Domino’s Pizza, a client of mine, is behind this innovative new campaign.  GreenGraffiti is a tactic/company that began in Europe in 2006 and Domino’s is one of the first companies to use GreenGraffiti logos in America.  Below is a leaked image of the first of these logos to appear on a sidewalk in a U.S. city.  But it doesn’t stop with this one: 220 more of these Domino’s “American Legends” logo’s will soon be placed around New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

There is a cool twist to this campaign.  As I mentioned, in addition to placing these logos in three different cities, Domino’s has created a bit of a scavenger hunt for their customers. According to Domino’s:

The first 250 people to email pr@dominos.com and submit a photo of them with a Green Graffiti® sidewalk Domino’s logo will receive a $15 Domino’s gift card, good for a Domino’s American Legends pizza.

Click HERE for full details on the contest/giveaway.

For those of you wondering how the  logos like the one above get made, the GreenGraffiti website explains:

With the help of a template and a high pressure water sprayer an advertising message is cleaned out of the dirt. The result is a high impact message and a cleaner street.

Unlike traditional advertising, no trees will be killed, paper printed or ink used.  GreenGraffiti is not just carbon neutral, they are actually carbon NEGATIVE, compensating for 150% of their carbon footprint.  They even invest in a water harvesting project for each liter of water they use.

Pretty cool marketing tactic huh? What do people think of this idea?

Update: Domino’s has uploaded some video of the GreenGraffiti teams putting the logos in place:

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So what is a Biscuit Hole? Hardee’s describes it as:

A bit of biscuit dough rolled in cinnamon and sugar and served with icing for dipping.

So where does the “Name Our Holes” stuff come into play? In a press release, Brad Haley, Hardee’s exec VP of marketing, states:

“They really are irresistible, and it’s almost impossible to eat just one.  But what to call them was a big challenge. One of my favorite options was ‘Biznuts,’ a cross between ‘biscuits’ and ‘donuts’.”

Playing off of Hardee’s alleged confusion over what to call them, they have created a website called Name Our Holes and luckily were able to secure the rights to that URL, which was miraculously not already in use by a porn site. The website lets you submit suggested names as well as see the entries of others.

Some of you may be thinking, “hey, there is nothing lewd about this, they just want help re-naming their biscuit holes. Maybe you are finding sexual inneundo where it doesn’t exist.” For those thinking that, I would like to note exhibit A: the slogan is, “They sound wrong, but taste so right.”  Also, exhibits B & C: two early commercials for the product.  In this first one, the announcer solicits ideas for product names, even suggesting himself that a good name would be “bisticules.”

This second ad is actually quite funny. Taste testers are asked to try donut holes and biscuit holes, and report on which one they like better. The plates are labeled “A” and “B”, leading to many remarks about what people do, or do not like about “the A holes.”

So on the one hand we have Hardee’s ads that were basically written by a bunch of frat guys, and contain multiple testicle jokes. On the other hand, I found myself laughing at some of the commercials, and even though I’d never eat this product, I found myself compelled to write about the product launch and marketing campaign. Is the idea and promotion behind this product launch a bit juvenile and tasteless? Yes. But it seems like this was done in a way that makes people scoff, snicker and remember the ads. Unlike the BK blow job ad, which elicited few snickers, just reactions of bafflement at how over the line it was.

I’m not saying I love this product launch or anything, but in juxtaposition to the blow job ad, it does remind you that you can play around the line without blatently crossing it.

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Unbeknownst to me until a short time ago, National Doughnut Day is tomorrow, June 5.  In celebration of this holiday and people getting fatter, the two titans of the industry, Dunkin’ Donuts and Krispy Kreme, are giving away a free doughnut to all customers.  The only difference is that you have to buy something to drink to get your freebie from DD.  Freeloaders, start forming those lines!  It has always amazed me what people will do for free food – in this case wait for possibly hours for a $3 item. Ahh, America.

It also begs the question – if you had to go to one place – which would it be, Dunkin’ or KK?  Make your case in the comments.

H/t to Pop Candy for the tip.  And who can forget this?

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Oh, and not only are the bars called “fingers” but Mars invites you to “pleasure yourself.” I think you can see the direction this is heading in. Check out the first ad below:

After noting a quote from a woman who points out that marketers seem to take the link women have between chocolate and sensuality TOO literally, AdGabber sums up their analysis of the new product by noting:

For the record, confections that invite associations to masturbating aren’t exactly items we’re eager to put in our mouths.

