Check out the pop-up books. Simply amazing.
http://www.ecodazoo.com/

Pretty funny ad for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

It’s not that unusual that I would find myself in a Target store looking for ways to waste my hard earned salary. This time it’s around 9 pm, the usual Target crowd is running a muck in and out of the store, paying no attention to cars driving in the parking lot, huge boxes being stuffed inside tiny trunks and on this night, even a newborn baby being changed in the mini-van beside me. Being the typical Target customer, I pay these things little attention, not even the shady looking tattooed woman smoking a cigarette in a dark corner of the stores façade peaks my interest enough to slow my pace as I walk inside.

Target, there’s no place like it. Bright lights, weird people and red everywhere, gives off the slight impression of hell if it weren’t for the chill you get from the moderately comfortable air-conditioning hitting you in the face as you enter. I skip the shopping carts, as it’s late and I’m not making any huge purchases tonight. I round the first corner and make my way back into the grocery department for my latest addiction,

“Starbucks Doubleshot Energy + Coffee” 15 oz Vanilla flavored drink, only to be disappointed by empty shelves, as a short blond woman dressed like she’s been to the beach, grabs the last case. No biggie, I can always get more another time, off I go for more exploring.

In the electronics department (my fav) I head to the section I visit the least of, video games, as two weeks ago I’ve just scored a Nintendo Wii that my family just loves. I’m looking for the newest Mario Kart, because I think my 5 year old daughter would love playing it. Strike number 2, they’re all out. Bummer. Now where? I must buy something besides the list my wife has given me.

I pace through the isles, browsing and making up reasons that I should buy this and that, with clearly thought out explanations for the wife as to why I, we need new telephones for the house or memory foam pillows. Some how I make it to the front of the store ready to check out, with nothing but a pint of strawberry ice cream for myself and the list of stuff for my wife.

Finally my mind is at ease as I stand in line waiting for the young teenage girl who appears to be rushing everyone through this line like she has a date with hip-hop’s biggest rapper at the moment Lil Wayne. Ooh, iced tea lemon flavored mints, that sounds promising, I put them back on the shelf, when I notice myself humming a song. A song I haven’t heard in a while but a song by a favorite band of mine. As the total of my wife’s stuff gets higher and higher, I remember humming this song while browsing through the candy isle, even while looking for

a new nerf toy to terrorize my family with, I remember humming this song most of my trip here.

Walking out of the store, the huge Target logo appears on the wall and it hits me. The song I’ve been humming is a song Target uses in its commercials “Hello Goodbye” by The Beatles. It’s a nice song and all, but I usually don’t go around humming it. So why now? Target has created such an experience within its brand that as I shop; I’m not only experiencing the Target brand consciously but also subconsciously. I can’t tell you when the last time I’ve seen a Target commercial was, being that I haven’t watched television in quite some time now due to increased work from clients and a new baby. But I can tell you that a brand that keeps you coming back for more and works on a subconscious level is a brand worth learning something from.

hosted by: American Marketing Association
Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 1330 Maryland Ave, S.W.
Washington , D.C. 20024
7/14/2008 8:00 AM - 7/16/2008 1:00 PM

*swiped from AMA’s website*

Every nonprofit has a story. As the organization’s marketing professional, it’s your job to make sure it’s being told – and truly engaging the audiences you need to reach. How are you doing? If you’re like other nonprofit marketers, you would welcome an opportunity to step back from every-day demands and focus on your organization’s biggest asset – its story.

This year’s conference is your chance! Join nonprofit marketing colleagues from across the country for three days of interactive sessions that will equip you to be more successful conveying your story – and increasing the power of your nonprofit’s brand. After kicking off the conference with a keynote presentation and workshop on storytelling, we’ll offer case studies of organizations that are getting it right, dig into how to convey messages using specific marketing channels, and – ultimately – share how to measure the results of your work.

