November 30th, 2010 § § permalink
Moments of euphoria and anguish, tears of heartbreak and joy, this year’s World Cup provided them all in abundance. My favorite memory was surprisingly not the triumph of La Furia Roja, the return of Maradona, nor the god-like abilities of Messi. It was a group of miniskirt-wearing women.
A daring marketing ploy by the Dutch brewing company Bavaria saw of group of young women arriving in red outfits that seem to be in the Danish colours to the game between Netherlands and Denmark; then stripping off those outfits to reveal the orange dresses with the Bavaria logo underneath. In the second half, the young women were removed from the stadium, questioned by FIFA and then by the police before being released.
This is can be considered as an instance of ambush marketing, because the official beer of the World Cup is Budweiser. FIFA is seeking to protect its sponsor’s interests by forbidding any promotional activity by competitors that uses fans to advertise products.
While I admire the audacity of Bavaria, finding legal loopholes is a dangerous game to play. FIFA, likewise, finds itself in a dilemma. There are boundaries as to how far it can punish offenders, because prison sentences of up to three years under the law seem too harsh. In 2006, FIFA ordered fans wearing Bavaria-branded Leeuwenhosen in 2006 to take them off and watch the game in their underpants. Thankfully, that option was not chosen this year, or there might have been more than great footwork to boggle the eye.
November 15th, 2010 § § permalink
Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel is the enfant terrible of the garment industry. A polarizing figure, he is known for both his philandering and for infusing his progressive politics into his business.
He draws both praise and criticism for his leadership style, but it must be acknowledged that he is an entrepreneur. As per Joseph Schumpeter’s definition, for his business is based on innovative ideas for both the products and the production methods.
His “Classic Girl” t-shirt is now a legendary staple in the garments industry. Meanwhile, his labour practices are likewise renowned. Not only does American Apparel pay fair wage and provide low cost health care to its factory workers, Charney has taken a company position on immigration reform. On AmericanApparel.net, there is a section called “Legalize LA”., which has become the name of a pro-immigration activism group underwritten by AA.
The creative-destructive process of capitalism that Schumpeter envisioned is manifested in Charney. Both a visionary and a rule-breaker, he drives the brand forward with his relentless vision. In addition to generating profit, it is admirable that Charney has taken on a social mission.
Not bad for a wiry kid from Montreal.
November 2nd, 2010 § § permalink
I’m in love.
And you might wonder who’s the lucky man? Google has won my heart with its GoogleDocs and zesty email backgrounds. After being badgered by so many friends to switch to Gmail, I finally succumbed. Now, I can wax poetic about its incredible features.
The devastating charm of the media giant has conquered many others. Indeed, the verb Google has entered our everyday vernacular and even dictionaries.
Swoon-worthy news came with the announcement of the launch of Google TV. GOOG represent Google’s foray into home entertainment, trying to revolutionize the TV as it revolutionized the personal computer. Its point of differentiation is to make the Internet fully accessible on TV and make searching for videos as easy as searching for web pages.
Partnerships have been struck with other online giants, Twitter and Pandora. Google TV will be built into SONY flatscreens or Logitech boxsets.
Google’s strategy to enter the home entertainment market is a risky one. The rivalry is intense in the already crowded industry. While Google has maintained the number one position in search engines, it will be an upstart coming up against the established networks.
I must confess, I’m a little worried for my new beau.
