.JPG)
If only we all could retain this sense of wonder.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Photo Credit: Gabriel's G.D. Roger Sanders
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
.jpg)
It's holiday season and many of us will be looking this year especially for a way to combine high-quality treats and the best value available. As a supporter of things Canadian...heck, some of my best friends are Canadian...and a wine fancier you might think that my quest for quality and value are doomed.
How wrong you would be.
There are many fine wines available from our Ontario wineries and there are three I'd like to share with you, all from Chateau des Charmes and all bear the VQA designation. The first is the St. David's Bench Cabernet Sauvignon. For my money and palate this is one of the best Canadian reds available. As my BFF at the LCBO would tell you, my heart is set on finding wines that sell for around the $20 mark when they could well command twice that or more. The second is the Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard Chardonnay for those of you who prefer whites. Again, it's an approachable, versatile wine which is just dandy for quaffing and for enjoying with your favourite meals. Finally, a suggestion. There's going to be a lot of turkey consumed in the next few weeks. While I'd normally go for a Oregon Pinot Noir this year we'll be enjoying Chateau des Charmes' Cabernet Merlot. Purists might scoff and I'll readily admit that I'm no sommelier BUT when I took a wine course a few years ago our instructor said, if you like it it's a good wine.
I'm sold. Suggest you check these three out. You might have to order from the winery direct for a couple of these (St. David's Bench isn't always available in your run-of-the-mill LCBO). Visit http://www.chateaudescharmes.com/ to learn how to get their product in your hands.
Oh. Before I forget, they also do a really great 'champagne' if you're looking for a New Years' Eve or Christmas morning tipple.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Hot Food, and Air, at Bus Stops - from the NY Times
Just this past week Kraft was named marketer of the year (2008) by Canada's Marketing Magazine. The following story from the New York Times gives more evidence of how Kraft 'gets' it...that a brand is a promise, elevated to an experience.
By STUART ELLIOTT
Published: December 1, 2008
CRITICS claim that advertising is just a lot of hot air. For the next month, at certain bus stops, they will have a point.
In the latest example of a trend that is becoming increasingly popular on Madison Avenue, heated air will descend from the roofs of 10 bus shelters in Chicago, courtesy of the Stove Top brand of stuffing sold by Kraft Foods.
From Tuesday through the end of this month, Kraft is arranging for the company that builds and maintains the bus shelters, JCDecaux North America, to heat them, trying to bring to life the warm feeling that consumers get when they eat stuffing, according to Kraft.
Such “experiential marketing” is intended to entice consumers to experience products or brands tangibly rather than bombard them with pitches.
It is a response to the growing ability of consumers to ignore or avoid traditional advertising, thanks to technology like digital video recorders. Experiential marketing is also an acknowledgment that products and brands must offer alternatives to the interruptive model of peddling that has been the mainstay of advertising for more than a half-century, which disrupts what consumers want to watch, read or hear.
“Stove Top as a brand has a great equity in the area of warmth,” said Ellen Thompson, brand manager for Stove Top at Kraft Foods in Glenview, Ill. “This is an opportunity to expand into a multisensory experience.”
The 10 heated shelters, primarily in downtown Chicago locations like Michigan Avenue and State Street, will have posters that read: “Cold, provided by winter. Warmth, provided by Stove Top.” The posters will also appear on 40 other bus shelters that will not have heated roofs.
During the first three weeks of December, Kraft plans to give samples of a new variety of Stove Top, called Quick Cups, to commuters and passers-by at half of the heated shelters.
“People don’t always think of Stove Top for an everyday meal,” said Jamie Mattikow, vice president for marketing in the grocery division at Kraft.
“In these hard times, when people are eating more at home,” he added, there is “a great opportunity to introduce our brands to people in a new way.”
The campaign, which is estimated to cost Kraft more than $100,000, is a collaboration of JCDecaux North America; the Stove Top media agency, MediaVest, part of the Starcom MediaVest Group division of the Publicis Groupe; and the Stove Top creative agency, Draft FCB, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies.
The fourth quarter, when marketers are striving mightily to stimulate sales as the year ends, typically brings a wide variety of experiential marketing tactics.
