HP, AT&T, and Starbucks… Thank you?
I got a package today with a return address of HP but with similar branding for both HP and AT&T. I had no idea what it may be, I have a Blackberry from AT&T and a printer from HP, but could not think of what would have these two companies reaching out to me at the same time. Could it be a present sent from the company? An iPhone? Not from HP. A Blackberry 8300? Again, not from HP. A digital camera? From AT&T, that would be a stretch.
Well, I opened it up to find out what was inside during this holiday season… and to my surprise it was a marketing gimmick with three Starbucks Double Shots inside. Something about how I can get fast service from AT&T, when I buy my new HP computer, I don’t know I didn’t read any of the packaging. Just took out the Double Shots before deciding that this is something that I could and should blog about.
This seems like a very expensive mailing, but maybe I fit the right demographic. I have purchased an HP computer before (7 years ago), I do have a large phone bill sent to me monthly from AT&T, and could it be possible for them to purchase my name from when I registered my Starbucks card? Well, I’m not going to be buying an HP laptop anytime soon (although, they do recommend Business Vista) but I will definitley enjoy the more than $5 in free Starbucks drinks.
If you want to see the pics of the box being opened check out the rest of the entry.
A Beaver Plane
Horizon Airlines, which is based out of Seattle, has decided to paint four of their planes to match the four major universities in Washington and Oregon. I’m most excited about the Beaver plane, and very uncertain how I would feel if they asked me to get on a duck plane. I know that there are people that give much more money than I do to their respective schools and I wonder how they would react to being asked to board their rival schools plane.
Now if I could request to fly from PDX to SFO on the Oregon State plane to watch the Emerald Bowl I would love it.
So is this a worth while marketing move by Horizon or will the painting and eventual repainting (and a few upset customers) be more than the stunt was worth? It shows that they’re a Northwest brand and says that they support the Northwest, but to me it seems to be a little to much effort for how uch positive PR it will produce. Of course, I don’t know how much painting a plane like this costs and maybe it’s not that big of an effort.
Starbucks Happy Hour?
A friend passed along this article from AdAge, “Forget the Cut TV Critters, Starbucks Needs a Happy Hour.” I previously was of the notion that Starbucks was above having to have a happy hour, but with their stock performance as of late, it may be time to reconsider.
Some Seattle natives may remember when Tully’s in their continue quest to find something, anything, that will help lure customers away from Starbucks had the 3:21 special. It was a promotion that would give you between 33% and 50% off of your drink between 3:21 and 3:51. I loved the promotion, and in turn became a big fan of the Tully’s Espresso Oreo Shake (still highly recommended), however I felt it was a gimmick. I also felt that it was to early in the day to add new customers and what it was in fact doing was cutting into their margins during a time in the day where people are needing a quick pick me up from the after lunch lull. Their thinking, I take it, was to get people in the mind set that you do in fact need that afternoon coffee everyday. It did help engrain that thinking, but once they stopped the offer, I returned to Starbucks for my coffee needs.
A happy hour though in its most true sense could really drive additional business into Starbucks. Imagine a happy hour from 5pm until 6:30. You aren’t cannibalizing the post dinner group and you aren’t cutting into the margins on the afternoon coffee break from work crowd. If you implemented a more open atmosphere with the Baristas (some would shine, others would not) where the Baristas could become more like your local bartenders and the patrons could find a new place to interact after work. I go to happy hours fairly frequently and usually more than the food or the drink the place is decided upon based on price, atmosphere, and location. Starbucks has the locations (any location) down, and if they were to offer happy hour prices and a more open barista atmosphere along with different music there would be the other two deciding factors.
Howard Schultz founded Starbucks after a trip to Italy where he saw how much people were interacting in the cafes there. This could rejuvenate the cafe environment in the US as well as increase profits for Starbucks. In my opinion, after the lackluster performance and the many competitors who cannot offer the atmosphere that Starbucks can, it is now time to create the new Starbucks Happy Hour.
Perspire Soda?
Okay, as I’ve said before I’m a big fan of Jones Soda. I was just the hawks game on Sunday and got a few samples of their delicious cream soda, which took me back to senior year of high school (Yea, I drank alot of Jones then).
Jones has never been one to pass on a weird tasting soda to get some pr. A few years ago I bought their holiday pack which included Turkey, Smoked Salmon, Green Bean Casserole, and Pecan Pie. Nobody wanted them with their Thanksgiving dinner, so a few weeks later I tried one of them. It’s safe to say I didn’t drink the rest of the holiday pack.
Well to one up the holiday pack and to tie in their sponsorship of the Seahawks Jones Soday today announced their new “Seahawks Collector Pack” which includes these fine sodas
Dirt Soda, Sports Cream Soda, Perspiration Soda, Natural Field Turf Soda, and Sweet Victory Soda.
Mmmm, sounds delicious. When two things you love combine to make something so horrible it just doesn’t seem right.
The New York Times, setting the paper free.
In a move that I wasn’t sure I would see for at least a few more years, The New York Times is getting rid of their “Times Select” paid sections. They are also releasing all of their archives for free online. This is a huge move for the publishing industry that such an old media beheamouth would take away such a large chunk of gaurunteed income.
Fred Wilson, has previously stated that the Wall Street Journal should allow their online edition to be totally free (I’d say about 90% is for subscribers only) and I have had a hard time believing this would be worth it. People are paying between $50-$70 to access the WSJ online and that is money you know is coming. It has been there for years, and with the Journals market, it seems like it will be there for a long long time. I mean, I’m 25 and I’m willing to pay for it. The NYT says that the traffic they are now recieving through Google is worth more than the paid subscriptions. If that is true, then there is no reason not to open up the WSJ.
We’ll see how long Ruper opens up the WSJ. With the NYT move, I have a feeling I will be asking for some of my subscription money back soon.
The Worlds First $10.5M Phone…
Love this marketing campaign from Blackberry. They’re selling their 8830 phone for $10.5 million. Yes, for a phone. The catch… you get a private island along with the phone. Below, is the ad for the phone, and it’s a great piece, put together for the worlds billionaires.
There is an option on the official site though if you “…already own an island. But I’ll take the phone on its own.”
Nice work Sprint and Blackberry.
About Otis
I live in Seattle, Washington. I am passionate about working with and interacting with others. My work experience includes marketing, account management, and sales.
I am a huge sports fan who on top of cheering for my favorite teams (Go Beavs!) also appreciates coaching strategy, as well as the marketing behind teams, players, and events.
Personally, I enjoys exploring new cities and areas (particularly small towns) and getting outside and playing.