When checking out the Fling website, I was invited to “join” the community. Deciding to take one for the team (my readers) I registered to see what estrogen fueled craziness the site was all about. Sadly it appears they just collected my e-mail in order to make me an early applicant for whatever community they might soon develop.  Too bad. I was hoping the U.S. website was going to be as ridiculous as the site they used when launching the candy bar in New Zealand. There, a website was created where women could “have a fling” with their choice of a foreign billionaire or a bad boy on the run (really ladies? is that how limited your fantasies are? What about the comedian/food blogger/marketing executive fling?).  The site also lets women engage in other hilarious marriage threatening activities such as creating an alibi. All in good fun of course.

There’s actually a YouTube video which shows you the features of this website in New Zealand if you don’t have to be anywhere for two minutes:

Fling is currently available in stores in California and online. Sorry ladies in the other 49 states!

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The Sara Lee suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, says the ad is false and misleading because in large type it implies one Oscar Mayer dog bested the taste of all Ball Park dogs. But the footnote, “in very small type,” says that Oscar Mayer compared its hot dogs to “the leading beef franks” of its main rivals.

H/t to Peta2 for the photo above of someone you will not find on OM’s YouTube channel.

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“In tough economic times, more people than ever are turning to fast food options as a way to stretch their paycheck.  Playboy.com has taken note of this trend with its own ‘video salute’ to lunchtime. The site’s editors recognized that Quiznos seems to have a good sense of humor about their brand, and didn’t hesitate in selecting them as one of the best bargains out there.”

When pressed with specific questions about if Quiznos had knowledge of the video’s release or gave tacit approval of the video, Playboy did not directly address my question, but simply replied with this statement:

“Playboy.com is responsible for the video and put it together as its ’salute to lunchtime’.”

Does the mystery continue?

Update: Confusion is swirling online as to whether or not Quiznos had any involvement in making this video.  We knew all along that it was produced by Playboy, but the assumption from most seemed to be that the prominent featuring of a Quiznos sub made clear Quiznos was part of it. AdAge reports that they have spoken with Quiznos, and the company has denied any involvement in the ad. However, many bloggers seem skeptical.

Jezebel:

“It seems unlikely that Playboy independently produced a viral video advertising their sandwiches.”

The Denver Egotist:

“We’re calling bullshit, especially after watching that creepy sex-addled talking oven spot they’ve been running.”

Adrants:

“We can’t help but wonder just how many people over at Quiznos are loving (even hoping) this thing gets as much exposure as it’s getting. We still think there’s some shenanigans going on here.”

Cafe Society:

“We say bullshit. We’ve seen those creepy mutant hamster commercials and “Put it in me” talking-oven spots, so we know for a fact that the folks at Quiznos are sick enough to make this ad happen.”

Original Post:

Oh. My. God. I cannot believe that Quiznos made this ad.  First off, for those of you unfamiliar, this ad title/concept is based off the popular viral internet video “2 girls, 1 cup.” If you haven’t seen the video before, don’t bother looking it up. I can’t even begin to describe it to you in any level of detail without losing half my readers, but lets just say that it involves 2 women, eating, a cup, human excrement, and vomit. Enough. I don’t even want to say more.

Well some marketing genius over at Quiznos decided that a phrase (2 girls, 1 cup) that most users of the internet associate with one of the most disgusting, revolting and abhorrent things they have ever seen in their lives, should also be associated with the Quiznos brand name! Yay! Think Quiznos! Think human feces and vomit!

The execution of the ad is no less appalling than the fact that some moron even thought up this idea in the first place.  Two months ago, we asked in good fun if the new Padma Lakshmi Hardee’s commercial was “Soft Core Porn.” Ha! We were just joshing you. Compared to that ad, this one is like Deep Throat 7 – Tonsil’s Revenge. We also wondered if the Stacker 2 “6 hour power” ad was the most sexually explicit ad ever. Ha! That ad might as well have featured bunny rabbits and snowflakes compared to this one.

A YouTube video of the commercial is below the fold. I will tell you that while there is no nudity, this ad is about as NSFW as it can possibly be short of nudity or actual sexual intercourse – pay attention to those headphones people, there is plenty of sound! Be sure to keep reading on for my full thoughts on why this is such a horrendously awful ad.

