The Brand Strategy Group

Honors for Lanikai

2010-04-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

Our own brand -- Lanikai Bath and Body -- the lotions, soaps, scrubs, washes, shampoos, salts, bubblebaths -- is going to be on TV Tokyo. They will be filming here on Saturday and the last

broadcast -- on Seoul -- got 8.6 million viewers. They expect Hawai`i to do better. Much better.

Also want to pat ourselves on the back for great comments we get about our products and our store in Lanikai. You can order online, too. www.lanikaibathandbody.com

Now There's Snuss

2010-04-05T13:45:00.001-07:00

"Smokless tobacco" in little tea bags that you can slip between your gums and your teeth (no one notices) until you get to your next smoking tobacco opportunity.

NBC interviewed one kid who sucked on Snuss and smoked a pack a day. He even commented that he could suck on Snuss while brushing his teeth!

The Swedes have had it for three years. Now it debuts in America ..Keeps the addiction going ... another one for Big Tobacco.

Dog Food, Raccoons & Eyeglasses

2010-03-02T21:22:00.000-08:00

Sears has some genuinely funny commercials for its optical department ...

Targeted at Boomers, one features a woman in her nightgown calling the cat in for the night ---

along comes a raccoon, which she ushers in to sleep with her.

The second features a guy barbecuing -- sniffing the air for the strange smell of charcoal he has just poured --- which is actually dog food.

Mistakes we getting-old-folks really could make.

Best Sound Identity : Playing Nightly

2010-02-22T14:24:00.000-08:00

And daily. Who knew NBC had so many channels?

We're talking about the Olympic theme ...One of the most powerful and most recognized sound identities in the entire world!

Spy Candy

2010-02-22T14:14:00.001-08:00

A Pennsylvania school gave laptops to their kids, and then spied on them through the webcams attached ... caught a kid eating something and reported to his parents that he was doing drugs.

Turns out he was eating ...candy ... Mike's & Ike's ... a favorite of our media maven friend Mary Kinoshita.

Of course, so far this is only a story on HLN. But we're pretty sure we heard in the background that he was eating "Mike's & Ike's".

Deadly Doritos, Men in Underpants and Too Many Babies

2010-02-09T17:19:00.000-08:00

This year's Superbowl commercials were lame.

Luckily, the game lived up to its brand!

Nothing Like Hawaii

2010-02-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

ProBowlers -- almost to the man -- say they'd rather be in Hawai`i than in Miami (where many of them have off-season homes) for the ProBowl.

Either the HVCB has done a great job of laying the ground work or the guys just plain LOVE

Hawai`i.

Either way, it's to our benefit. ESPN interviews this week are full of "don't get me wrong, I'm grateful and its an honor, but there's nothin' like Hawai`i"

picture from U.S. Press Wire

Better than A Super Bowl Commercial

2010-02-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

Dolphin Stadium has been renamed Sun Life Stadium as part of a deal that the Dolphins struck with the Canadian financial services firm, industry officials said Monday.

The name change happened before the Jan. 31 Pro Bowl and Feb. 7 Super Bowl.

The five-year deal reportedly averages out to $7.5 million annually.

Dolphin Stadium has been renamed seven times.

Who Dat?

2010-02-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

The Saints have been calling themselves "Who dat?" for years... now, that it matters (i.e they are going to the Super Bowl), the NFL has trademarked it and issued a number of cease and desist order to small -t shirt makers who are trying to put a little money in the bank.

The NFL is over the top about stuff life this ... when you really think about it, what a joke it is that we can actually trademark phrases that are part of the common zeitgeist.

TV in the background while writing this: Kathie Lee actually trademarked "everyone has a story."

Suck On This.

2010-01-30T19:20:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart's practice of manufacturing in China brings us cheap prices ... and danger.

This week, Princess & the Frog necklaces -- for all of $5.00 -- were recalled because of high levels of cadmium. According to the U.S.Department of Labor, "Cadmium is an extremely toxic metal ..." Disney took the belated step of banning cadmium in any of its merchandise.

We've Come A Long Way

2010-01-30T19:01:00.000-08:00

Not too long ago, it would have been unthinkable to introduce a car that had a Japanese name in the U.S. and Europe: Suzuki's Concept Kizashi has become a reality.

Kizashi is a Japanese word meaning “prelude” or “foretaste”. The name symbolizes the change within Suzuki. The Concept Kizashi represents Suzuki's passion for challenges (this is a major aspect of Suzuki's corporate culture), its future direction, and the competitive strengths that are unique to Suzuki.

To fulfill this mission, the design theme for the Concept Kizashi is “a dynamic athlete in motion”. ...summed up by the attributes of a great athlete: dedication to sporting challenges, physical strength that comes from hard daily training, a honed physique with no superfluous weight, and the presence and dignity of a champion.

KHON GIVES MUFI FREE ADVERTISING

2010-01-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

In their new promos, "I love 2", in the center of a group of young people is a guy in a red shirt with "MUFI" on it in white letters.

This, to me, is a violation of some FCC rules.

Charles D'Jou Buys a Truck

2010-01-29T12:36:00.001-08:00

Evidently he is hiring the strategist who helped Scott Brown beat Martha Coakley.

Now, he needs to put his kids on Hawaii Stars and his wife on KHON.

"Aulani, Are you In?"

2010-01-28T19:07:00.000-08:00

Disney names its Ko Olina Resort after a nosy neighbor in a Times Warner commercial.

HELP U SELL Thinks IT'S MAC

2010-01-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

New Help-U-Sell commercials are a rip off of the Mac vs PC ads featuring John Hogdman as the PC. Even the music background is pretty similar. Are these national ads? Is Apple going to do something about this?

Football Rules: Even in the days before "high tech"

2010-01-25T12:00:00.001-08:00

After yesterday's Greek tragedy (will it be Favre's Last Pass?), it is worth it to remember why we love sports so much. It's the story. Corporations spend huge amounts of money to create their own stories --- but sports are about human drama, and they are compelling.

More than 40 years ago, the networks did not realize how much we loved football. Who remembers the Heidi Bowl? Because NBC was contractually obligated to the movie's sponsor, to broadcast Heidi from 7 pm to 9 pm that evening, the network had instructed Dick Cline, NBC's Broadcast Operations Supervisor, to cut to Heidi at exactly 7:00 pm, whether the football game between the Jets and the Raiders was over or not

As the game approached its exciting ending, however, NBC's executives changed their minds and decided to air the game to its conclusion and delay Heidi by several minutes if necessary. However, because so many football viewers were calling the network requesting the network not cut away from the game the NBC executives could not get through. NBC tried to contact the mobile unit in Oakland to call Broadcasting Operations, but Broadcasting Operations countered that they needed direct orders in order to rearrange scheduled programming.

With the game fed on telephone lines instead of satellites, Cline could not see what happened in the final minute. In an NBC Burbank studio where the TV feed was being controlled, Cline received no late instructions otherwise, and when the network came back from commercials, Heidi started on schedule at 7:00 pm. Cline later said that he was called directly by the president of NBC after the network ended its coverage, demanding that the game be put back on the air. However, the video link to the stadium had already been disconnected; reestablishing it would have required action by a multitude of telephone switching stations across the country.

While millions of stunned football fans east of Denver suddenly found themselves watching Heidi, the Raiders scored two touchdowns on three plays and won the game 43-32 in what has been voted by fans as one of the 10 most memorable games in American football history

At 8:40 pm, a crawl across the bottom of the screen announced the ending to the game (during a dramatic point in the movie when Heidi's paralyzed cousin Clara fell from her wheelchair and had to summon enough courage to try to walk).