For example, Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest advertiser, is sponsoring a couple of projects this month in New York. One is what has become an annual sponsorship of restrooms in Times Square, on behalf of brands like Charmin toilet paper.
The other initiative is new, a so-called pop-up store in Midtown, BrandSaver Live, named after Procter’s BrandSaver coupon inserts in Sunday newspapers. At the store, consumers can sample products, receive coupons and even be made over with P.& G. beauty and hair care brands.
Other pop-up stores — the term comes from their temporary existence — have been operated by marketers as disparate as Meow Mix cat food, the Suave hair care line sold by Unilever, the United States Potato Board and Wired magazine.
Other brands wooing consumers with experiential efforts during the holidays in New York and other major markets include the ABC Family cable channel, Burger King, Jameson Irish whiskey, Memorex audio products, Rémy Martin Cognac and TD Bank.
•
The biggest risk with experiential marketing is that consumers will deem it an annoying gimmick, which could harm attempts to improve perceptions of brands or products.
There is a precedent. In December 2006, the California Milk Processor Board worked with the CBS Outdoor division of CBS to introduce scent strips on bus shelters in San Francisco. The strips, which smelled like chocolate chip cookies, were an effort to bring to life the experience of desiring a glass of milk for dunking cookies.
The campaign was abruptly ended after an outcry that the scent was inappropriate in public places and could set off allergic reactions.
Mr. Mattikow of Kraft, reminded of the cookie fiasco, said, “We are confident consumers will enjoy” the heated bus shelters.
Mr. Decaux had this response: “The reaction of the public was quite surprising. All it was, was the smell of a nice cookie.”
Still, Mr. Decaux said, “You always have to be careful not to upset the balance between having a presence and being too intrusive.”
Referring to the Stove Top shelters, he added, “I don’t think anyone will find it’s too intrusive.”
Perhaps. After all, some like it hot, particularly on a December day in Chicago.
By STUART ELLIOTT
Published: December 1, 2008
CRITICS claim that advertising is just a lot of hot air. For the next month, at certain bus stops, they will have a point.
In the latest example of a trend that is becoming increasingly popular on Madison Avenue, heated air will descend from the roofs of 10 bus shelters in Chicago, courtesy of the Stove Top brand of stuffing sold by Kraft Foods.
From Tuesday through the end of this month, Kraft is arranging for the company that builds and maintains the bus shelters, JCDecaux North America, to heat them, trying to bring to life the warm feeling that consumers get when they eat stuffing, according to Kraft.
Such “experiential marketing” is intended to entice consumers to experience products or brands tangibly rather than bombard them with pitches.
It is a response to the growing ability of consumers to ignore or avoid traditional advertising, thanks to technology like digital video recorders. Experiential marketing is also an acknowledgment that products and brands must offer alternatives to the interruptive model of peddling that has been the mainstay of advertising for more than a half-century, which disrupts what consumers want to watch, read or hear.
“Stove Top as a brand has a great equity in the area of warmth,” said Ellen Thompson, brand manager for Stove Top at Kraft Foods in Glenview, Ill. “This is an opportunity to expand into a multisensory experience.”
The 10 heated shelters, primarily in downtown Chicago locations like Michigan Avenue and State Street, will have posters that read: “Cold, provided by winter. Warmth, provided by Stove Top.” The posters will also appear on 40 other bus shelters that will not have heated roofs.
During the first three weeks of December, Kraft plans to give samples of a new variety of Stove Top, called Quick Cups, to commuters and passers-by at half of the heated shelters.
“People don’t always think of Stove Top for an everyday meal,” said Jamie Mattikow, vice president for marketing in the grocery division at Kraft.
“In these hard times, when people are eating more at home,” he added, there is “a great opportunity to introduce our brands to people in a new way.”
The campaign, which is estimated to cost Kraft more than $100,000, is a collaboration of JCDecaux North America; the Stove Top media agency, MediaVest, part of the Starcom MediaVest Group division of the Publicis Groupe; and the Stove Top creative agency, Draft FCB, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies.
The fourth quarter, when marketers are striving mightily to stimulate sales as the year ends, typically brings a wide variety of experiential marketing tactics.
