Category Archives: public relations

Weiner sued for lying

Posted on August 16, 2011 by Kirk

No, not that Weiner. Oscar Mayer (owned by Kraft Foods) is being sued by Ball Park (owned by Sara Lee) for saying it makes the best hot dog. Imagine the fallout if Sara Lee wins. Will any claim by any brand go unchallenged? In court, Sara Lee argued Kraft falsely claimed it won a national taste test. The allegation? That Kraft didn’t allow buns or condiments during the test. The participants were only allowed, get this, to compare the taste of the meat. The audacity! According to a post at the Naperville Sun blog, Sara Lee’s attorney implied that holding … Continue reading →

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Smoke cigs and save the environment

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Kirk

Do you make a point to patronize brands that are eco-friendly? If so, then sit back and light up an American Spirit cigarette, assured in the knowledge you are reducing the carbon footprint. Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, the manufacturer of additive-free American Spirit, calls itself “the most environmentally responsible tobacco company on the planet.” Clever brand positioning, eh? Here are some of Santa Fe’s earth-friendly, socially conscious initiatives: The company’s Purity Residue Clean (PRC) program practices environmentally friendly cultivation. Its tobacco is grown by independent organic farmers using fertilizers and pesticides that break down quickly. After the tobacco cures, … Continue reading →

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Patagonia sells music for the planet

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Kirk

Of the four navigation tabs on Patagonia‘s homepage, only one leads to its outdoor clothing store. The rest, in one way or another, point to Patagonia’s apparent real priority — environmentalism. A new tab, Patagonia Music, now offers exclusive songs by world-class musicians, the sale of which benefits non-profit environmental groups. Donating artists include Bonnie Raitt, Jon Cleary, Zac Brown Band, Jack Johnson, Brandi Carlile, Abigail Washburn, Ziggy Marley, Maroon 5, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Pearl Jam, Philip Glass, and numerous others. The green charities are selected by the individual artists. The fundraising effort also involves a dedicated iPhone app, … Continue reading →

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Border wars: Where’s the Mexican beef?

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Kirk

Interesting timing, eh? While Taco Bell defends the quality of its beef, Chipotle goes for the jugular with its “Gold Ingredients” campaign. According to Advertising Age, the lawsuit against Taco Bell claims that its products “are actually made with an ominous-sounding, fright-inducing conglomeration called ‘taco meat filling,’ which mainly consists of ‘extenders’ and other non-meat substances such as ‘isolated oat product.’” The class-action suit accuses Taco Bell of false advertising for claiming to use “seasoned beef” or “seasoned ground beef.” “Taco meat filling is not beef,” the complaint says. Taco Bell addressed the charges in a full-page ad, entitled, “Thank … Continue reading →

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Celebrities overrated as brand endorsers

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Kirk

Following the 2009 dumping of Michael Phelps for “behavior … not consistent with the image of Kellogg,” I posed the question, “Are we done with celebrity endorsers yet?” Ironically, while scolding brands for trusting celebrities, I held Tiger Woods up as one of the few who could be counted on. Ten months later … wow, who saw that coming? However, Tiger put an exclamation mark on my point: don’t place hard-earned brand equity in the hands of someone who doesn’t value it. Now, there is proof for what I have long suspected. Research firm Ace Metrix released its study, “Celebrity … Continue reading →

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Subaru shares the love through cause marketing

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Kirk

Subaru owners “are not buying things, but experiences,” says Chief Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney. One of those brand experiences, according to its research, is supporting community causes. That’s why Subaru brought back its successful “Share the Love” charitable-giving event for the third consecutive year. The current campaign runs until January 3, 2011. Subaru will donate $250 for every new vehicle sold or leased to the customer’s choice of five charities: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Big Brothers Big Sisters Habitat for Humanity Meals On Wheels Association of America Ocean Conservancy The strategy of supporting … Continue reading →

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