The following evening, ABC News anchor Frank Reynolds was seen reading excerpts from Heidi (with the title of the book clearly visible), with cut-ins showing the two Raider touchdowns.

Import Strategy That Doesn't Work

2010-01-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

NASCAR on FOX -- is promoting its February return with commercials that actually feature the military -- I definitely saw the Army and probably others were represented as well.

It is creepy of NASCAR (and FOX) to do this ... dishonors those who serve and does not add integrity to the NASCAR "cause".

Maybe this is a result of their research on ratings decline: A double-digit decline in ratings for NASCAR on FOX has officials researching why the audience is shrinking and what, if anything, can be done to reverse the trend.

Wal-Mart: buy Chinese. live smarter.

2010-01-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart's aspirational television commercials, showing people who are unlikely to shop at Wal-Mart, living in homes that are unlikely to be owned by Wal-Mart shoppers have actually attracted shoppers who are unlikely to shop at Wal-Mart.

According to te HomeScan division of AC Nielsen:
Who’s the fastest-growing Wal-Mart demographic? Shoppers making more than $70,000 a year, up 12 percent from 2007. “Brand aspirationals,” a younger demographic that cares about name brands and labels, were the focus of Wal-Mart’s promotional strategies through the beginning of 2008, but the company has shifted back to low-price messages.

However, "Forty-two percent of Wal-Mart sales are to customers making less than $40,000 a year."

Although AC Neilsen reports that Wal-Mart has shifted back to a low price message, they are no longer the ham-fisted company that was represented by a yellow-happy-faced-price-slasher. Now they are sending the message with upscale looking shoppers who delight in a good buy as a competitive, I-am-smarter-than-you-are move.

Wal-Mart buys $27 billion directly from China, and lots more indirectly through companies like Mattel. If Wal-Mart were a country, it would be China's 6th largest export country.

You Can Take The Bullets Out of Your Name

2010-01-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

But you can't take the guns out of your lockers.

The Washington Wizards changed their name from the Washington Bullets because of concerns over violence.

Now, teammates Arenas and Crittendon are accused of pulling guns on one another over a gambling debt. (in the locker room where they kept their guns).

Conclusion: There is more to a brand than the name.

It is true. Barack Obama was my student

2009-12-19T23:38:00.000-08:00

I taught him Hawaiian History. No wonder he tried to classify Hawaiians as an Indian tribe.

WTF is Target Thinking?

2009-12-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

Target is running these weird xmas ads depicting awkward situations.

A guy gives a girl a pearl necklace and she says " I didn't think we were there yet."

A woman gets her family a cool tv and her husband gripes about spending too much money.

Really off brand if you ask me. Is Target nuts? Or am I so old that I don't get that it is totally cool to be uncomfortable at Christmas?

Best Product Introduction of 21st Century

2009-12-08T13:24:00.000-08:00

No kidding! As a lifelong fan of "real" mashed potatoes, I have tried shortcutting through dried potatoes at Costco, prepared potatoes at Safeway & Foodland, and even considered my friend K's love affair with Kentucky Fried Chicken mashed potatoes -- in search of a fake real potato. Nothing matched up -- and I always dreaded peeling bags of potatoes for Thanksgiving -- til I discovered OreIda Steam & Mash. A little butter, and a little milk (cream), and you have delicious mashed potatoes. Two bags of Steam and Mash fed 12 hungry people ... and they went back for more.

Local Commercials

2009-10-31T13:21:00.000-07:00

Worst Local Commercials: Always, always hard-to-beat in the super sucky category are Oceanic Time Warner's local television spots. The national ones aren't so bad.

Runner up: HEMIC

Best adaptation of a national commercial: Kaiser Permanente's "Ha" (breath of life) version of the thrive campaign. Riveting. And it doesn't get old.

Could use some editing: Hawaii Meth Project's commercials need some local people. Great media buy, but by watching,you'd think only haole kids did meth.

Good comeback: Hawaiian Telcom's reminder that they go where no one else will.

Book Review

2009-10-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

Stephen Levitt's latest book, Superfreakonomics is out and he is making the rounds.

We've read the book. It's not as startling as his first, nor as well written as Gladwell's Outliers, but the conversational tone makes it an easy page turner, and there are some interesting ideas...

Like ex-Microsoft billionaire's Nathan Mhyrvold's super simple idea for cooling down surface water temperatures, thereby undermining a hurricane's ability to build to a super freaky force.

Or the fact that if suicide bombers bought life insurance, they'd be harder to track.

Apparently a lot of liberal tree huggers are mad because Levitt and Dubner ask us to remove our moralistic angst about global warming (or not) and look for simpler solutions.

We're reading Gladwell's "What the Dog Saw" next.

No Names, Big Salaries

2009-10-31T13:06:00.000-07:00

The Yankees have no names on their uniforms because its a team sport. So says Wikipedia, which contends that the Yankees are observing an original baseball tradition.

But nobody has bigger stars, or more money in the coffers. What gives?

Get Healthy Rest

2009-09-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

I still need more healthy rest in order to work at my best. My health is the main capital I have and I want to administer it intelligently. - Ernest Hemingway (1899 - 1961)

This is posted on American Heart Association's Go Red site. I found it very funny, considering its author, the fact that he lived only 62 years and that he was known as one of the louche-est guys around.

This speaks to brand. To use or not to use? Not to use.

Joe Wilson, Is Andrea Mitchell a liar?

2009-09-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

Teddy Kennedy's True Compass is being held for release until September 14. This monday.

I have a running joke of me coming into the store and asking to buy it every day. BookEnds. They are good people. They say no.

On the first day the media talked about it, Andrea Mitchell went out of her way to say she had picked it up at a local book store. The question is:

1. Did the bookstore give her a copy in the hopes she'd mentioned their name? (she didn't)

2. Did the publisher give it to her, and tell her to say it, so we'd all rush to our bookstores?

3. Did the bookstore in question a) not exist b) is owned by Andrea Mitchell c)hate the publisher?

4. Did Andrea Mitchell lie? I defer to the "gentleman" from South Carolina? Wassup Joe? Don't be muzzled now.

God Bless Ted Kennedy

2009-08-25T23:07:00.001-07:00

The end of an era for so many of us. May he rest in peace.

The Devil Wants You To Call

2009-08-25T13:40:00.001-07:00

Tuesday is $1 popcorn day at Windward Mall

2009-08-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

No kidding. I asked my boss, Brook, if I could go to a movie midday on Tuesday and she said yes. Then she asked her boss, me, if she could go to a movie midday on Tuesday and I said yes.

Turns out we were going to the same move. Julie & Julia. Only when we arrived at Windward Mall did we realize that it was $1.00 popcorn day. Also $1.00 hotdog day that particular Tuesday. Many folks around us shared their $1.00 coupons and spirit of Aloha with us. You

have to be a member of the Regal Cinema something or other club to get these benefits.

We have yet to sign up, but it is sure a good deal.

Design is Everything

2009-08-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

For some reason, we don't think the person sporting this bumper sticker wanted to give more attention to Starbucks...

Nike's Investment Pays Off

2009-08-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

Or at least it starts to. This past weekend, Michelle Wie finally won something as a pro:

The Solheim Cup

Founded in 1990 by Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (KMC) - makers of PING golf equipment - The Solheim Cup features 12 of the top European born players from the Ladies European Tour (LET) and 12 top American born players from the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

"This year, when the last match was over, [the Americans]ran around the 18th green hugging each other and waving American flags.

Wie showed that when she's on song, few can touch her. Her drive on the par-5 15th went 305 yards and she hit an eight-iron to 20 feet. She two-putted for the birdie, and Alfredsson couldn't make the putt to match her."

How Much Can We Take?

