I have been eyeballin’ the new Volkswagen Eos hardtop convertible I have seen tooling so stylishly around town lately. Looks like a perfect city car: smooth, hip VW looks, small enough to easily park, micro-climate friendly (read: keep the hardtop up all summer when driving within the city limits of San Francisco, but put it down once you get one mile North, South, East… or in the Potrero Hill neigborhood).

I saw a banner ad for the car, and I actually clicked on it. Yes, me, a jaded advertiser, was moved enough to click a banner ad!

It took me to a site called Eos Botique, where you can buy silk scarfs, cashmere wraps, driving shoes, even a "Two in One Sculptural Coat/Blanket for Two". Beautiful items, replete with illustrations on how to wear them… here’s the double blanket:

Shannon on the blog Pierce Mattie states it perfectly:

Lutz & Patmos, Hable Construction, and Sigerson Morrison are the designers involved in the new lifestyle accessory line found at the Eos Boutique. There is no other car company doing cross branding like this. Volkswagen may have hit the mark by knowing the type of style-addicts their owners are, seeking out fashion designers that can create a lifestyle accessory line that meets their distinct sense of sophistication and appreciation of quality.

Mother’s Day ads. Brings to mind flowers, candy, jewelry, foofy pampering stuff… But that’s not what I want. Not one bit.

Don’t give me candy to make my waist expand even further. Send me no flowers that last a few days at best. And even though jewelery won’t wilt or make me fat, I don’t really wear much of it. And don’t get me started on pampering.

Since I am a Working Mom, my pampering time is almost nil; by default, I usually take
care of myself last (I am at the bottom of the totem pole below my
preschooler Nora, my uber-industrious husband Dell, and
Otto, the family English Bull Terrier).

Now, a new cell phone would be great, since mine is getting tired.
Or a new laptop to help me keep track of the family calendar and sundry
needs. Or Tivo (I know – are we the only household in San Francisco that owns a TV and doesn’t have Tivo?). Give me technology tools to help me make our collective lives better.

MarketingProfs is speaking my language in this article entitled "The (Shiny and New) Way to a Woman’s Heart" by Marti Barletta, author of PrimeTime Women: How to Win the Hearts, Minds, and Business of Boomer Big Spenders (Jan. 2007), and the founder and CEO of consulting think-tank The TrendSight Group. Marti insightfully writes:

"Guys, listen up… the way to a woman’s heart is not through these traditional ‘feminine’ gifts. What’ll really make her swoon and sigh is sleek, metal, shiny, and fast—women want the latest and greatest consumer electronics and have the hots for high tech, just like men."

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) states that women buy 57% of consumer electronics, and according to Best Buy, women influence 90% of consumer electronics purchases. In fact, in 2004, the CEA started its annual "Technology Is A Girl’s Best Friend" campaign and awards program, which gives awards in eight product categories for excellence in marketing-to-women.

Marti goes on to show some hits and misses on marketing-to-women in the article, and here’s a prime example of a hit (coming from a "real, not ideal" woman, I can totally relate to this ad):

"My favorite consumer electronics ad comes from Epson.

This ad is chock full of examples of marketing-to-women principles:

* "People power"—Women are hardwired to respond to people as the most important and interesting clement in life. Focus on the prospect, not the product.

* "We not me"—Women are the family "memory keepers," and they look for ways to create experiences where everyone can have a great time.

* "Real not ideal"—Women respond better to advertising that features real people, real situations, real product usage, and real reactions. This ad is genuine, and the people in it look like they could be my next door neighbors."

Thanks Marti for writing this article. Who knows, maybe I will get a cell phone for Mother’s Day instead of a bouquet. And if I don’t, I will just go out and buy it myself – Word from Da Muddah!

Very cool use of beamvertising… Watch the video.

From Adrants.

"Beamvertising is back and bringing the Ninja Turtles to life outside the big screen.

For the Brazilian film Tartarugas Ninja, the beamvertised Turtles enacted a mini-rescue
against a building, utilizing its actual dimensions, which made the
show that much more realistic."

AbeBooks.com promotes fake books to remind readers "If you can’t find it here, it doesn’t exist". Click thru for more examples. Seen on Adrants and AdPunch.