Everybody Loves Free Stuff

Yahoo! Schwagstravaganza

2009-11-05T14:50:08Z

Yahoo! may be done as a search engine if their deal to have Microsoft provide their search results goes as planned. They may also be sad that their advertising campaign based around Yahoo! being all about "you" is not as popular as the one HTC just started with the exact same theme. Still, they've got some great promos, like this corporate colors gum: ]]> Non-woven totes help them stay noticeable at trade shows: Oktoberfest steins through the years reflect their longevity: You gotta have your logo SUV: And don't forget your keys!

Vintage Promo Favorites

2009-11-04T14:54:00Z

You can still get promotional cameras, but not like this. Happy times indeed when Coke and Kodak put this together. One interesting note: this seems to predate the "have a Coke and a smile" campaign, which would have been a perfect match for this product. ]]> door hangers. And some vintage church keys. Combining all these products would seem to indicate that people knew how to have a good time back in the day.

This Packaging Goes to Eleven

2009-11-03T18:13:01Z

For those about to shell out for this AC/DC box set, I salute you. I guess it is important to go all out on the packaging when you are trying to convince people to buy a box set of a band that really only has one song. To be clear, it is one glorious, rocking song, but it is still basically just one song.

Flyvertising

2009-10-30T19:29:40Z

Flyvertising had to happen. There is literally no way we could have existed any longer as a society without coming up with the idea of hanging tiny banners behind flies to promote stuff. After all, we've already had miniature RC planes flying around with miniature banners, and we've already put logos on insects. So, it was inevitable that two major promotional trends to come together like that at the Frankfurt Book Fair. (via AdLand)

Eichborn - Banners on flies (for real) - ambient, Germany

Flake-vertising

2009-10-23T15:12:52Z

Perhaps there has been widespread counterfeiting of Kellogg's Corn Flakes. After all, how would we even know? Well, now you would know because corn fakes would not be laser etched with the Kellogg's logo. It seems like a crazy idea, but we've actually already done this with nuts, eggs, sausage and bologna. Basically, it was only a matter of time. Imprinting the milk should be tricky, though. (Hat tip to Dave.)

Windows Whopper: Why?!?!?!

2009-10-22T14:50:41Z

So everyone knows that Microsoft Windows Vista was a flop. Too bloated to run on some hardware, Microsoft ended up caving to popular demand and letting people reinstall their older operating sytem (XP) rather than have to use Vista. So, they spent some time pulling together Windows 7, a leaner OS that should be able to run well on inexpensive netbooks and other low-powered computers. And what says lean operating system like A WHOPPER WITH SEVEN PATTIES? I'm not sure, but that's what they're doing in Japan to promote the launch. Of course, if you think that makes absolutely no sense, check out the commercial they did to try to convince people to host Windows 7 launch parties in the US. Good luck with that, guys!

A Cue from Guinness

2009-10-20T18:20:24Z

Once again we have a promotional product that approaches perfection in being appropriate for the brand. In this case, we have pool cue tips that are designed to look like frothy pints of Guinness. I find it hard to imagine that anyone could play a game with these and then order anything else.

Red Bull Cola Launch Promo

2009-10-19T15:22:09Z

Here's a lavish promo created for the launch of Red Bull Cola. Inside the custom bag is a custom box and inside the box are samples of the various natural flavors that contribute to the taste of Red Bull Cola. At the center is a sample of the cola itself. Overall a stunning promotional piece to show that the product isn't just an energy drink, but also a great-tasting drink. (via The Dieline)

Giant Promotional Rubik's Cube?

2009-10-16T14:34:01Z

Or tiny storm troopers?

Life Saving Vehicle

2009-10-15T15:06:53Z

My friend Dave was kind enough to forward me a link to this amazing vehicle. Perhaps a predecessor to the much-loved Wienermobile and the lesser-known Voxmobile. This particular carvertisement is from Australia in 1934.

Healthy Holidays!

2009-10-14T13:39:27Z

Someone came up with a food gift that's as fun as going to the gym. You thought your trainer got you a box of chocolates as a customer gift, but it turns out to be something even better: vegetables! A pretty crudité gift if you ask me.

Frontiers in Bagvertising

2009-10-13T21:08:55Z

We've seen many creative promotional bag designs over the years. Designer Karl Lagerfeld kicks things up a notch with a bag handle that mimics his distinctive sunglasses.

Promos Hit the Retail Racks

2009-10-12T15:20:27Z

Here's a terrific promotion by The North Face. The outdoors outerwear and equipment manufacturer was having trouble finding ways to promote their brand in retail stores, so they created a series of "Outdoor Essentials" like stick and rock, that were put into retail packaging and left in the stores. Not surprisingly, the promotion attracted a lot of attention and increased sales of actual North Face products significantly. (via Direct Daily)

The Chocolate of Change

2009-10-10T15:11:33Z

Apparently change can come in the form of a chocolate bar. I'm not sure where this candy bar came from, but the sheer volume of merchandise featuring Obama must function as some form of stimulus for the economy.

The Audacity of Soap

2009-10-09T15:02:25Z

First he had the Audacity of Hope, then there was the audacity of soap, and now Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace prize. (And smashed a rocket into the moon on the same day!) Some folks think the prize is premature, but I think it is impossible to really have that argument until they announce who the other nominees were. In the meantime, enjoy this soap.