2009-08-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Accelerating arctic warming and other early climate impacts have led scientists to conclude that we are already above the safe zone at our current 390ppm, and that unless we are able to rapidly return to 350 ppm this century, we risk reaching tipping points and irreversible impacts such as the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and major methane releases from increased permafrost melt.

For all of human history until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide. Parts per million is simply a way of measuring the concentration of different gases, and means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules per million other molecules in the atmosphere. 275 ppm CO2 is a useful amount—without some CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere, our planet would be too cold for humans to inhabit.

We're In Hot Water

2009-08-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer
WASHINGTON — The world's oceans this summer are the warmest on record.
The National Climatic Data Center, the government agency that keeps weather records, says the average global ocean temperature in July was 62.6 degrees. It is the hottest since record-keeping began in 1880. The previous record was set in 1998.

Meteorologists blame a combination of a natural El Nino weather pattern on top of worsening manmade global warming. The warmer water could add to the melting of sea ice and possibly strengthen some hurricanes.

The Gulf of Mexico, where warm water fuels hurricanes, has temperatures dancing around 90 degrees. Most of the water in the Northern Hemisphere has been considerably warmer than normal. The Mediterranean is about three degrees warmer than normal. Higher temperatures rule in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

It's most noticeable near the arctic, where water temperatures are as much as 10 degrees above average.

Hurray for Barney Frank!

2009-08-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

At a town hall meeting, a woman was carrying a poster of President Obama-as- Hitler.

As reported in the Washington Post:

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was greeted with shouts and boos at a town hall meeting on health care at a senior center in Dartmouth, Mass., Tuesday night, an event that was targeted by supporters of perennial independent political candidate Lyndon LaRouche. But the combative House Financial Services Committee chairman met fire with fire.

"On what planet do you spend most of your time?" Frank retorted when a woman in the crowd compared President Obama's push for health-care reform to the policies of Nazi Germany while holding up a pamphlet depicting the president with a Hitler mustache.

Branding Pandemics

2009-08-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

Well, not exactly, but as the world becomes increasingly smaller with more and more people travelling across borders --- and viruses learning to jump species (they are smarter than we are because they are not concerned about being right -- they just want to survive).

Anyway, now we have an online game called "The Great Flu" --- you can play it online for free:

http://www.thegreatflu.com/ and learn about all of the puzzle pieces our leaders and scientists have to put together to even have a shot (pun intended) at containing the great flu.

From FAST COMPANY:

You're the head of the World Pandemic Control, and you've just received word that Gamers' Flu--a rare, highly contagious disease--is spreading through Europe. Should you close the airports, or the markets? Should you distribute face masks, or isolate symptomatic individuals? Should you improve research facilities, or stockpile vaccines? Whatever you do, you better act fast: People are dying, and money is tight.

No, you're not having the world's most nuanced nightmare. You're playing The Great Flu, a free online video game--yes, video game--developed by Dutch researchers to raise awareness about Swine Flu and similar outbreaks...Even at the lowest difficulty the game delivers a sense of just how difficult it is to handle and contain the spread of a dangerous virus."

Presidential Bobble Heads Seized at LA Customs

2009-08-18T14:34:00.001-07:00

So says The Christian Science Monitor --- 1000 Obama Bobble heads were seized at customs in LA --- lots of negotiating to get them out. At least they got the Punahou colors right!

Redesign ... File Chapter 11

2009-08-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

Venerable Reader's Digest, the predecessor to the Uncle John's Bathroom Series, has recently undergone a major redesign.

Now, it's a victim of our economy. In last night's news, we heard that Reader's Digest was filing for Chapter 11 Banckruptcy protection:

"Reader's Digest CEO Mary Berner insisted, though, that the company's U.S. magazines remain strong, with the number of ad pages down less than 6 percent through the September editions. She said Reader's Digest titles rely less on luxury brands and high-income tastes, giving them an added appeal in a recession that has clobbered much of the print media industry.

"Our brands are home and heartland. Our brands have a very, very Midwestern sensibility — a back-to-basics sensibility," she said in an interview. "Reader's Digest has actually done quite well."

Gertrude Frisbie is 101 Years Old Today!

2009-08-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

And she looked like she had just thrown a frisbie! Wish I had her picture. But I don't ---

so a jar of Smucker's (With A Name Like That) wil have to do.

Evian est passe

2009-08-17T13:06:00.000-07:00

Friday's Advertiser reported that bottled water sales are on the decline. Even Nestle, who we dissed here for introducing a bottled water AFTER everybody knew it was a bad idea is having trouble.

Well, well, well. That's why we registered the name "Hawaiian Tap" and the phrase "Bottle Your Own" in 2003 and introduced in reusable water bottles in 2007.

We sell Hawaiian Tap bottles, and other water bottles with designs on them at Lanikai Bath and Body. (600 Kailua Road, in the Kailua Shopping Center).

Great Hawai`i Produce

2009-08-17T12:56:00.001-07:00

The folks shown here are from Ho Family Farms which sells at Foodland the most amazing different colored "cherry" totamoes. You can't get anough of them! Hawai`i's farmers are going

full speed ahead to provide some of the best produce in the world. Support local farmers!

Now, "a new community co-op in Waimanalo is using the internet to sell locally grown food and giving the profits to youth organizations in Waimanalo, creating a system that will enrich the area and keep the money home" (Eloise Aguiar).

Orders can be made now until Wednesday at http://www.waimanalomarket.com/

It's kind of like buying tickets for huli huli -- you order online and pick it up on Saturday.

Sports Are the Best

2009-08-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

I know all of the stuff about how athletes are too-rich bad guys, but sports is the last arena where when some one shouts it is usually about something good.

Huge Gestures! Big Drama! Second Chances! I love it!

Just this weekend: South Korean Y.E. Yang beat Tiger Woods in a stunning conclusion to the PGA Championship, Usain Bolt ran the 100 in 9.58 (breaking the record), and Michael Vick is

getting a second chance.

Far out, as we used to say in the 60s!

And The Week Goes On

2009-08-14T02:05:00.000-07:00

It’s the end of the WEEK but more to come….
Brook Gramann to Honolulu Weekly: Honolulu Weekly and the little non-profit that Could (or apparently couldn't). Hawaii People's Fund named Best Non- Profit in first draft of Best Of issue. Advised to put mahalo ad in - they did- then they are removed as Best non-profit and... NO non profit named. Come on- maybe should've given them a chance to at least remove the ad if the votes ended up not counting for anything?

Honolulu Weekly to Brook Gramann: Brook,I honestly hope people are a little more forgiving when you make a mistake. Someone in the office with no role in tabulating the Best of Honolulu vote grabbed an intern's work-in-progress document, based on a preliminary count of only some of our votes, out of the printer, got excited, and sold an ad based on incorrect information. That person made a mistake and feels absolutely awful about it. We all do. It's terribly embarrassing for everyone, and it has substantially spoiled a project into which a lot of people, in and outside of the paper, put a lot of time and effort. We apologized, the money was refunded, and we will work to repair the damage done. I cannot imagine why you would think Honolulu Weekly is engaged in a conspiracy against a non-profit organization we respect and admire, nor what good you think will come of this.

Brook Gramann to Honolulu Weekly :Ragnar- I do think people deserve to see your response to me because I posted the question, issue. This is not about a conspiracy theory- that's ridiculous- but it is about the decision to remove a non profit that is very deserving and who obviously received the most votes but for some reason was not deemed worthy to receive Best of. This is made clear with the commentary in that section (below)- completely unnecessary- and where the implication is that the Weekly chose not to reveal the winner because few residents had heard of them? That's exactly why they should have been included. No conspiracy- just a very bad decision made worse with the unnecessary commentary and their mahalo ad running in this context.Instead of naming the organization with the most votes – this ran

“Oh irony: the non profit category was host to the most funny business of any we asked about this year. The winning organization was one few residents had ever heard of, as were several close runners up. in lieu of declaring a winner, we prefer to direct you to our 2009 sustainability guide, where we offer a long list of worthy, underfunded groups that are desperate for your kokua and your support.”

