Bournestuntsimulator.com by Volkswagen

There has been an awful lot of media coverage and advertising surrounding the latest James Bourne movie, The Bourne Ultimatum. As a fan of the past two movies, I was certainly going to go and see the third due to the intense action that it brings to the viewer. When I saw an advertisement telling me to 'Go beyond The Bourne Ultimatum' I was drawn in and curious. Volkswagen the providers of vehicles for the movie, have used digital media to produce what I feel is one of the best movie tie ins I have come across.
The website is action packed as you would expect, with exclusive behind the scenes footage that shows how the stunts were put together and captured. Once seeing how the professionals do it, the viewer is then able to plan, direct and create there very own 3-D action stunt. A simply rendered yet highly effective simulator allows the user to perform a variety of features such as adding cars, effects, props and even the location of camera angles and editing. This last feature was definitely the most impressive for me.
Through the website Volkswagen quietly convey there brand values of innovation, engineering excellence and fun in a truly in an obtrusive yet thrilling way. A further quality of the site is that it's not a one dimensional experience as it engages the customer through competitions, ratings, send to a friend, link and UGC public gallery as well as data capture to register interest and CRM opportunities.
Coming away from the site I feel as if I've fulfilled one of my school boy dreams. Volkswagen gain the attention of the customer without having to 'hard sell' the product, which car salesman tend to do.

Odeon Cinemas to show Rugby World Cup

With the Rugby World Cup fast approaching, 20 Odeon Cinemas including Liverpool, Bath and London will show live games of the rugby. This is to be showed for free as the Rugby Football Association and National Sports Federation seek to attract people to uptake the sport.
All England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa games as well as the knock out stages will be shown.
Watching the new film, The Bourne Ultimatum, ads were shown before targeting rugby players. The ads tried to attract past rugby players by reminding them what they are missing.
I think this a great idea socially as it increases awareness of rugby, and will nationally increase children and adults in sport participation. With there being no fee to watch the games in the cinemas, it is a free form of entertainment. Sport participation is something that the government is desperately trying to achieve, and with this type of option I feel it will certainly help the cause. Some feel that rugby is quite a specialist sport, but by opening the doors to everyone, there will be a much better chance of rugby being something that ‘jo public’ understands.

Urban Beach in Finsbury Square

Having seen the O2 business picnic in Soho last week, I was very pleasantly surprised when I saw this beach scene being created when going through Finsbury Square at the weekend. With tonnes of sand and plenty of palm trees the square is being transformed into an Urban Beach for the week. Sponsored by BT, the aim is to promote flexible working by showing that you can work as easily on the beach as you can the office. There are deckchairs, mini-golf competitions, live music and food provided by Jamie Oliver's famous Fifteen. Wi-fi Internet access is also available to allow London workers to keep on working.

With this and last weeks O2 event, it shows that many brands are now participating in interactive activities. However with rain and 50 mph winds expected in London this week, the beach is to get a real touch of England with it!

The o2 Business Picnic Lunch in London

Wondering near Carnaby Street in London at lunchtime the other day I came across a sponsored picnic event from o2. The brand had taken over a very popular square at lunchtime where many city business workers go for lunch, and created a picnic lunch. Providing branded umbrellas, beanbags, frisbees, board games (such as jenger and snake and ladders), barbeque food etc the square was buzzing full of city workers lavishing in this fantastically sunny chilled out atmosphere. Without directly trying to push sales, there was the opportunity to go up to one of the o2 girls if you wanted to ask further questions about the brands products and services. What o2 achieved by doing this was great brand awareness and an association with fun times. With work in the city being stressful and fast moving, the opportunity to escape from this on your lunch break was provided with this event. Since going to the event, participants would have virally mentioned the success of the activity as well as who sponsored it. Without having to try to hard and spend a large budget, a great atmosphere and talk point was created. It has certainly raised the brand profile of o2 within me.

Summer arrives and so do Christmas Departments

Its 138 days till Christmas, and when looking around Harrods the other day, the Christmas Department had just officially been opened. The Harrods Christmas Department is a major tourist attraction in Britain, attracting visitors throughout the world to see this famous site. However, with England just getting its summer weather in August how can we possibly start considering and buying items for the festive season? Is this weakening or strengthening the Christmas spirit? A time of coldness, warm coats and dark nights cannot be something children and adults want to be thinking about at this time. With such products and items already on sale, is the core message and feelings of Christmas time being lost in the marketing and advertising of products, or is it simply building up the excitement of this season? By Harrods and Selfridges opening their festive department straight after the summer sale, they must clearly think it is profitable to do so. Do people generally just like to purchase there Christmas items throughout the year rather than frantically in December? Personally I would just like to enjoy the summer time weather, then unleash the Christmas spirit in early November for everyone to feel a great injection of motivation and happiness as the dark nights draw in. With the sun finally descending upon Britain, I would like to enjoy this time and feel that 2007 wasn’t a year that we didn’t have summer fun!