So we have a few problems here. For starters, readers of this blog know that I think Quiznos sandwiches taste disgusting. I was already associating them with excrement and vomit. Now Quiznos has basically taken the next step and formalized my suspicions: even people in their marketing department can see the link between the taste of human excrement and vomit and the taste of their sandwiches! Otherwise, how would they have thought up this ad?

The next issue, of course, is that the two models, 21 year old Kari Nautique, and Playboy playmate Hiromi Oshima, are making noises, and writhing around, as if they are mid-orgasm while eating the sandwich. Not to mention deliberately allowing the “mayo” to become smeared all over their faces from their messy eating. I don’t even think we need to broach the subject of the phallic shape of Quizno’s sandwiches.  Oh yeah, and of course, they are sitting on a bench wearing bikinis while eating the sandwich, because why wouldn’t they be?

Now as a 28 year-old male, I’m not complaining about a hot 21 year-old in a bikini. Besides, sex sells. I get it, and I don’t have a problem with that. But who is the target market for this ad? Obviously not women. Probably not old people.   I’m guessing 18 – 34 year old males is the exact target demographic they are going for.  Well, I fall into that demographic.  When I’m watching an ad that is trying to sell me something using sex, I should either be turned on by it or excited by the idea of watching it. Watching this ad, I felt neither of those things. I felt gross, icky and uncomfortable just watching it from the privacy of my own desk and computer screen.  That’s me, a 28 year-old male. Imagine how offended/uncomfortable a woman of any age or a parent might be when they see this? Oh, and I never even mentioned the fact that Quiznos made this ad in collaboration with Playboy.

Now I could make some bold proclaimation like “I will never eat at Quizno’s again!” but that would be meaningless, because I never eat at Quizno’s anyways, because their food is horrid.  But if you are a parent, and you ever take your kid to Quizno’s, stop doing so immediately. Seriously. I’m not into drawing lines for how far advertising should go, but this ad makes anti-line-drawers suddenly realize that yep, now that I’ve seen this, I know the definition of crossing the line, and this is it.

So just to re-cap the stupidity of Quizno’s on this:

• Name our ad after the most disgusting viral video ever? Check.
• Offend anyone over the age of 35 and probably almost any female? Check.
• Make even your target demo of 18-34 year old males feel uncomfortable? Check.

and finally……

• Associate your food with BOTH human excrement AND vomit? CHECK.

Well, you did it Quiznos. You made possibly the most appaling, offensive commercial possible. Now thousands, if not millions, of people who weren’t already doing so will begin to associate your food with vomit and shit. Reapeat after me: Quiznos = vomit & shit, vomit & shit, vomit & shit. Well done Quiznos marketing department, well done.

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So why wouldn’t KFC just accept this coupon on Mother’s Day? Well maybe they didn’t want to lose business? According to a post on Business Insider, Mother’s Day is, “one of their busiest days of the year.”

I’m going to say something that I imagine will not be at all controversial:  if you take your mom to KFC for Mother’s Day, you are a shitty son/daughter.

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This has all the makings of an all-out chicken war, as El Pollo Loco attempts to prevent KFC’s new grilled chicken from cutting into their business.

El Pollo Loco Chief Executive Officer Steve Carley has even challenged KFC to a public, side-by-side taste test:

“Let’s see if our opponent is too chicken to go at it toe-to-toe — or rather leg-to-leg — in a taste test.”

Let the chicken wars begin.

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The website features an image of a big bucket of the new Kentucky Grilled Chicken with a button that says “Try it Free April 27. Click for Coupon.” But when you click the button for the free coupon, instead of taking you to a page to get a free coupon, it instead gives you this message:

LOL indeed! Oh KFC. You are the living end!

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As a promotion for Cheeto’s newest product,  Giant Cheetos, Gizmodo was sent “the world’s largest Cheeto.” So what did they do with it? What else? They made a member of their team eat it over the worlds most expensive keyboard. Check out the video below:

H/T Gizmodo and Scandalist.

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the BA-K-47, a 1:1 scale AK-47 made out of bacon. It took a total of eight hours to create, a lot of bacon, and a blowtorch… oh yeah, and our good friend beer helped too.

Damn. That’s quite the weekend bacon project. Check it out below, and head over to their site to see additional pictures.

H/T to Slanch Report.