Email question to Brook GramannReply from editor "The Weekly deeply regrets this mistake and is working to revise its processes so that it does not happen again." Brook - how do you feel about it all?

Brook GramannFunny as it was the Weekly who made the implication that the ballot boxes are stuffed- in their own publication. Apparently the non profit category was not stuffed enough! If this little incident causes them to review their processes that's great.
Weekly ran this in place of Hawaii People's Fund receiving the most votes: Oh irony: the non profit ... Read More category was host to the most funny business of any we asked about this year. The winning organization was one few residents had ever heard of, as were several close runners up. in lieu of declaring a winner, we prefer to direct you to our 2009 sustainability guide, where we offer a long list of worthy, underfunded groups that are desperate for your kokua and your support.

go to http://www.changenotcharity.org/ to learn more about Hawai`i People's Fund.

Tech Run Amuck: Coke is the Real Money Grubbing Thing

2009-08-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

According to Fast Company magazine, earlier this year Coca Cola introduced thermometer-loaded vending machines that charged more on hot days (and less on cold ones).

Coke was trying to optimize demand. Consumers were outraged and major newspapers called the effort "cynical" and "evidence that the world is going to hell in a handbasket."

Coke has pulled the machines, but like all the other stick-it-to-the-consumer horror shows, it (or something like it) will be back.

For this, and your efforts in the third world, Coke -- you are no longer my favorite brand.

(picture from India Tribune)

Aloha Eunice Shriver

2009-08-11T13:25:00.000-07:00

Both Eunice Shriver and her husband Sarge have left enormous legacies and powerful, for-the-good brands.

He left us the Peace Corps and the possibility that we could one day have peace on the planet.. because we, the richest people in the world, would reach out to others one by one to help. My Aunt who just died at 99 joined the Peace Corps when she was 60 and had retired from Women's

Wear Daily. She went to Yemen to teach office skills to young women. Later, in her 80's, she worked for Save the Children.

Eunice leaves behind her special cause, Special Olympics, which grew from a summer camp in her backyard to an organization that touched the whole world. In 1987, when we were on the Board of Special Olympics in Hawaii, the Chicago Tribune's Bob Verdi wrote this: "Must be that this isn't reality with all its attendant cynicism and cutthroat mentality. Must be that this is different, a friendlier spot than the Persian Gulf or the Iran-contra hearings or even the other Olympics, the one where amateurs take steroids to build their muscles and quiet cash to build their trust funds. Must be that this is purer than all the other form of athletics that call themselves genuine...And as you drive back to a hot Chicago...you are asking yourself ... Exactly who is handicapped here? Them or us?"

Rest easy, Mrs. Shriver. You were blessed to be a blessing. And you were.

FYI: Puerto Rico is NOT Hawai`i

2009-08-11T13:11:00.000-07:00

A movie that is being widely advertised on TV as a romantic-get-away-to-Hawai`i-that-goes-bad is actually being filmed in Puerto Rico.

While I hate to see Hawai`i associated with bad juju of any kind, I am glad to know that the murder is in Puerto Rico.

It seems to me that two film offices ought to be concerned:

1. Hawai`i's because our brand is being sullied by murder, by the use of Puerto Rico as Hawai`i in some producer's alternate universe, and by the fact that it is not being filmed here because our film folks are the best.

2.Puerto Rico's, because it is not getting credit for being Puerto Rico.

The moive is called The Perfect Getaway. So I am assuming the murderer escapes.

Whites Pages Has A New Look

2009-08-07T13:50:00.000-07:00

Online www.whitepages.com has a new look and an easier way to find anybody, their address and phone # (unless its unlisted) in the U.S. as long as you know their first and last name and where they live.

You may have to enter some short demographic info and skip some coupons but after that you are home free.

Happy Birthday El Jefe!

2009-08-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday President Obama. Happy Birthday to you.

Obama was born in Hawaii, two years AFTER STATEHOOD, on the island of OAHU, in KAPIOLANI hospital. His birth announcement was published in the paper as was then the custom...hospital gives names to paper, paper publishes.

Now birth notices have been replaced by litigation listings.

Barack is a Metal Ox, according to Chinese astrology, making him the perfect President for our times.

Imua, Barack. Hauoli La Hanau.

Steaking Out Your Market Position

2009-08-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

As Wal-Mart pursues the reshaping of its image, it is running a commercial promoting its new meat section. A married woman snarkily unloads her groceries while voicing over in her head that she will let her husband suffer a little more trying to figure out what the special occasion is.

Is it our anniversary? Our birthday? thinks the poor schmuck as he pats the calendar on the refrigerator...NO! It is that with steaks this cheap, we don't need a special occasion.

Then the guy barbecues all four GENUINE STEAKHOUSE steaks and two fat brats ... to get back at her for thinking ill of him? To prove that the steaks are so cheap you can afford to throw two out?

Did anybody think about this before shooting the commercial? There's just TWO people in it!!!

Sound(less) Identity

2009-08-04T11:30:00.001-07:00

Find it annoying that when the television switches from the show to commercials the volume increases?

Well, astute tv watcher Ian Garvey noted that commercials for hearing aids actually lower the volume.

(then there's bluetooth look alike spy on your neighbors device ...)

Actuary Buys Prius

2009-08-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

Actually, this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who knows an actuary. The person I am referring to is my brother, a parnter at Towers Perin, who became an actuary after the age of 35 when he realized that the television series NUMBERS wouldn't be out for several years. Prior to that, he was a marketing guy for DEC, Intel, IBM and Xerox. Then he found out he didn't like people all that much.

At any rate, Prius has captured that rare brand appeal: to early adopters to people who want to show their beliefs and to actuaries who can count the numbers while driving. Actually the third generation Prius is perfect for an actuary, who waited to see how well the car would perform without jumping in right away. He even got the photovolataic roof.

Are these cars going to top Honda Civics on the most stolen list or do greenies not steal? According to my brother, who likes a little calculated risk in his driving, it does not have the get up and go of his ancient, qualified as a clunker, J30.

Riddle Me This

2009-08-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

Why is the Sheraton Waikiki sponsoring Beauty & the Beast on Ice performed by Russian skaters at Blaisdell? Or is it at the Ice Rink?

I don't know ... but if ice is thing the, I would recommend putting Tihati or Tavana on ice and taking it around the U.S. in the depths of winter.

Local Safeways Get Ahead of Themselves

2009-07-31T11:08:00.000-07:00

In their effort to prove that they support local, the local Safeways have gotten a little over-enthusiastic in promoting as "locally grown" products that are not locally grown in Hawaii.

They may be locally grown, but in some other locale. Several alert readers have pointed this out to us, and may we say once again that the Hawai`i Seal of Quality is your guarantee that the produce you are buying is number one and from Hawai`i.

Safeway does sell locally grown foods -- a lot of them. It's just that a current signage campaign has been pretty misleading.

Some locally grown foods are not yet part of the Hawai`i Seal program, but you need to look carefully to make sure you are buying local!

P.S. Safeway: We hear Dean Okimoto and Alan Wong are NOT happy!

Hawai'i By Bicycle!

2009-07-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

Ed Hartz and his company http://www.freshhawaiian.com/ sells and delivers fresh produce from Hawai`i online to customers in New York.