Orange, how they have lost brand value

Mobile phones are an integral part of many people’s lives throughout world and the UK. I have been a long-term customer with the Orange network and have been very happy with their service over the four years I have been with them. Recently when calling for an enquiry, an automated message voiced over before answering the call that 'Orange are devoted to good customer service'. This is the first time I had heard this message and it gave me great confidence before speaking to an advisor. When I finally got through the help and devotion that I received did not match the promise that had been made. Several phone calls were needed by myself in order to get through to an advisor that really did reach the promise of being devoted to good customer service. I now view the Orange brand as making promises that they do not fulfil.
What I have learnt from this experience is that a brands word must be executed by its actions. If a brand is to make a promise to its customers it should be something that is found within the business currently, not an aim or objective of the brand which they wish to achieve in the future.

Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite

Having been inspired and motivated after reading Paul Ardens other publication 'It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be', I soon ordered this book. Subsequent to reading the book I have once again come out of it with more feelings of belief and potential inside me to go on and succeed. The author discusses thoughts that are very much out of the ordinary, but seem to make sense when written in this pin point context. For anyone who is currently in a mindset which is confused in what career to pursue, this short read will leave you with an air of confidence in whatever path that you decide to take. Arden uses a variety of exciting case studies and quotes from significant people or personal acquaintances to illustrate his various ideas and perspectives on modern day business ethics, behaviours and ideals. A short read that is both relevant to careers and general outlooks on lifestyle.

Nike and Apple join together to formulate Nike Plus

Two global giants have joined forces to create the innovative Nike Plus range. What I find fascinating here is how they have used each other’s strengths to produce a product that makes a mundane activity such as running into a challenging, social activity that provides a huge source of motivation to all runners. By purchasing the range you feel as if you have bought into a cult that you become a member of. Loyalty to the two brands become immediate and you become very emotionally connected to your new product as it keeps you up to date on your progress as well as others. Being interactive, both brands have added a further dimension to there brand make up.

So what is Nike Plus?

It is a combination of Nike+ running shoes, Nike+ running gear and also the Nike+ sensor. The shoe has a base pocket that the wireless pedometer slots into. Your iPod Nano, once equipped with a receiver plugged into the base, keeps track of your running pace as well as a variety of workout stats. It also has the ability of telling you your pace through your earphones so you don’t have to look down at the screen. The iPod add-on transforms your centre button to a “power song” button. When you want to speed up your workout or just need an extra push through a hard section, press the power song button and it will begin playing a song you have previously selected to motivate you.
It doesn’t stop there. Once you dock and sync up your Nano, Nike+ software loads your workout stats to their website where you will be able to track your workout progress. The whole experience has been well thought through by both Nike and Apple. The website offers celebrity athlete testimonials and a section of the site informs you with what professionals and other Nike+ runners have as their power song. You are then able to purchase their power songs through iTunes, in addition to other Nike-made workout mixes. Community is another aspect of the Nike+ campaign. You can share your progress with up to 50 others and compete with them if you wish. For example you are able to set a challenge to see who could clock up 100 miles the quickest. This can be done globally. For more of an insight visit www.nike.com/nikeplus

It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be

This handbook is a guide on how to succeed in the world. It is written by the well established and experienced advertiser Paul Arden. Having read it, it gives you the motivation to believe that the impossible, is possible. There are no boundaries to success and achieving your goals however big are definitely possible. The book/bible discusses issues as diverse as problem solving, responding to a brief, communicating, the meaning behind the word 'creative', and all activities that can be applied to aspects of modern life. Using a compilation of simple facts, quotes and pictures, it has given me a great insight into what the world of advertising is really like. I have come out after reading the book very motivated and open minded. I feel as if I've taken a step forward in direction as a designer aswell as person.

Why do I find the Apple brand so powerful?

Apple in my opinion is a truly unique brand. Every face of the business conveys the brands values of smoothness, quality, innovation and beautiful design. This ranges from its advertisements, products, product packaging, website design, store layouts and promotional campaigns.
The brand globally has brought warmth and passion to people who are incurious to technical products. This is due to the brands emotional connection with its customers, in which it establishes a deep, long lasting relationship. Apple achieves this emotional bond with its customers by projecting a humanistic corporate culture. Its founding ethos was power to the people through technology, and it remains committed to computers in education. The company has created a connection between the customer and brand which seems almost ‘heartfelt’. By purchasing Apple products customers feel as if they are becoming part of the brand. This creates a loyalty and trust between the brand and the customer that is very much more than a business relationship. Having created a unique verbal and visual language and a human like connection with its customers this is why I feel Apple is a great and successful brand.