It's In The Can
Ventriloquist on Oprah
Terry Fator recently appeared on OPRAH. Click to see video! The clip is on the Axtell site, so after you've watched Terry you can purchase a puppet!
Internet Use at the Office
According to recent studies, Facebook has become one of today's biggest workplace distractions. Apparently there are a lot of people out there who need to get real lives.
Facebook attracts upwards of 30 million unique visitors every month for up to an hour at a time, second only to MySpace as the world's top social networking site. And office workers represent the fastest-growing demographic. It's estimated that U.S. employees spend nearly an hour a day on personal Internet use, including everything from checking e-mail to watching YouTube. (By the way, reading my blog during work hours does not constitute "personal internet use time". This blog contains news, marketing how-to tips, trends and examples, plus office-friendly hilarity which releases endorphins into your system, thus making you more productive and informed. Keep this handy in case your boss catches you reading my blog.)
While many employers use severe filtering and tracking systems to dissuade employees from internet surfing, other employers are now striving to strike a balance with employees. These companies rely on new software that tracks employee Web use but includes an unmonitored, personal-time feature for lunchtime and other approved breaks during the day. Pop-up windows tell workers when the feature is activated and how much private time they have left. That seems fair to me ... especially with all of the ahhh, research ... yeah, that's it ... research that I do on the Web.
If You Want That Attractive Plumber to Visit, Don't Buy a Kohler Toiler
I have a warm spot in my heart for Kohler Company. For more than 20 years I have appeared at Kohler sales meetings, distributor meetings, tradeshows and other events. I've also worked as editor for a number of their internal and external newsletters. It's a first-class company with first-class people.
The Bold Look of KOHLER TV ads are frequent award winners. Here's the newest commercial. It's attention-getting, clever, memorable and brings out the sophomoric thought process of a lot of guys who would do anything to meet an attractive plumber.
Cottonelle Wants to "Be Kind to Your Behind"
Continuing with potty-related marketing, Cottenelle has launched a campaign called "Be Kind to Your Behind".
The company's Comfort Haven bus, which will travel across North America, will be part of Kimberly-Clark's biggest non-traditional marketing campaign ever. The bus is outfitted like the Cottonelle Puppy. It features "relaxation stations" where people can see first-hand -- and hopefully in privacy -- how soft and comforting Cottonelle can be.
See the amusing TV spot and associated outdoor print. (Some of the print copy is pretty humorous too. But because it's primarily on mass transit, the attached examples are a little difficult to read.)
And for 3 in a row ...
Because Really, Toilet Paper's Overrated
Just before I posted this blog I ran across an article about how Greenpeace doesn't like Cottonelle's "Be Kind to Your Behind" campaign that is mentioned above.
Big shocker. But it does prove that manufacturers and marketers have to be prepared with a response for almost anything. The demonstrators above showed up at one of Cottonelle's Comfort Haven bus stops. (I can't imagine what the Greenpeace mooners use if they don't use toiler paper. I guess I don't want to know ... but I do want to know who they are so that I don't shake hands with them.)
