foursquare is the new big deal. I get it. But really? Oh, you’re eating at Bread Company? You just parked your car at the stadium? Guess what? I don’t care. But if you’re close enough to where I am, maybe I’ll come over and steal your hubcaps. That’ll teach you.

Pardon me. No one cares.

The LoveSICK Couple. The awkward topless engagement/pregnant family photos with the gentleman’s hands so casually covering the lady’s dirty pillows. The countless self-shot make-out pictures. The entire check-out-my-hot-man’s-abs photo album. Listen, love is a beautiful thing, but you’re making us all uncomfortable.

Anyone else need a cooties shot?

The EcCeNtRiC TyPeR ©©© A#. WE cAn’T rEaD wHAt yOu’Re TyPiNg wHeN It LoOkS LiKe ThIs, PLeAsE sToP. A heart or peace sign does not make you appear any more interesting. It does make you look like my 6^th grade notebook, though.

Could you even finish reading that? My eyes started bleeding so I stopped.

The Passive Aggressor. “Jessica is so glad she found out who her true friends are.” “Amy knows he’s with that b*!@#? right now.” Nothing spells coward more than broadcasting to your newsfeed what you wish you had the guts to say to a specific someone. Send them a text.

Is this about the charges to Hooters, honey? Really, I’m sorry.

The Preacher. I can tell you what Jesus wouldn’t do: post his teachings in a status update.

I have no idea what that even means.

I’m sure your English teacher quit giving you second chances a long time ago.

The One-Upper. No one likes them in real life conversation. So don’t devalue your friend’s story in web life, either.

Clearly, you aren’t cool ‘til you have a full set of 10. Like me.

Okay, this was not found on Facebook, but this girl owns the act of one-upping.

My Mom. I’m not going to target every mother on Facebook (some actually do have a built-in filter). But Mo-oooommm!!! Mushy-gushy, lovey-dovey sentiments should be shared via a Hallmark Card or some form of spoken communication! Not in the form of a wall post that all my friends can see. You know that phase everyone goes through where they’re embarrassed by everything their mom does? Welcome to my eternal hell.

I still love you, Mom.

So, really, the most important thing to do when it comes to Facebook: Think… then post. Or don’t post at all.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to post a status about my keyboard wrist cramp on the Schupp Co. Intern fan page.

Tags: facebook, people, schupp company, trends
Posted in Culture, Online, Water Cooler | No Comments »

A Schupp Softball Tragedy

Friday, May 28th, 2010

In honor of tonight’s opening performance in the 10th annual Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis, I’d like to start my softball recap with a short play in two acts.  It was rather late when I wrote this last night, so I’d to apologize to The Bard of Avon and to all of you in advance….

Cast of Characters
Mother Nature – The common personification of nature that focuses on the life-giving and nurturing features of weather by embodying them in the form of the mother.

Keith Myers: Artist, philosopher, poet, athlete, inventor, manager of the Schupp Company softball team, all-around Renaissance man.

ACT 1:
Our hero, Keith Myers, sits in his office on the 2nd Floor of 401 Pine St. trying to develop his line-up and strategy for the 8:30pm softball game in Forest Park.  An uneasy feeling comes over him, forcing him to pick up the phone to plead for help from a higher power.

Keith Myers: Hello, may I speak with Mother Nature Please?
Mother Nature: This is she, how can I help you?
Keith: Well, Mother, you see, I have a softball game tonight and I have a pretty bad feeling.  We’re missing a few key people and I may come a little short on players.  Is there anything you can do?  Maybe some more rain?
Mother: Keith, seriously, I bailed you out last week…I can’t keep doing this.  My e-mail inbox is full of complaints about the weather, I need to give the people some sunshine or we could have anarchy on our hands.
Keith: Please, next week will be better I promise.  I just need one more week.
Mother: Okay, what time is your game?
Keith: 8:30
Mother: Oh, shoot.  I can’t tonight, I am supposed to see Sex and the City 2 with Terra and Gaia.
Keith: Really?  Are you sure?
Mother: Yeah, sorry.  You should call George Hancock…he’s been dead for a really long time, but I’ve heard he’s helped a lot softball managers in your predicament before.
Keith: Okay, thanks Mother.  Enjoy the movie, tell Terra and Gaia I said hello.

Keith lets out a sigh and dials the phone.