A fairly new company, their site is not complete, but it's definitely worth a look -- and how very cool for Hawai`i.

This photo was provided by Ed Hartz via Hawaii Department of Agriculture's Matthew Loke.

Ford Will Eat GM's Lunch

2009-07-21T23:56:00.001-07:00

The new campaign "Why Ford. Why Not," the fact that they took no federal money and that they are keeping their heads held high -- if you ask me, Ford is the Great American Automobile Brand.

Their commercials, just airing (or at least I'm just seeing them) feature the perfect regular guy -- with total, across-the-board appeal and a message that is straightforward and compelling.

Bring your old clunker in and Ford will help you recycle it and get money from the government for doing it.

They are aiming to have their new Taurus be the best selling car in its class, and their promise is that no matter what you're looking for in any class, Ford will have it. Starting with the 2010 Ford Fusion and the Fiesta -- selling well in Europe and coming to the U.S. next year.

go to http://www.ford.com/ and forget about GM.

2009-07-21T15:00:00.001-07:00

Republicans Have Already Rebranded

2009-07-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

They are the party of No. There is a really good riff on the subject in today's Huffington Post, by Joseph Romm, saying that the GOP is more like Groucho than Marx. It quotes and features a video from one of his films:

I don't know what they have to say,

It makes no difference anyway,

Whatever it is, I'm against it.

No matter what it is or who commenced it, I'm against it.

Your proposition may be good,But let's have one thing understood,

Whatever it is, I'm against it.

And even when you've changed it or condensed it,I'm against it.

I'm opposed to it,

On general principle, I'm opposed to it....

Hawai'i IS Different

2009-07-21T12:27:00.001-07:00

Often we argue that Hawai'i is different, and therefore advertising agencies often get special exceptions to create and run local commercials for a national product. As we become more global, that seems to be a less valid argument.

However, in one case that is currently on the air, we think it would behoove the local ad community to get together and produce a couple of local spots that follow the theme "Not Even Once" set by the national campaign.

The excellent spots on television for the Hawaii Meth Project are nationally produced spots which are a: "research-based messaging campaign—which graphically portrays the ravages of Meth use through television, radio, billboards, and Internet ads‹has gained nationwide attention for its uncompromising approach and demonstrated impact. The campaign's core message, "Not Even Once®," speaks directly to the highly addictive nature of Meth.

All of the featured "meth users" are haoles. The commercials are still powerful; but their power would be geometrically magnified if they featured local people. go to www.hawaiimethproject.org for more info.

You Can do it! WHO (?) Can Help!

2009-07-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Home Depot's all time great tagline is no more. Now they use "More Saving. More Doing." (bolding is theirs). I don't know about you, but what I don't need is "more doing."

Nicorette recognizes a good tagline when they see one though: Now it's

"You can do it. Nicorette can help."

Saw that one on TV last night but thought I'd share the one on their website (above) which is written as if to exhort you to "Stop smoking gum." (need a hyphen anyone?)

Meanwhile, Can Santa Cruz Still Sell T-shirts?

2009-07-20T11:30:00.001-07:00

This is a question for the great legal minds of history.

Surf City U.S.A.

2009-07-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

According to the New York Times, after a heated battle for the name with Santa Cruz, Huntington Beach is officially rebranding itself "Surf City U.S.A."

Be sure to bring your wetsuit.

My Father Invented The Debit Card

2009-07-16T22:59:00.001-07:00

He just didn't know it. Born in 1908, a first generation American, he lived through the depression and never wanted to owe anyone anything. He paid cash for every car he owned. He paid cash for the first three houses we lived in -- never had a mortgage til we moved to a town that was too rich for us.

He carried an American Express card, but mostly paid cash. When he and my Mom went on a trip, he would take several thousand (i.e. two or three) dollars out of his savings and send them

to American Express. Only then could he comfortably use the card on their vacation.

There you have it. The original debit card.

Forget those in vitro flashcards!

2009-07-15T23:25:00.000-07:00

Get Juicy Juice instead. If your tired of shoving those little flashcards up your veejayjay (thanks Oprah), you can now wait for your child to make its appearance in the human world before you

have to start teaching him to read. In fact, all s/he has to do is drink Juicy Juice and it will be no time before s/he is at your bedside with a box of Cherrios trying to get "some cholesterol off you."

Nestle -- late to the water game, and I believe we have castigated them for it -- is now producing Juicy Juce that actually says "Brain Development" on the bottle.

Are they nuts?

Charmin-g!

2009-07-15T23:10:00.000-07:00

The visual is a small piece of the header of sitorsquat.com

When I sat down to write this blogpost, I thought I was going to write about Charmin's toilet seat covers (5 to a pack) which I saw at the cash register at Long's today. Although I am not one who favors public restrooms, I cannot imagine carrying toilet seat covers around in my purse. Turns out a lot of people do.

So I went to research this unknown-to-me phenonmenon and found the Charmin sponsored site

wwww.sitorsquat.com ---a place you can go to find clean public toilets. Although this seems counterintuitive to selling toilet seat covers, I congratulate Charmin on one of the most ingenious community sites ever. You can : find a toilet . add a toilet.

Straight from the site: http://www.sitorsquat.com/ will help you find a clean public toilet on your mobile phone. Now that's an app I bet people are looking for!

Cool, Blue dog Democrat

2009-07-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

Representative Patrick Murphy, Congressman from Pennsylvania, has taken on the task of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." He has framed the argument rationally, and is taking some of the heat off the Prez by saying congress passed the law, congress must repeal it.

Anyway, I like the guy, and think he is crafting a very smart political brand.

Here he is with a great Hawaiian soldier, Eric Shinseki from Kauai.

P.S. He also knows how to use sports metaphors, unlike the point guard who passes the ball and takes herself out of the game.

How to spell Ironic

2009-07-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

After all the news about plastic bottles and landfill issues, Nestle introduces a bottled water --- and gets a gold LEEDS certification for their building, pictured above. Nestle did a lot of things to make the building enviropolitically correct, except for the plastic bottle part.

Here's to your health ????? I(oh yeah, and "attractive" is evidently not part of LEEDs standards)

From Nestle's Website:

Key green features of the Arrowhead plant include:
• Water safeguards – managing the quality of storm water runoff.
• Water efficiency – reduce the need for irrigation by using native and water conserving plants; using low-flow, water-saving fixtures in bathrooms.
• Energy efficiency – high efficiency lighting, HVAC and controls.
• Moveable exterior walls – designed to deconstruct and be reused.
• Constructed wetlands – treat wastewater through natural biologic filtration before the water is recharged to groundwater sources.
• Pollution prevention – parking area is dedicated to bicycle, electric vehicle and carpool users; corrugated paper, plastic, product pallets and other materials are recycled.
• Non-toxic building materials and maintenance – durable, non-toxic materials were selected for the building, with consideration for the materials’ life cycle impacts on water.
• Resource efficiencies – recycled content building materials (over 50 percent as calculated under LEED) were selected for the building. Approximately 60 percent came from local sources, limiting long-haul transportation.
• Waste reduction – more than 75 percent of the building construction waste was salvaged or recycled.
• Indoor environmental quality – indoor spaces are enhanced by innovative space design and sophisticated controls that monitor and regulate interior temperature, humidity, lighting and air quality.

Hawaii's Newspaper

2009-06-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Thank you for supporting Kailua and helping us make the fireworks happen!

We Still Don't Get It

2009-06-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

There is something wrong with the brand of World Peace, because people don't embrace it.

We comment today, again, on the subject because of the death of Michael Jackson and his We Are the World which was done more than twenty years ago for USA for Africa.

Bucky Fuller talked about the place we live as Spaceship Earth. He said the wars we wage are like shooting our own ship.

