Kmart does it again!

Kmart has released yet another humorous commercial for the holiday season, this time putting a Christmas twist on their April ad "Ship My Pants." It features characters from A Christmas Carol in a Kmart store, astounded that they can ship practically anything:

It get's the point across, and it's even funnier with the old fashioned lingo such as "trousers" and "petticoat." Kmart is three for three on viral videos, and I wouldn't be surprised if more people decide to ship their pants this holiday season.

QuizUp

I recently downloaded a new app called QuizUp, where you play with others in a timed trivia game. There are a number of topics to choose from, ranging from Beyoncé to Cats to US States. One of my favorite topics that I've discovered is Logos, where you are shown the logo of a brand or team and you must choose the correct answer within 10 seconds. After talking to some of my friends, I've figured out that logos is a popular topic for a lot of people. When I asked why, they all said, "because it's easy." This topic wouldn't be easy if we weren't exposed to many brands and advertising every day. If anything, QuizUp is helping brands by using their logos in the trivia, and getting people to think about the brand behind the logo. It's making them more recognizable (at least for the 4 million people using QuizUp) and turning exposure into knowledge. 

Pantene #WhipIt

Pantene released this commercial singling out double standards that women face today. The caption of the video is, "It's time we put an end to labels against women. Pantene believes that when you stand strong, you shine."

Unfortunately, the ad is only shown in the Philippines. However, the YouTube video has received more than 2 million views. Their hashtag, #WhipIt, has been trending on Twitter, with mostly positive comments about the video. Pantene sends a strong message through this minute-long ad, and it is a message that ought to be heard.

Something neat I came across today...

The Israeli advertising agency Twisted put up this billboard about violence against women in Bnei Brak:

Bnei Brak is a very conservative city in Israel, and women are expected to be dressed modestly (covered hair, elbows, and knees). The agency expected vandalism from citizens because the billboard pictured an "immodest" woman. After it had been vandalized after 24 hours, the picture was torn to reveal a message about violence:

The message says, "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - 25.11.13"

This is extremely cool to see, especially because it is from an ad agency. It just goes to show how much of an impact this industry can have to better society. 

Kmart Controversy: Smart move for holiday spotlight

Kmart's recent Joe Boxer commercial has stirred up the internet recently:

The reactions to this ad have ranged from disgust to delight, and people cannot seem to stop talking about it. Personally, I find the spot hilarious, and it is definitely a commercial I would remember and recognize with the Kmart brand. This is especially important when considering Kmart must compete with alike stores such as Target and Walmart. 

This is not Kmart's first time to shake their commercials up, with past spots using phrases such as "big gas discount" and "ship my pants." They have done a great job of turning a television spot into an internet hot topic, all the while getting people talking and thinking about Kmart.

Whether it is offends or humors you, the "Show Your Joe" ad has put Kmart in the spotlight and made the brand relevant again in the beginnings of the holiday season. 

Insta-ads?

Instagram has begun introducing ads into their photo feed:

Admittedly, I nerded out when I first got the rolling test ad in my feed. Since then, I have not seen any true ads or sponsored posts. Starting off slow is a smart move for Instagram, and after time users will be used to the pictures just as we adapted to the sponsored posts on Facebook and promoted tweets on Twitter. What excites me about the Insta-ads is that they will be more tailored to the medium and hopefully more relevant to the feed that people look through daily. There are those that are worried the sponsored posts may be too intrusive, but we will not have a better idea until they are released and become a regular part of the Instagram experience. 

Allstate: Your Football is in Good Hands

Maybe I haven't paid enough attention at football games the past few years, or maybe it's the Badder-Meinhof Phenomenon (with new media on your mind, you see it everywhere), but I recently noticed Allstate had placed their logo in the field goal nets at DKR. As someone who has gone to every UT football game for the past 3 years, this seemed like a great play for Allstate; you can't help but think "you're in good hands" as your team kicks the football into the hands of Allstate for the game winning field goal (CC: Texas A&M, 2011 Lone Star Showdown, 27-25). 

When I first noticed the placement I was in awe, but shortly after I realized how long it took me to notice something so obvious. After some research I found that field goal advertising has been around for a few years, although some stadiums are still holding out, such as Michigan Stadium. 

There is no doubt that this tactic has been extremely beneficial for Allstate, and I look forward to other company's advertising ventures on the football field and what they can come up with next.