You’ll leave this conference equipped to inspire your unique audiences to action and prove – to internal and external stakeholders – the vital role marketing plays in delivering on your organization’s mission.

Participate in interactive sessions with high-caliber speakers
Learn from your colleagues’ success (and missteps)
Get face time with leading marketing experts
Build your professional network
Win prizes in our daily drawings
Visit with exhibitors to learn how they can help you
Recharge your battery and get new inspiration
Who Should Attend

Senior Level Marketing and Communications Executives
Senior Development Professionals
Volunteer Directors

For more information or to register click here.

10. How to spell “marketing”
9. What your marketing budget is
8. Who is your target demographic
7. Who is your biggest competitor
6. A clearly defined strategy to meet your objectives
5. What is your objective
4. How to kiss ass
3. Whose ass to kiss
2. The American Marketing Association (www.marketingpower.com)
1. My phone number- (301) 632-2095 =)

I’m back at work and I’ve brought a little helper with me! She’s making sure mommy says on track with deadlines, sounding off every two hours like clockwork! =)

Name: London Marie
Birthdate: April 24
Weight: 5lbs 11oz
Height: 19 1/2 inches

~Steph

Use e-newsletters to establish yourself as an expert in your field by providing information your readers can use immediately and easily understand.

Here’s how to get the most out of your e-newsletter efforts:

• Archive previous issues in an easy to read format on your website so visitors can view useful information and sign-up to receive future issues.

• Include a subscription form on your website. Use your subscription form as an easy way to collect information to add to your contact database.

• Generate advertiser dollars by providing only the introduction of an article in the actual newsletter with a link to the full article on your website and other links that direct readers to your site. This will boosts your website hits.

• Establish or extend your brand by keeping your e-newsletter’s design consistent with your company identity.

6 Tips to Success

1. HTML vs. Plain Text- Use an email marketing service provider that supports “multipart” or “alternative” formats to avoid being rejected by users that don’t allow HTML.

2. Keep your e-newsletter informative. Avoid the temptation of using it as a sales pitch. E-newsletters should be useful to your readers, whether or not they ever buy your product or use your service. Use your publications to build your reputation and business relationships.

3. Don’t neglect the header of your e-newsletter. Keep in mind many email programs offer users the option to view messages through a window pane. The header should capture reader’s attention.

4. Include an easy to use unsubscribe link. With most email marketing service providers, your volume determines your costs. Don’t waste your resources on prospects that aren’t interested.

5. Use your name in the “From to” line. Readers will trust the content of your message and are less likely to delete your emails without at least glancing over it first.

6. Stay consistent. If you title your newsletter “weekly” or “monthly” make sure you deliver on time, every time. If your subscribers go days or weeks expecting your e-newsletter and it doesn’t come, it will damage your credibility- not only as a newsletter publisher, but also as a merchant.

Green

The word ‘Green’ is quickly becoming common terminology in American culture, referring to all things environmentally friendly. This cultural phenomenon has become a unified idea amongst many and its momentum is steadily growing, turning out new business ideas, better practices in our daily routines and even used as a campaign strategy for the presidential race.

About ‘Word-Marks’: Logos for words that play a significant role in modern day society.

For hardcore designers, “does it work?” is the one question that must be obsessed over. Really, this should be the case for any designer anyways; not whether it looks cool, and not if it can win awards. Hardcore design is about taking away the cute, fluffy stuff, and concentrating on what is actually accomplished.

F*ck Style by ideasonideas

// ideasonideas

I’ve always been very fond of The Flags Campaign project. I love the idea of building information graphics into the World’s flags.

The magazine Revista Grande Reportagem is a Hard Journalism magazine, on the same line as the Times. The idea was to bring across the concept that the magazine offers profound journalism about topics of real importance to the world of today.

This is how we thought of the concept Meet the World.

We started to research relevant, global, and current facts and, thus, came up with the idea to put new meanings to the colours of the flags. We used real data taken from the websites of Amnesty International and the UNO.

// Computerlove