So we suggest you listen to "We Are the World" (it's on you tube) and think about it. We are.

Global Brands Are Local Brands

2009-06-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

In 2010 the World Cup will be held in Soweto -- a great source of pride for So. Africa and for the people of Soweto.

SOuth WEstern TOwnship plays a key role throughout the history of So. Africa and Apartheid.

Having the World Cup there is fantastic. Coke is showing its support.

#1 Top Performing Bank

2009-06-24T00:40:00.000-07:00

Bank of Hawaii was named the #1 Performing Bank of 2008, by an industry group that makes these kind of assessments.

So Bank of Hawaii is using this "fact" in its commercials to let us all know we can sleep more easily, knowing Bank of Hawaii is our bank. The commercial is intended to make us think our money is very safe there.

What it really means is that Bank of Hawaii does a better job of eeking fees out of its customers, therefore performing better than most banks. Your money is safe with Bank of Hawaii --- for the Bank that is. Sleep well.

Lanikai Helps Save 4th of July Fireworks

2009-06-24T00:27:00.001-07:00

A 60 year tradition in Kailua almost fell by the wayside, when the usual group of suspects declined to support the annual fireworks display off the beach on the 4th.

An alert reader of our website Best of Kailua informed us that the fireworks had been cancelled and should be removed from our web calendar. Instead of removing it, Brook swung into action with some friends, creating http://www.savekailuafireworks.com/ and wresting the somnulent out of their slumber ... money began pouring in and the fireworks is 90% close to being saved.

So plan on grabbing a square foot of beach on the 4th of July. Kailua -- Hawai`i's favorite small town -- will have its magnificent fireworks display once again.

P.S. while you're surfing the net, check out http://www.bestofkailua.com/

We were there at the beginning...

2009-06-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

As with so many cool things for clients, we were there with the Department of Agriculture, doing research, thinking through the strategies, identifying the original twelve members who could have the honor of using the Hawaii Seal of Qual

We were there in helping them decide the standards (most were based on pre-existing export standards) and deciding how to develop standards where there were non (for dragonfruit, for instance).

We were there to recommend that DOA use the special font developed for Hawaii tourism and recognized by millions and helped negotiate with HTA for its use.

One of our earliest ag industry clients, Matsuda and Fukuyama -- whose Kahuku brand which we helped them articulate and design -- is one of the newest members of the Hawaii Seal of Quality. HDOA started with 12, now they have 42. There's a good article about the Seal in this morning's (Sunday) Honolulu Advertiser: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090607/BUSINESS11/906070334/Seal+of+Quality+a+boost+for+Isle+farms

With Kingons...

2009-05-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

Burger King takes King creepiness to a new level. yeech. The website stuff they have up is even more disgusting than the commercials ... so I am definitely not the target audience.

Memorial Day Thinking ...

2009-05-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

“For the first time in history it is now possible to take care of everybody at a higher standard of living than any have ever known. Only ten years ago the ‘more with less’ technology reached the point where this could be done. All humanity now has the option to become enduringly successful.”– R. Buckminster Fuller, 1980

This confident assertion was made in 1980 by the late R. Buckminster Fuller–inventor, architect, engineer, mathematician, poet and cosmologist. As early as 1959, Newsweek reported that Fuller predicted the conquest of poverty by the year 2000.

In 1977, almost twenty years later, the National Academy of Sciences confirmed Fuller’s prediction. Their World Food and Nutrition Study, prepared by 1,500 scientists, concluded, “If there is the political will in this country and abroad... it should be possible to overcome the worst aspects of widespread hunger and malnutrition within one generation.”

So What Is Wrong With US?

Downy Gets It!

2009-05-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

When does a towel become a tango?

When does a t-shirt become a pacifier?

When does a sweater become a sanctuary?

(The ads are meant to relay the campaign's core messaging: "When you put a capful of Downy in your laundry, you're putting in a capful of feeling," said Grey executive creative director Rob Baiocco -- and they do, says The Brand Strategy Group)

Garvey + Gramann

2009-05-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

A Marketing Strategy Firm

What's The Fuss About Liberty House?

2009-05-22T14:03:00.001-07:00

This morning's Advertiser had a column about Liberty House. Lee Cataluna must be mad at Macy's or she is running out of things to say. She recalled that all of Hawaii measured their lives by Liberty House sales like The Zooper Sale.

Not me. Here's what I recall: a company that kept Hawaii locked in previous decades by bringing in clothes that were so style-less that people who could afford it went to the mainland to shop. A company that spent years blocking other department stores from Ala Moana Center due to an exclusivity clause in it's lease. A company that tried to convince us that they really cared about Hawaii because they had black and white pictures going up the side of the escalators at their Kailua store.

Liberty House was a big "Hawaii" brand that didn't keep its promise. That's why it is gone.

SeeWhy NOT

2009-05-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

SeeWhy's Abandonment tracker is not a way you can find a lost friend or relative, but a way you can bug a customer who has surfed your site and gone away without buying anything. I guess they have to go to the check out and give their email but I am not sure.

Think of it. You couldn't afford that fancy dress, or didn't want it, but you will hear about it again when Abandonment Tracker tracks you down and gives you another "opportunity."

Wonder how the world will take to being tracked down for failing to buy. Are they working on an onearth version where people chase you out of the store?

learn all about it at seewhy.com

Pfizer Offers Free Drugs

2009-05-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Pharmeceutical giant Pfizer announced today that it will give free drugs to people who have lost their jobs and are uninsured. This is a very smart move on their part, especially as the nation's focus turns to healthcare and health care issues. It's generous, but it is also very good business.

Among Pfizer's products are blockbuster drugs Celebrex, Zithromax, Xanax, Zoloft and Lipitor. And Viagra.

For some reason this announcement has not made the cable broadcast news, but it is up on the web and in various webzines. Good for Pfizer. It speaks well in an industry that is always accused of being greedy. Let's hope other drug makers follow suit.

Next Best to Designated Driver

2009-05-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

Heineken's new campaign: "Let a stranger drive you home" is a great way for an alcoholic beverage to promote itself responsibly.

Mother's Against Drunk Driving's designated driver campaign has taken a backseat to their (failed, and useless, in my opinion) effort to stop underage drinking, so there hasn't been a voice out there making it cool to be a designated driver.

Heineken's campaign is the next best thing ... they make the cab ride home look way more fun than driving your own car, and certainly safer. See it at You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jqZTJk30qg

The twist on letting a stranger drive you home --- something you normally wouldn't do -- is consistent with the hip brand Heineken has built for itself.

P.S. Check out the "e"s in Heineken -- designed (no joke)/tilted specifically to look like they are smiling/laughing.

Leveraging The Brand

2009-05-08T23:04:00.000-07:00

Aflac -- the unlikely workplace insurance brand represented by a duck, has quacked its way to success by sticking to its original premise, and its original promise.

It's newest campaign "Get the Aflacts." leverages the brand name yet again -- in a campaign launched last month to explain the facts about Aflac. Calling itself "insurance for living," Aflac's Aflacts points out that it is money "to use as you see fit." This Aflact has been ably demonstrated by the television commercials the company has run for the past couple of years.

Aflac's themeline is "We've Got You Under Our Wing," is reinforced by one of the most important Aflacts: "Aflac belongs to you, not your company."

Finally, Aflac keeps it light and friendly with Aflact number 10: "We've got a Spokesduck."

Muscle Beach Brand

2009-05-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

Based on the number of people out there with personal trainers, you'd think you would see more muscles around -- but that isn't what it's about these days.

