This is certainly not the first movie to make use of promotional products for public advertisement, but the recent screen adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, has taken cross-promotional product branding to a whole new level. If you can’t afford to drop your life for a yearlong adventure in self-discovery through Italy, India and Indonesia, then perhaps you can at least indulge yourself in some motion-picture inspired merchandise.
It’s Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, which means that I’ll be camped out on my couch every evening this week. Discovery and its sponsors have created a ton of promotional products to get viewers excited about the original programming they’ll debut during the next few days, including apparel, games, and even shark-inspired cocktails. I’ve found that I can deal a little better with those high-definition Great Whites when I keep a shark-shaped stress ball in hand while I’m watching (even though every year I swear I’m not going anywhere near an ocean for the next six months).
With college football season quickly approaching, I am already anxious to see the new, innovative products to hit the tailgating scene. Promotional coolers, while certainly useful, are not typically the most exciting imprinted items… or so I thought! A cutting edge invention has proven my assumption wrong. Last football season, I spotted a Georgia Tech police officer riding around on a Cruzin Cooler- a motorized cooler with space for a custom decal on one side. After conducting a little bit of research on the Cruzin Cooler company, I have discovered that talk show host Ellen Degeneres was given her very own custom Cruzin Cooler with all kinds of amazing special features. To learn more about Ellen’s one-of-a-kind cooler/scooter, keep reading…
Pancakes and cartoons: if you ask me, indulging in these two guilty pleasures sounds like an ideal way to kick off a Sunday morning! A few weeks ago, I visited a local IHOP restaurant to chow down on some delicious chocolate chip pancakes, and instead of walking into an ordinary IHOP, I was presented with an atmosphere that was much friendlier and more inviting. The reason for the kid-friendly ambience? A marketing campaign promoting the newly released, animated movie, “Despicable Me” at all IHOP locations.
For more information about this great example of cobranding, the effectiveness of promotional apparel and why you should see “Despicable Me,” keep reading…
I’ve only seen the show a few times but have actually found it to be mildly funny upon each viewing. After watching this past week’s episode on Wednesday night, however, I have a newfound appreciation for the series that goes beyond its humor thanks to its plug for promotional stress balls.
In case you missed my blog post about my love for Harry Potter last October, the basic gist of the entry was that I am a HUGE fan of the adventure-seeking wizard and his enchanted peers. So when I heard about the forthcoming opening of Universal Orlando’s “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” attraction, I could hardly contain my excitement.
For more about magical promotional toys and the grand opening of “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” keep reading…
I am a huge, huge fan of the HBO original series True Blood. The third season premieres this weekend and I almost can’t contain my excitement. Due to the popularity of the show, I have seen an increase in logo apparel and promotional products in the retail market. I have even been tempted to purchase a custom promotional t-shirt modeled after what the main character, Sookie, wears at her waitress job at Merlotte’s. The most elaborate promotional campaign however involves a “beverage”. Click here to discover Tru Blood
I was shopping the other day at my favorite store, Target when I happened upon an end-cap display of Huggies® Jeans Diapers, diapers that look like designer jeans. As a new mom, I did a double take and went in for closer inspection. The diapers have a faux denim look with back pockets, belt loops and a faux leather patch with the Huggies® logo on them. Is this custom apparel for a baby that is necessary? Of course not, but they seemed to be flying off the shelves. There were only 2 boxes left! I contemplated purchasing a box, but instead I whipped out my phone and took a picture so I could send it to all my mommy friends (and now blog about it).
Guilty as charged: I am a long-time fan of “Sex and the City.” I’ve seen almost every episode of the show, went to the premiere of the movie, and look forward to seeing the movie’s sequel. With young girls now participating in Facebook polls to determine “Which ‘Sex and the City’ Character Are You?,” the series has clearly become one of the cultural phenomena of this generation.
But, as many critics have been saying, is it time for the franchise to graciously bow out before it begins to go stale? Promotional products from brand name laptops to luxury vodka are rumored to dominate the two and a half hour film and you can find merchandise inspired by (and in some cases, featured in!) the movie in stores near you.
Tonight is the Season 10 finale of Dancing With The Stars and there is much anticipation to see who will win the coveted mirrored disco ball. My vote is for Pussycat Dolls singer, Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough. I think she is by far the best dancer out there, even if she does sing and dance for a living. Her dance to “Lady in Red” was spectacular and Carrie Anne Inaba needs to get off illegal lift patrol… the dance was over! I digress.
One thing I’ve never understood is the blood, sweat and tears that these dancers and celebrities risk all for what looks like a $20 disco ball? Just goes to show you that it’s not all about the actual prize. Here at Pinnacle we are always amazed at what an inexpensive giveaway can actually do for a business. People just LOVE free stuff, sometimes it doesn’t matter what it is.
This is certainly not the first movie to make use of promotional products for public advertisement, but the recent screen adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, has taken cross-promotional product branding to a whole new level. If you can’t afford to drop your life for a yearlong adventure in self-discovery through Italy, India and Indonesia, then perhaps you can at least indulge yourself in some motion-picture inspired merchandise.
