Smith & Jones Take on Maggi

Its raining combat advtg guys!!! Came across this print ad by Smith & Jones Masala Noodles which tries a smart take on Maggi Masala Noodles...Personifying S&M noodles as a gutsy wonder gal!

Ok...so the magenta and green do draw you towards the ad, however there are too many things happening at the same time. From subtly comparative copy and product description to cooking directions and copy at the bottom about wanting wholesalers and distributors!!! Its screaming for attention almost everywhere. Overly filled up!

I like the 'comic-book' look...however,a little less clutter would have made it way much better.

Phokat Copy!

PhokatCopy is a youth-oriented advertising platform currently running in Delhi University and IIT Delhi. Founded by Harsh Narang, a final year student at IIT-Delhi, It provides 'free photocopies' to students by utilising the back page for advertisements by companies who want to specially target the youth clientele. It is an innovative means to market directly to the growing 18-24 year old demographic in our urban cities, and provide them with the niche attention they deserve. Brand recognition or loyalty harboured at this age (especially connected to a service that saved you a few bucks every day!) is sure to carry on, giving the advertisers an edge as the demographic gains purchasing power.

PhokatCopy is successfully running in over 30 colleges in Delhi and current clients include Apple, Vodafone, Fastrack among others. Expansion plans for other student centric cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Manipal are being executed. PhokatCopy is partnering with Institutions across the country for the same.

PhokatCopy inculcates the true Indian entrepreneurial spirit. The concept of free photocopying came to Harsh on a long afternoon in 2007, after he had just copied a mountain of notes! He worked on refining the concept and the financials and fleshed out the idea over the course of the year - and PhokatCopy was born!They realise the challenges that face today’s generation (having experienced them!) and want to address them specifically.

But really, what truly makes PhokatCopy so special? Simple.

Its Photocopy, Phokat mein!

Labezine

The Labelzine is a full-colour magazine with between eight to 32 pages that can be stuck on a pack like a label and removed by the purchaser at home.The Labelzine was first used in Europe in April 2007 when free mini copies of fashion magazine Glam*IT were attached to PET Coca-Cola Light bottles in Belgium.

The company is currently investigating the possibility of putting magazines on takeaway cups and an interactive chip-based Labelzine.

The concept of On Product Publishing (OPP), the Australian creator of the magazine-on-a-bottle format, won the best label and best overall concept awards at the 2006 Bottled Water World Design Awards in Bergamo, Italy. Then Coca-Cola noticed that unique innovation in 2007 and push it on sale in Belgium in April. There were PET bottles of Coca-Cola Light, with a free copy of a special mini edition of fashion magazine GLAM*IT attached.

This opens up opportunities to brand designers to be a lot more creative,and enables companies to create a “more intricate and visual identity for their products.

The Week v/s The Outlook

Combat Advertising seems to have gone up to many brand marketer's head these days.In today's(3rd March 2010)Brand Equity, I came across this print ad by The Week.I almost gave it a miss as I was turning to the next page.Had it not been for the bright red colour, and similarity with The Economist's print ads...I would have surely missed this subtle version of 'Me better than you' scandal.

Ok, I will give credit to whomsoever has written the copy... at least the headline[The truth is always stronger than an Outlook] is not slap-sticky, makes a point and is subtle enough to not mock at The Outlook directly.

Below the headline, they have mentioned that The Week's circulation figures have crossed rival/Outlook's claimed circulation figures by 31,231 copies! Anyone in the publishing industry would agree...30k copies in an over crowded/almost ME TOO - biz-politico publishing is a commendable thing...however, I always thought, readership figures are move valuable than mere circulation after all the latter also includes free copies, complimentary give aways, sampling etc.

Apart from the pompous display of figures, The week has duly given the source of the data (RNI) and duration, when the data was collected.

So much for a better share of media planner's humble budget!