We were reminded of this when we had dinner with Mits Kawashima -- a 92 year old former body builder and hanai ("adopted") father of Arnold Schwarnegger. Mits and his wife Dot apparently gave AS the kick in the butt he needed "to make something out of himself" and Arnold has repaid Mits with a life time of rides on private jets and confabs with VIPs. Mits was even an usher at Arnold & Maria's wedding.

We know this because our host and hostess invited Mits to bring his albums to dinner, and we spent hours looking at 30 year old pics of Mits & Oprah, Mits & Jackie, young Kennedys, and more.

Our client and friend Mike Sapp was one of the original muscle beach boys with Arnold, and trained with him for Conan. The picture above is from Mike's website, though it easily could have been found in Mits' albums.

Have to say, those were the days --

Do You call it Your Craig's List Car?

2009-05-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

As one of the talking heads on CNN pointed out, she bought a bicycle on Craig's List, had a perfectly good experience, and does not call it her "Craig's List bicycle."

It is no doubt hurting Craig's List's brand to have the alleged Craig's List Killer always been referred to as the Craig's List Killer. Craig's List did help catch the accused, and that was a good thing -- but they should move quickly to remove the Erotic section of their site instead of defending it as "free speech."

Then, they can take their time and figure out another way into that "very important audience" but in the meantime, their reluctance to modify their site NOW is affecting perception of the brand and it's cool backstory.

More Than One Good Idea

2009-05-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

Richard Saul Wurman, the creator of TED (technology, entertainment & design) conference is on to another new project. The website address is : http://www.192021.org/

His idea is to look at the 19 world cities which will have 20 million population by 2021 and to develop the methodology of comparatively understanding planet earth for people.

Two of these 19 cities are in the U.S.: Los Angeles and New York city -- most are in the East and FarEast. Most of them are seaports (and therefore will be most affected by a rise in sea level due to global warming).

Wurman is a genius at simplifying complex and important stuff.

Toffler Where Are You?

2009-05-05T12:45:00.001-07:00

He was right: the medium is the message; Alvin Toffler wrote Future Shock more than 30 years ago: the messages haven't changed but the mediums have.

Target-appropriate media are more and more important. This Sunday's NYTimes featured "The Birds and the Bees" text line, launched in North Carolina on February 1. The Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Campaign directed its MySpace ads and fliers at North Carolinians ages 14 - 19 --- "sex ed on their turf" --

The article's subhead says "health officials use teenagers' favorite technologies to fight disease and unwanted pregnancies."

Brand Sarah Palin

2009-05-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin honored by NRA with special Alaska-themed assault rifle

(Purple added to prose by yours truly)

This is an actual headline from the New York Daily News ... a white rifle with the big dipper on it, and a small plaque with a picture of a Moose honoring the Republican Veep Candidate herself.

This is from the Daily Kos (ironic rant from leading political blog):
"Realizing that the piddling .22-caliber ammo used in the military M4 was hardly the stuff of which Maverickitude is made, the Alaskan Hunter packs a .50-caliber punch - the same caliber as the highly lethal Barrett M107 rifles used by U.S. military snipers in the mountains of Afghanistan and, one presumes, equally useful whether sighting off the rolling fantail of a Navy destroyer, or from a wolf-pursuing helicopter.

Putin's head has been warned."

As American as Apple Pie and Motherhood

2009-04-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

We don't have apple pie but we have plenty of stuff to honor Motherhood (a great American brand?) at Lanikai Bath and Body, our shop in Kailua, with Hawaii's largest collection of bath and body goodness and luxury.

Lanikai Bath and Body is also online at http://www.lanikiabathandbody.com/ and you can order by next Tuesday May 12 to guarantee Mother's Day delivery. Three year old Lanikai Bath and Body is fast becoming one of Hawai'i's favorite brands ...

We're offering 20% off in-store and online this weekend, Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3. Online code is LANIKAI

We don't often talk about our own built-from-the-ground brand but for Mother's Day you ought to know about it. Your Mom, your kids's Mom, your Grandmothers and eve your Mother-in-Law will love you for it.

Thanks, Gloria and Brook

Burger "King" Sponge Bob Creepiest Effort Yet

2009-04-16T23:59:00.000-07:00

The new Burger King commercial for kids meals purchased with one adult meal is the company's creepiest effort yet.

This one pairs the creepy King with Sponge Bob Square pants and a bunch of dancing women with boxes in their pants. "I like square butts and I can't lie," sings the king.

Just exactly what is Burger King's (the company's) brand promise: "our food is as revolting as our commercials?" It's like their ad agency is trying to get fired.

If you haven't seen it yet, don't watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5X4TSbGreA&feature=related

More Stupid Bank Tricks

2009-04-16T23:34:00.001-07:00

Because I was depositing some Lanikai Bath and Body deposits in the overnight (24 hour) deposit "lock box" I also put in BSG and Lanikai FICA payments for the next day and an envelope for the Bank CEO.

We got a phone call from the bank admonishing that we couldn't do this --- and in fact, they

routed the FICA payment back to the Kailua branch instead of depositing it in the Bank thereby making my FICA payment one day late instead of on time or early.

Amazing flexibility, this Bank of Hawaii.

Even better customer service! That's my bank!

Which is worse: Tainted Meat or a Spit Sandwich?

2009-04-15T23:44:00.000-07:00

Poor Dominos --a couple of jerks who worked at some Dominos somewhere video taped themselves doing hideous things to the food and posted it on you tube. According to Headline News(HLN), Dominos fired them, is now looking for them to have them arrested, and may file a civil lawsuit (if they are minors can they get their parents?).

So we've been discussing around here, which is worse for a brand -- tainted meat or spit sandwiches. And we have decided that spit sandwiches are infinitely, infintely worse. So often, we say the people make the brand --- and unmake it evidently.

It's a picture we don't want to see, but unfortunately we did -- on HLN --- and close to 500 people viewed it on the web before it got taken down. Let's watch how Dominos handles this
we hope its an opportunity for them.

Stupid Bank Tricks: Bank of Hawaii

2009-04-15T23:28:00.000-07:00

As our readers may or may not know, The Brand Strategy Group specializes in building strong brands. We also specializing in recognizing weak or declining banks.

Until recently, Bank of Hawaii had been on our list of declining brands (weak brand reality, strong brand perception) but as far as our perception goes, it has moved to weak brand status (weak brand perception, weak brand reality).

They have been all over television telling us how MSN money judged them a safe bank. Well, here is how they do it: call them the fee finders. For a year or so I have noted that when I pay with a check that is processed electronically, they charge a two dollar fee. That is they charge me for work they don't have to do (process the check themselves).

The other day I noticed a fee for failure to use direct deposit: $1.00. As a small business for which cash flow is a periodic problem, we cannot have direct deposit because we don't always have the money at pay time. On top of that the teller had to determine that it was my paycheck --- or someone at the bank did -- in order to levy that fee. As it turns out, it was not a paycheck but a distribution we were taking.

I have six separate accounts with Bank of Hawaii -- you think they might connect this and waive these stupid only-for-the-purpose-of-raising-money fees. Maybe I should just move my money.

At any rate, these experiences don't help the Bank of Hawaii's brand which seems at best, mercenary and at worst ignorant. Don't get me started on the generic FIA card services that they hide their "bank of Hawaii "credit cards in front of.

Pictured here: the person behind the fees?

YouTube Symphony Orchestra

2009-04-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

Will be performing at Carnegie Hall on April 15 ---

The global YouTube community and a judging panel containing members of the world's most renowned orchestras have selected over 90 talented musicians to be part of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra.

Together, these professional and amateur musicians play 26 different instruments and come from 30+ countries and territories on six continents.

They are meeting in NYC in a collaborative summit for classical music before their performance.