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But then something weird happened.  The Tropicana website CONTINUED to promote the new packaging. For weeks. Odd huh? The NY Times story announcing the change back to the old labels came out February 23rd, but the Tropicana website kept promoting the new packaging for a full month, only finally getting re-designed this week.  The re-designed website looks great:

Still, it’s odd that a company would make such a big media splash announcing the change back to their classic cartons, only to allow their website to keep promoting a label/packaging they had  publicly disavowed. Did they not feel comfortable going back to their old website design or throwing up a quick-fix graphic showing the old logos? Why no announcement on the website about the switch back to the classic packaging?

So is the Tropicana transition back to the old labels complete now that the website has finally been updated? Not exactly.  The website is currently advertising Tropicana’s new “Trop 50″, which features half the calories of normal orange juice.  The Trop 50 packaging being advertised on the website looks suspiciously like the new (now old) packaging that Tropicana announced they were switching away from:

Odd. Tropicana’s new (now old) packaging just won’t die!

Disclaimer:  Although I personally have no involvement in any Tropicana related campaign, they are a client of the company I work for.

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Here’s the deal: Coke is launching a new promotion called “Don’t Dew It” which will try and convince Mountain Dew fans to switch to Vault.  As Adage notes, Vault is currently getting destroyed in the citrus soda market:

According to Beverage Digest, juggernaut Mtn Dew commands more than an 80% share of the citrus segment, while Vault holds about 4%.

Coke will be distributing coupons for their “Vault Taste Challenge.”  The coupon will offer consumers a free Vault with the purchase of a 20-oz Mountain Dew.  So here is my fundamental problem with the campaign: Coke is REQUIRING that everyone using one of their coupons pay full retail price for one of their competitors products. Does that make sense?

Yes, in this economy people will likely utilize coupons for a free product. But giving away a free Vault costs Coke the same amount of money whether they attach it to the purchase of a Mountain Dew or not. Why wouldn’t Coke simply give out coupons for 1 free bottle of Vault without the Mountain Dew purchase stipulation? How many people who wouldn’t otherwise buy a Mountain Dew will now be forced to do so in order to get a free Vault? Coke’s promotion may have the unintended effect of boosting sales of Moutain Dew in the short-term.

Adage reports that the cost of the promotion for Coke is expected to be “in the millions.”  That means a few million people who might not necessarily buy a Mountain Dew will be doing so in order to get a free Vault.  Coke, however, seems confident that a side-by-side taste comparison will ultimately lead to consumers switching over to Vault:

“Simply put, it’s designed to drive Vault consideration and recruitment among Dew drinkers,” said Scott Williamson, a Coca-Cola spokesman. “We believe that when Dew consumers are offered the opportunity that they’ll like Vault better.”

That’s a lot of confidence in the taste of Vault being expressed by Coke. My question, have these executives tasted Vault and Moutain Dew side-by-side before? If they had, I’m thinking they wouldn’t be quite so eager to launch this campaign. Mountain Dew’s taste is superior to Vault’s, plain and simple.

An interesting promotion idea by Vault, although I certainly think the concept is a bit flawed.  However, I’ll be curious to see sales figures once this promotion is over. Since every free Vault will be accompanied by a purchase of a Mountain Dew, and I’m skeptical any loyal Dew drinkers will switch to Vault, my prediction is that we’ll see zero change in Vault’s market share compared to Mountain Dew’s by the end of this year.

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How Vanno tracks this stuff is unclear to me. It seems to be a Digg-like site where users vote on brand reputation etc., so I’m not sure how reliable the data is.  As Consumerist observes, they released a less than stellar Powerpoint to back up their data. No offense Vanno, but it kind of looks like it was made by a 12 year old. That being said, there is clearly something a foot, because according to their metric, Kellogg’s brand reputation took a nose dive after their much publicized decision to cut ties with Michael Phelps.

A recent poll shows that 44% of Americans currently believe that marijuana should be legalized, including nearly 6 in 10 people living on the West Coast and the vast majority of those under 30.  The tide is slowly turning against the absurdity of our country’s marijuana prohibition, and the incident with Michael Phelps should be a lesson for companies nationwide that the consumer landscape has changed.  You criticize pot and pot smokers at your peril, and it could end up hurting your bottom line.

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The videos are being hosted at a SlotcarTV channel on Funny or Die, and in just over 14 days the first two videos have about 200,000 views.  Brandweek suggests the ads might offend people in the south – maybe they will, maybe they won’t, the videos are clearly over-the-top satire.  Will this ad campaign backfire on Hardee’s? Or will it prove to be a very low cost way to get their name out their to younger consumers?

Check out the two videos below.

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