George Hancock: Hello
Keith: Hello, George?
George: Yes?
Keith: Mother Nature suggested that I call you about my softball game tonight.  You see, I have bad feeling that we are going to have a rough go of things.
George: Go on.
Keith: Well, we haven’t played in a couple of weeks and I have a few people that can’t play tonight. We’re pretty rusty and tonight’s an important game, we could improve our record to 3-3…I really need this win.
George: First of all, you need to get your attitude in check.  How do you expect to lead your team if you can’t muster up a little more confidence.  How do you think my team scored 44 runs in that first game back in 1887?  That’s right…a positive mental attitude from the coaching staff, victory starts here.  You KNOW this.
Keith: I suppose you’re right, but I still think we could use a helping hand.  I heard Moosylvania is pretty good this year.
George: Well, Mother Nature is a good friend of mine…alright, no problem.
Keith: So you’ll help us?  We can count on being a .500 team tomorrow?
George: No problem, I got your back.
Keith: Sweet!

Keith hangs up the phone and happily leaves to get ready for the upcoming game.  He feels  confident and motivated, he’s ready to lead his team to victory under the watchful eye of George Hancock.

ACT 2:
It’s approximately 9:37pm, our hero is sitting in his 2009 Chevy Malibu near the Aviation Field in Forest Park. He looks exhausted physically and mentally, the wind has clearly been taken from his sails.  He picks up his cell phone and dials…

Keith: George?
George: Yes?
Keith: What the @#&%% was that?  I thought you were going to help us out tonight?
George: Oh sorry, Mother Nature called me at the last minute and asked me if I wanted to see Sex and the City 2 tonight. I just got so excited that plum forgot about your game.  I’ll hook you up next week.

THE END

If you couldn’t tell, we lost last night.  It was not pretty.

Players of the game: Maeve and Marissa…they didn’t actually play, but they showed up to the game and were willing to jump in if I was short on players.

Sportsmanship Award: Miles…he honorably told the the umpire that she was incorrect in calling a ground rule double on a ball that actually left the field of play on a fly.  The reversed call resulted in a 2-run homerun for the other team vs. them having runners on 2nd and 3rd base.  His honesty and integrity should be commended by everyone…except me, I promptly benched him in the next inning.

Posted in Culture, Water Cooler | No Comments »

How do you say “stereotype” in Spanish?

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Found this new and potentially offensive campaign for Quesada Mexican Grill as I was browsing Adrants the other day. These print ads from BBDO in Toronto serve up images of an apparently dirty Mexican catching up on his ZZZZ’s and a family of Mexican wrestlers enjoying their meal at Quesada. Why these visuals? Because as we are told via the tagline/headline, “Real Mexicans Know Where to Get Real Mexican.” Aye carumba …

As an ultra-pale white guy with (fabulous) blond hair and (striking) blue eyes, I personally think the ads are funny. However, I can absolutely see how they could be considered offensive by leveraging these supposed stereotypes against Mexicans.

Does that mean I’m racist or that I just have a sense of humor? I suppose I won’t truly find out what it feels like to be on the other side of the joke until some agency decides to use the albino kid from Powder to sell Coppertone’s new SPF 685 suntan lotion. What do you guys think?

Tags: Advertising, people, stereotype
Posted in Advertising, Culture, Water Cooler | 1 Comment »

Grammar: My Affliction

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Hello, my name is Maeve, and I am a copy-editing addict. I have been neurotically pointing out spelling and grammatical errors for too many years to count. It’s an affliction (albeit not as bad as Affliction) that has started to affect the lives of those around me. I just can’t stop.

But can you really blame me? I was on yearbook in high school, our student magazine in college, and now I’m a copywriter. Typos haunt me. I wake up in cold sweats terrified that I’ve approved a final layout with “Miler Light” lurking somewhere in the copy. I cringe at incorrectly placed apostrophes (“its” versus “it’s”? COME ON!!!), over-possessive statements (no, YOUR being an idiot!) and, flow-,halting, commas, , ,. I want to scorn, scold and scream when atrocities like this make it out in public:

Starbucks POS

(shudder) Starbucks, your spell-check blunder gives me the heebie-jeebies.

Unfortunately, I think it runs in the family. My little brother is known by friends and family as the Grammar Nazi — lovingly, of course. Don’t you dare use a dangling participle or end a sentence with a preposition, unless you’re looking for a verbal smack-down. I’m not as harsh. I just silently judge, red pen handy at all times.

But there’s an upside to this affliction. Two things clients love: passion and attention to detail. You haven’t seen me in a hyphen/no-hyphen debate, but it can get heated. Let’s just say, if Starbucks was our client, they’d be touting their partnerships, not their partnerhips. (Hint, hint…)

Tags: grammar, POS, Starbucks
Posted in Advertising, Culture, Water Cooler | No Comments »