Visit the YouTube Symphony Orchestra Channel: http://www.youtube.com/symphony

This Just In from The Daily Green

2009-04-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Payless is introducing a line of green shoes this month:

Lucky for us, Payless is going to make these shoes as inexpensive as their other lines -- none of the Zoe and Zac (green) line will be more than $30 a pair.None other than "Eco Chick Summer Rayne Oakes" (bdigital's comment: Who is this "eco chick?") was at the Payless event to answer my questions -- she's the brand's sustainability strategist for the new line, which will debut in April of 2009. "They have organic cotton bodies, the dyes are heavy-metal free, and all the metal details are nickel-free," she said of the printed ballet flats, sneakers, flip-flops and espadrilles in the collection. Even the elastic band on one style is made from recycled PET. We also discussed adhesives, the material that makes up the foot beds and the soles, and without getting into all the chemistry specifics, I'll just say that Summer and Payless covered a lot of the sustainability bases for the very first collection in their green line.

"We want to do a better job, as corporate citizens," said Mardi Larson, a spokesperson for Payless I met at the event. And when I told her about my concerns about the 'ghettoization of green' -- that companies would make a green line to cater to the people that cared, leaving the rest of the public with the same old (Earth-disresepecting) stuff, she explained that what the company learns from the green shoe line will eventually be incorporated into all of their Payless products. "We want to democratize green," said Mardi.

Surprise: FOX can be even worse than I thought

2009-04-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

Kal Penn, best known as Kumar from Harold and Kumar, and for his role as one of House's benighted subjects on the eponymously named television show has died in his role as Dr. Kutner, committing suicide.

The end of the show, after showing all of Kutner's friends working out their agnst, FOX takes the appalling step of creating a memorial for Kutner and asking people to comment: www.fox.com/kutner

This show is beginning to seem too much like tryouts for the Stockholm syndrome, and after so many comedies and dramas who dedicated their shows to real live souls who have passed on, this fake memorial smacks of FOX will do anything...

They even posted a fake obit from the fake Mercer County Courier (for those of you with brains like Kal Penn -- he quit the show to do something that matters, signing on a arts liason for the White House). At least some people know Celebrity isn't Everything.

Mercer County Courier April 7, 2009

Dr. Lawrence Kutner died on Thursday, April 2nd from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 33 years old."Dr. Kutner was a hard working, young doctor with a kind, unassuming, gentle manner. He will be missed by all of us", said Dr. Lisa Cuddy, Dean of Medicine at Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, where Dr. Kutner worked.Dr. Kutner was born in Freemont, California. Tragedy marred his early life as he lost his parents, Karamchand and Niki Baidwan, who were shot during an armed robbery. After a couple of years in foster care, Julia and Richard Kutner adopted Lawrence. He showed great promise in high school, winning a Westinghouse Science award for an experiment involving dark matter. His adoptive parents mused that he showed a freethinking, inventive streak from a young age.Viewers are asked to leave their message for Dr. Kutner.

DON'T YOU DARE POST A COMMENT (on the memorial site).

Jack's Volley Against Burger Shots

2009-04-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

A new Jack-in-the-box commercial features little tiny cattle being herded by little people on horses. One line says "the look like schnauzers ... but they're cattle."

Instead of leggy girls who are over the moon about the tiny little burger shots, Jack went over the top to promote his mini sirloins, even giving the little people singing the song voices that sound like the Chipmunks.

This last Jack commercial seems more like the freakish King commercials, and it's hard to imagine they haven't offended the little people of the world.

Beyond that, if you go on http://www.jackinthebox.com/ now you can get a coupon for the mini sirloins that come from tiny cattle herded by little people on very small ponys.

Check it Out: Where from the Shaka Cometh

2009-03-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

Okay -- the article about the little Mundi guy reaped one special benefit. Mandi Brown called us with the true story of the Shaka.

The Hawaii Railway Society reports in its March issue, in citing Barack's shaka to the Punahou marching band, that the shaka came to be when a popular railway machinst, Hamana Kalihi, lost three fingers in an accident.

They made him a conductor, and while he'd hold on with one hand he'd wave with his other, fingerless hand. Soon people along the route began to wave back, with their three fingers folded down.

Hence, according to the Hawaii Railway Society and Mandi Brown, the shaka was born...

Not by some little wierdo in a skirt with a surfboard...

Train shown here was built in 1889 by Baldwin Locomotive and was first one to be operated by Oahu Land and Railway. It is called "Kailua 6"

Shocking News About Shaka Sign

2009-03-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

Mundi International, whoever they are, is selling the shaka sign. BSG commented on it for an article in The Honolulu Advertiser:

They note that shaka symbols have lived in stickerdom in Hawai'i for a long time — and as a kind of insiders' symbol of recognition connected with Hawai'i.

"So when our president and his daughters brought it to the world's attention as the Punahou marching band went by the grandstand, it was great for those of us who live in and all of us who love Hawai'i to see the symbol and feel like he was giving the state our special 'high five,'" Garvey said.

"The Puerto Rican firm which has developed the Mundi stickers saw the advantage of selling it around the world," Gramann said.

And while the Mundi company clearly recognizes the shaka symbol as belonging to Hawai'i, "their commercialization of it is all too obvious on their site, where they give Hawai'i no recognition whatsoever," Garvey said.

Gramann and Garvey would have liked to have seen some credit to the symbol's Hawai'i origin. In reality, the shaka can't be sold, any more than aloha can, they said.

And Gramann added, "let's hope no one thinks they can trademark it." That has happened in the past when transplants to the Islands lay legal claim to such local expressions as "chicken skin," a local description of the goose bumps that show up in spooky situations.

NOTE: Several commenters on the article noted that the shaka sign used by Mundi is facing
the wrong way: "so is it a real shaka?"

to read the entire article go to: http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090330/BUSINESS02/903300314/1071

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Old Age Comes to Starbucks

2009-03-24T13:44:00.001-07:00

For the first time in my digital immigrant life, I am using WiFi at Starbucks. I am rarely alone when waiting for my next meeting because Brook and I call on clients together -- two heads are better than one: even our business cards are two headed -- one side with her info and the other side with mine. Saving trees, making a point, being "green." Will business cards ever be replaced with synching?

As it happens, Starbucks is all its brand is supposed to be -- about congregation -- however, it is about individual congregation. That is -- it is packed with people who are, for the most part ,by themselves. Computers connected to WiFi are everywhere -- perhaps they are all social networking, thereby congregating virtually. People are doing homework, office work, listening to music (not Starbucks, playing over the loudspeaker, but their own, plugged into their unlistening to others ears.

There is a din of people buzz, so I am exaggerating about virtual congregation -- but it won't be long before people sitting across the table from one another twitter their conversation.

A Brand is Not a Name

2009-03-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

Proving that they don't understand that their brand is not their name, AIG took down the sign that has been so visible on tv reports from their NYC headquarters.

They will replace it with A.I.U. -- the new name for the unit that operates our of that building --- which will no doubt fool everyone when it comes time to storm the castle.

Remember -- your brand is your promise to your customer and AIG broke that one a long time ago.

Buy Local Products

2009-03-16T20:21:00.001-07:00

According to the news, the much discussed bill about Country of Origin has become law, and all of us consumers should find it easier to know where our food came from.

This is a good opportunity to think, and buy local. Our farmers work hard to give us fruits, vegetables, eggs, meats and milk that are as good and mostly better than what we get from far away.

Country of Origin matters. So buy from Hawaii.

P.S. Meadowgold's milk is not from Hawaii -- wonder if they will have to say that now. However, Foodland is selling a brand from the Big Island's Hamakua Coast that IS fromHawaii. The milk is called Island Dairy, and is from one of the two remaining dairies in the islands.