For example, Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest advertiser, is sponsoring a couple of projects this month in New York. One is what has become an annual sponsorship of restrooms in Times Square, on behalf of brands like Charmin toilet paper.
The other initiative is new, a so-called pop-up store in Midtown, BrandSaver Live, named after Procter’s BrandSaver coupon inserts in Sunday newspapers. At the store, consumers can sample products, receive coupons and even be made over with P.& G. beauty and hair care brands.
Other pop-up stores — the term comes from their temporary existence — have been operated by marketers as disparate as Meow Mix cat food, the Suave hair care line sold by Unilever, the United States Potato Board and Wired magazine.
Other brands wooing consumers with experiential efforts during the holidays in New York and other major markets include the ABC Family cable channel, Burger King, Jameson Irish whiskey, Memorex audio products, Rémy Martin Cognac and TD Bank.
•
The biggest risk with experiential marketing is that consumers will deem it an annoying gimmick, which could harm attempts to improve perceptions of brands or products.
There is a precedent. In December 2006, the California Milk Processor Board worked with the CBS Outdoor division of CBS to introduce scent strips on bus shelters in San Francisco. The strips, which smelled like chocolate chip cookies, were an effort to bring to life the experience of desiring a glass of milk for dunking cookies.
The campaign was abruptly ended after an outcry that the scent was inappropriate in public places and could set off allergic reactions.
Mr. Mattikow of Kraft, reminded of the cookie fiasco, said, “We are confident consumers will enjoy” the heated bus shelters.
Mr. Decaux had this response: “The reaction of the public was quite surprising. All it was, was the smell of a nice cookie.”
Still, Mr. Decaux said, “You always have to be careful not to upset the balance between having a presence and being too intrusive.”
Referring to the Stove Top shelters, he added, “I don’t think anyone will find it’s too intrusive.”
Perhaps. After all, some like it hot, particularly on a December day in Chicago.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Absent friends
Was recently going through some old files and photos. Came upon some shots from golf trips to Myrtle Beach in what now seems like the distant past. Gave me pause to reflect on how having successful friends can sometimes lead to separation but how great it is to be able to stay in touch via tools such as this blog, Facebook, email, and that old form of communication - the telephone.
For example, I took this photo on a trip to Kiawah Island. You know, I don't even remember what year it was but I do recall that Commissioner Booty, Counsellor Paul, Dr. Ricky Ray, Father O'Malley and others were in attendance.
I wrote a stupid mystery after the trip, "K is for Kiawah", in which I took the piss out of a number of people on the trip but it was all done with joy and the intent to create a record of a time that meant much to me.
Anyway, I'm still in touch with most of the people on that trip. It would be great if they were more nearby. My pal in Hong Kong I miss a bunch. My friend in Situate as well. Can't remember if the big Latvian was in Kiawah but now he's in Bermuda and I'd love to see him again too.
Good night my friends. Sleep well.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
When you move...
...to a new home you don't really know if it will be home until you've had some time to meet your neighbours and experience events together.We've been doubly blessed.
The family sharing the western side of our semi - the Tomlinsons (Keith, Karen and Ryan) - have been so incredibly welcoming. That's Keith on the far left and Karen waving. Ryan is hidden somewhere behind Karen. The first night we moved in we had dinner with them and ever since we've spent many delightful occasions in their company. Across the street live Dave and Caroline and their kids Lauren, Catty and Cal (you can see Caroline and Catty in this photo). They're here 'temporarily' from England (yes, the neighbourhood is lousy with Brits - you might note Keith's Arsenal scarf). Anyway, you can have a great house and all of the wonderful amenities you might desire but if you don't have great neighbours and friends you've got nothing much at all.
Impromptu gatherings on the front porch. Sudden bursts of joint 'gardening' activity and now Caroline figures we should build a float for next year's Santa Claus parade.
We've also done our bit to support the Ontario, Italian, French, Californian, Spanish, Portugese, British Columbian, Argentinian, Chilean, Lebanese and Nigerian wine industry and with the help of another British neighbour Matthew will soon have done a wine tour of all member nations of the United Nations.
Anyway, I am now a reborn believer in Santa Claus. We saw him just today in the company of our great neighbours. I'm so glad Gabriel is growing up in this place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)