Category: Media commentary
November 12th, 2010

The Biscuit-In-The-Basket Conspiracy

First, a post aboot Canada. Now a post aboot hockey? Is this some sort of polite, well-mannered Canadian coup of the Mortarblog? (Hey, as long as we get free healthcare and one of those burgers, we will happily welcome our new insect moose overlords.)

No. It is not a Canadian takeover. It is a post about “Conversation Marketing.” (Yeah, yeah – we hate that name too, but until we think of a better one, we’re stuck with it. Moving on…)

First, a little background: We are not particularly Boston Bruins fans, but man do we love their TV campaign. Excuse the pun, but…check it:

 

Holy-moly, that’s good. And we love this one, too:

 

But then, this happened:

Don’t worry, she got back up. She’s a hockey fan.

 

340x

SIDE NOTE: As an observant Deadspin commenter
points out…does that hole look exactly like Jay Leno?

Could NBC be behind it? Or could it be Coco?
Is that Terry O’Reilly on the grassy knoll?
We’re behind the looking glass, people.

Ahem. Sorry. Anyway, Here’s the truly double-awesome part. Watch the Bruins’ marketing department get out in front of the ladykicking story with this:

 

Score! That is sweeter than a Don Cherry suit. On-brand and on-time, people. Bears may be godless killing machines, and the Bruins may be mortal enemies of certain hockey fans around the Mortar, but dammit…respect-where-respect is due. If marketing is a conversation, these guys are the type of people we’d want to be stuck next to at the bar. Extremely well-played, Bruins.

(We’re still keeping a close eye on those Canadians, though.)

Via Deadspin.

August 20th, 2010

It’s Friday. It’s Lunchtime.

Hmm…lunchtime…What do we want?

Hey – we're into social media – maybe we should consult our peers!

Review 

Thanks, peers! This is even better than those Canadian Stoner Bears!

(You too, Consumerist.)

Have a bawlin' Friday, yo!

August 10th, 2010

Brand Champion(y).

Well, it's the dog days of summer once again, and not the adorable, bring-you-your-pipe-and-slippers kind of dog, either. Between flight attendants flipping out, fat people flipping out, and that faccacta oil spill, everybody's flipping out.

Fortunately, K-Swiss is doing it in a good way.

Think that's bananas? Check out Kenny Powers' INCREDIBLY, UNBELIEVABLY NSFW signing video.
Yeah. Wow.

Now, hard as this may be to believe, we don't think crazy-for-the-sake-of-crazy really gets you anywhere.

But.

If you're K-Swiss in a Nike/Reebok world? Maybe you don't follow the Athletic Gear Rule Book, which clearly states:

2(A): The Company Shall Market Product By Displaying Incredible Athletes. The Implied Promise Shall Be: "If You Buy This Stuff, You'll Be Just Like (INSERT ATHLETE NAME HERE.)"

Maybe you realize there's a big ol' world out there filled with has-beens and never-really-gave-a-crap-beens. Maybe you think, "The people who snuck behind the gym to smoke during P.E. class need shoes, too."

It's just crazy enough to work. Godspeed, K-Swiss. (Tubes!)

Via Adrants.

August 3rd, 2010

Today Is Brought To You By The Letter “M.”

Ever wonder what it’s really like at Mortar? Sesame Street has the goods.

(Start ’em young, that’s what we always say!)

P.S. “Sycophants?” Impressive!

July 23rd, 2010

“I Find My Lack Of Cash…Disturbing.”

Vaderrobber3

"Release your anger. Also, any cash you happen to have laying around."

In Imperial economic news, earnings reports are so bad, Darth Vader has taken to robbing Long Island banks. Yes, really.

Vaderrobber2
"Do not underestimate the power of the Dark Side. Or this Glock, beeyotch."

The perpetrator was seen making his escape on a landspeeder. OK, "bike."
Still – mad style points for the cape!

Is this going to be the best episode of Law & Order ever, or what? 

Happy Friday.

P.S. We are watching you, Renata.

Via the rebel scum at Boing Boing.