Expired Ideas

Sonny's agency of record, Barkley, has very swanky offices in downtown Kansas City and a culture built around the belief that "every idea has an expiration date."  A sign stating such greets you as you walk in the front door.  It always reminds me to think of everyday items that are phasing out of practical use -- ideas whose expiration date may be soon.

Today's idea that may be expiring: Printed Business Cards.  

I have a box of 500 in my desk.  In the past year, I may have handed out 20 max.  We all have digital signatures, email contact info, wireless PDAs, Facebook pages, Linked-In contacts, the list goes on.  I don't ask people for their business card anymore.  I ask for their email address and enter it directly into my i-Phone contacts.  Business cards seem so old school.  

What do you think?

- Butch

Everyone's Having Fun.

I'm back.  Spent Spring Break with my family in that trendy beach destination, Chicago.

We had a great time.  Stayed downtown.  Took in all the sights - The Art Institute, Navy Pier, Field Museum, River Architecture Tour, Observation Deck at Sears (nee Willis) Tower, et al.  Also had some great Chicago food -- Gino's East, Giordano's, Artist's Cafe and Ed Debevic's.  Yeah, I said Ed Debevic's.

Here's what I love about Ed's... no matter how cheesy you may think the place is, they are 110% committed to their brand promise and everyone who works there is 110% on board.  In case you're not familiar, Ed's is a themed restaurant.  It's a 50's type diner serving good ol' American comfort food by a wait staff that dresses the part, acts the part and takes pride in being over-the-top loud and obnoxious.  It's Americana kitsch at its best.  Many of the wait staff are part-time Second City and Comedy Sportz actors (or so they claim) honing their improv chops on Windy City tourists.

They dance on the malt-shop bar every hour, sing loudly to the oldies rock soundtrack, insult customers and each other -- all in the name of fun.

My 15-year-old son noted, "This seems like a place where everyone really wants to work.  They're all having fun."   That pretty much sums it up.  If everyone at your place is having fun and really wants to be there, cheers to you.  

What brands do you think live up to "seems like a place where everyone really wants to work"? 

- Butch 

Culture of Generosity II

Last month,  I wrote about the Culture of Generosity displayed by Denny's when they gave away free Grand Slam Breakfasts to reintroduce their brand to consumers.  The concept of Culture of Generosity is promoted by Fallon's planning group, and I love it.  It's essentially the idea that people are willing to support a brand that is willing to give a little back. Sounds like good small-town character -- the kind we like and try to practice here at Sonny's Cozy Tavern.

This month's salute for Culture of Generosity goes to Fed-Ex/Kinko's.  They are quietly offering to print 25 FREE resumes for people who have lost their jobs.  With unemployment projected to hit 10%, this is a great way to emotionally connect the Fed-Ex/Kinko's brand with consumers and make it very relevant in the lives of people everywhere.

They don't have to do it.  They're not shouting about it through advertising.  It's a class move that's been mostly communicated virally -- while most brands are tightening their belts and raising their prices, caring least about the economic challenge faced by their consumers. 

Nice move, Fed-Ex/Kinko's.  Sonny's raises it mug to you.  May your generosity come back to you three-fold.

What Culture of Generosity acts have you seen lately?

- Butch

Rock Brands

Yesterday, U2 released it's latest album.  They have another one coming out later this year.  U2 is big business and a brand that has been around a long time.  They have staying power because they stay true to their brand but also evolve with their audiences.  U2 is clearly the greatest rock brand to come out of Ireland -- who's gonna challenge them?  Thin Lizzy?

It made me think about "the greatest rock brands from each country."  Who are they?  Here's my list to get you started started (Sorry Dylan fans, I'm sticking with bands not artists here).

America:

The Doors

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Lynard Skynard

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band

Creedance Clearwater Revival

Guns & Roses

Aerosmith

Van Halen

ZZ Top

Green Day

Britain:

The Beatles

Rolling Stones

Led Zeppelin

Cream

The Who

Sex Pistols

Pink Floyd

Moody Blues

The Kinks

The Clash

Canada

Rush

Steppenwolf

The Guess Who

Bare Naked Ladies

*Pretty weak list

Others? Your turn.

- Butch

Bad Ad of The Day: Hooters

Wow. I just saw a TV spot for Hooters Restaurants with Dick Vitale. I'm glad I had nothing to with it. I'd be embarrassed if I was on the team that created this stinker. EVERYTHING about it is just bad -- Vitale's acting, the leathery Hooters' girls' acting, the unappetizing food shots. How does work this bad get created, approved and produced?

What's your Bad Ad of The Day?

- Butch

Tiger's got 'em by the tail.

Well, Tiger Woods is back playing on the PGA Tour.  Guess I'll start watching the PGA Tour again.  I haven't watched a match on TV since Tiger last played in the 2008 US Open.  Tiger is unbelievably vital to the health of the Tour.  TV ratings have slipped as much as 50% since he's been on the disabled list.  I'd consider myself a hardcore golf fan and I have no interest in watching a Tiger-less PGA Tour.  That's not good for the PGA's brand.  

Someone has to step up and legitimately challenge Tiger.  It may take some time for that to happen.  You see, Tiger even has the best players in the world believing that he's untouchable. That's hard to imagine, but have you seen the latest Nike Golf TV spot celebrating Tiger's return to the game? It shows "other" great golfers living it up and enjoying life on Tour without Tiger -- then Tiger walks in the locker room and these guys clam up when they realize that he's back and their good times are over.  These are REAL professional golfers -- top PGA pros who won tournaments in the past 12 months -- not actors.  Tiger's got 'em all by the tail.

Can you imagine Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson or Gary Player EVER doing a spot like this with Jack Nicklaus?  I guarantee it would have NEVER happened.  Nicklaus was the best of his time, but other players didn't lay down for him like today's players do for Tiger.

I love the Nike spot.  But, I think it exposes a big problem for the PGA brand.  Please, someone step up for the future of the Tour.  Phil? You've lost weight.  How 'bout it, man?

Who do you think could help save the PGA brand?

- Butch  

Expired Time

Have you noticed that clocks on walls and wrist watches are slowly becoming a thing of the past? We all carry PDAs -- blackberries, iPhones, etc. -- and they are replacing these timepieces of old. This hit home for me as I made a presentation a few days ago. I wanted to stay on time. I looked around the room for a clock. There was none. I glanced at my wrist. I wasn't wearing a watch. I had to keep my iPhone close to check time. It made me think. We have 25+ meeting rooms in my office. None has a clock on the wall. There's no clock in our lobby. I walked around the office -- no clocks on workspace walls. I love watches. You could say that I have an obsession for watches. I have a vintage 1945 Gruen -- I wear it on special days (it belonged to my grandfather). I have a watch case full of watches of all types -- sports watches, dress watches, casual watches and specialty watches. I have about 20 watches, but I've found that I wear them less than I did in the past. I certainly don't wear one every day. At my agency, our philosophy is that "every idea has an expiration date." Every great idea must evolve or it will die. Innovators must continue to innovate or they become obsolete.

Are traditional clocks and watches ideas that are expiring?

What other ideas do you think have expired?

- Butch