I was doing small research on evolution of some big brand logos. OK, not really a research. I needed to see how some big guys polish and revive their brands so I spent about 15 minutes on Google and looked around. I found this article on the Starbucks logo. I had no idea they recently started to use some retro logo design. Over here all we get is still the “classic” green one. But after reading the article I thought this is exactly what I was looking for - some example of return to the roots. And I thought this is quite well done.

The article I mentioned says that the marketing objective in bringing back this version of the original logo was to compliment the campaign slogan “Roasting coffee since 1971. The best cup then. The best cup now”. I think the logo does it nicely. It also gives a different feeling to the Starbucks merchandise - including the mugs.

But then I checked few other links pointing to the new Starbucks logo articles and I realized that some people actually have some issues with it. Serious issues. The problem seems to be the way the siren (mermaid) in the logo is pictured - “naked woman on it with her legs spread like a prostitute”.

Here is one nice article on this. I am quite sure that making people calling them “Slutbucks” was not the idea behind the old logo revival . But it got people talking and gave the retro image quite some publicity. At the end the very people who find the the logo slutty are doing the new old logo the best service. Marketing by controversy in its best .

Time for some coffee . Slutbucks perhaps .

Popularity: 60% [?]

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A while ago I wrote about how I discovered lanyards. When after several years the only lanyard innovations come in a guise of different widths, printing technologies or all sorts of fancy clips and attachments I began to think the lanyard evolution is over. Well, I was wrong. Here is something new:

It looks like this is a lanyard designed to carry something heavy on the neck. At least that is what the padding would suggest. While that may be one of the unintentional benefits of this product, it does not seem to be the point. When you look closer, you see a zipper. When you open the zipper, you can pull out a hood … Who’s idea was this I would like to know .

As a gimmick, this is quite funny. As a promotional product - well, it may not be that bad for the advertiser. The large hood provides quite some area for imprint. But, how often will that large imprint area actually get some exposure ? I would say only if it rains. But now, frankly, will anyone pack this thing as a precaution in case of rain into the back, or carry it on the neck when going out ? I very much doubt so … I would say unless it rains at some outdoor event where these hood lanyards are distributed, the hoods will never be exposed to the public. So all the printable area that actually matters is what is seen on the first picture in this post. Even less than what an ordinary lanyard provides for much lower cost.

So what is wrong with this lanyard ?

It costs more than usual lanyards without any hoods, most of the printable area it offers will never be seen. It offers pretty much zero rain protection. Unfortunately as it is the case with many promotional products and BizGifts these days, this is just a gimmick, and a useless one. If you want to produce a gift item that protects people from wet weather, you better stay with umbrella or if on lower budget with cheap rain poncho.

If on the other hand you want to get peoples’ attention by giving them something silly they will ridicule and talk about, this may be one of those things .

Popularity: 51% [?]

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A while ago I made a post It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over and the last thing I expected was that the particular project that inspired me for writing that post will turn it to be a major screw up. Well, almost, lucky me. But well, it ain’t over yet, so I better wait with the standing ovations for myself.

So what has happened ? Well, this time, surprise surprise, the mess up did not come from our supplier but from our customer’s client.

Imagine this:

• You spend several months developing a product

• You receive sort of conditional approval and go ahead

• You reject that conditional approval and ask for either a firm approval

• Client asks you how more time and money would further development cost

• You provide the figures

• Client decides to go ahead with the products as it is and gives you the firm approval and signs the contract

• You go ahead

• When first (big) lot is ready to load into containers and ready to ship you send a batch of samples to client for their promotions preparation work

• And then bang … Client say stop everything, we do not want this “rubbish”, no matter that that “rubbish” is exactly what they have approved and the best the money they are willing to spend can buy

The problem as we found out was that the bosses of the person who gave the approval did not like what they saw. Unfortunately, they only saw the product for the first time after big part of the production was already completed or semi ready …

Very scary situation. Luckily a solution workable to both parties has been found and the project has been re-started without major wounds. Thanks to all the parties involved willing to work it out and go the extra mile.

It ain’t over yet, but at least I can sleep better now.

Popularity: 60% [?]

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The hectic few weeks of visiting trade shows all around the region is finally over. I went to several, not always the good ones, in search of something new that might revolutionize our BizGift industry. Did I find something special ? Well, not really. But that is nothing new. New trends like transparent (or frosty transparent) materials or brand new items like lanyards few years ago do not by come every year.

I believe that this year most of the effort of people in our industry is to manage the crazy market conditions. The relatively stable or decreasing material and product costs we have grown accustomed to in recent years are going up now almost every day. That is the main challenge these and not too much time is left for innovation. Unfortunately, because clients would sure complain less about about higher prices if they can get new products in return. But paying 20-30% more than 12 months ago for pretty much the same stuff is not what we like, do we .

One trend, not exactly new, but very much the latest, are the “green” items. And as the US promotional market is going “green” crazy, there are more and more “eco” products available. How “green” and “eco” friendly they actually are, that I am not sure. But the fact is, the “green” products are hot these days.

The only other thing that caught my attention in past few weeks were sublimation ready products especially all sorts of ceramics ready to be sublimated .

Otherwise all the same old stuff we have known for years, only more expensive then ever these days (especially in US dollar terms). We may see more in October when the fall trade show season kicks in.

Popularity: 64% [?]

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