This is one of my favorite Chocolate Shop in Boston. If you know me well enough, you know that I frequent Newbury St. a lot. I live for that area. I could tell you where the different shops, and restaurants are located on that strip. Can you say obsessed?
Since Valentines Day is around the corner, I thought I'd mention this awesome place. Plus I love chocolate, like really love it. One of those 'I must have a piece a day' kinda deal.
1. Outside of Chocolate Hotel. At first you'd think it's a Hotel but it's not.
2. They now have a beverage stand where you can order a variety of chocolate flavored drinks. I mean I hadn't been there in a while so this was a nice surprise. On a business standpoint, this is awesome for them. It means more revenue and new customers that wouldn't have stepped into the store before.
3. They have occasional tasting. I particularly don't know how often they have them but I love surprises. Every time I have attended their tasting, it was random. Here's their recent tasting: Caramel Cheesecake Selector (last picture), Eton Mess Selector (1st and 3rd pictures), and Pink Champagne Truffles (2nd picture). The truffle was all I remembered, just delicious!!!!!
4. As I mentioned before, they have a lot of different flavors to satisfy any chocolate lover like myself. On this display are:
a. Love-me-do Passion Fruit Truffles
b. Love-me-do Raspberry Fusion
c. Love-me-do Strawberry and Rose Truffles
d. Champagne Truffles-White
e. Champagne Truffles
f. Pink Champagne Truffles
J. Kir Royals
H. Champagne Truffles-Dark
5. I didn't want to give everything else away. As they have other products that are chocolate flavored like 'Cocoa Pasta.' You have to go there for yourself to see it all.
If you haven't decided what to get for Valentines, I'd suggest checking this place out. Their packaging and flavors are truly unique. This will definitely hit that one special person's heart. You can thank me later :)
I get excited about the Super Bowl for one thing THE ADS. Most of the time as marketers, we are not given much attention. This is our little playground or the master show. However, I always get disappointed. Ads shown during the game are suppose to be mind-blowingly creative. Come on that's when we get to impress the big guys (doctors, engineers etc.).
Anyways with that said here are my top 5 pick that were good but not "How did you come up with that?"face. Also, this is just my opinion!
3. Co-branding: Brand awareness of both BOA and (Red) is achieved
4. Music marketing: Free download of U2 song= marketing, creating that buzz and WOM
This ad would take the whole post for me to dig deep into all the strategies and how they are related. Feel free to comment below if you want more details.
Their goal: Definitely branding and generating sales
What they did right: The combination of U2 with an urgency to download their free song for a good cause is like no-brainer right? People want to feel like they contributed to a good cause.
4. Coke
If you didn't know this, I'll repeat it. I love love love Coke. The only brand I am super loyal too. One of the reasons is because they have lots of creative strategies despite the fact that they are the #1 soda beverage in the world. Find me on a good day and I'll explain my obsession with this brand.
Their goal: Branding….just so you don't forget them
What they did right: Use an iconic song that was sang by different ethnicities of America.
If you go down in history and look at past Coke ads, you'll quickly learn who they are and what they stand for. You know iconic songs and events around the idea of sharing or unity. They didn't disappoint again and they don't care much about the backlash from the contrevorsy either. That's the epitome of "Brand Consistency."
3. Axe
Axe is usually known for their over sexualized ads in order to relate to their audience (mainly young adults). Why is it that they are getting away from that? Maybe...
1. They got tired of the whole "sex sells" thing or it wasn't bringing enough ROI or
2. Their core audience is growing up
Their goal: Re-branding….Shifting from the "sex"appeal to more of the idea of "love" for their brand.
What they did right: Make people choose "love" through the use of stereotypes and political conflicts.
This worked, it's like seeing an immature young man, suddenly all mature and responsible. I hope they keep going this direction, they definitely won more respect as a brand from me.
2. Budweiser
Budweiser is a beer, I think we all know that. But did you see any beer bottle/cup in that commercial? Right, just checking.
Their goal: Increasing women usage of Budweiser consumption
What they did right: Using animals to unite two people with some soft music.
You know us girls, hit us with an emotional friendship/love story and our hearts are glued to that TV. Plus, who doesn't love animals. Maybe you've never noticed but a lot of Super Bowl ads usually include animals, because as human beings tend to relate to them better.
1. Cheerios
Last year Cheerios introduced the ad with the little girl and her black father. People sent hateful comments about the interracial part. That didn't stop Cheerios from coming back swinging even harder by introducing a little brother and a puppy. Brilliant move!
Their goal: Branding and segmentation (or more like reaching out to overlooked markets like the African American community)
What they did right: Taping into the one of the main hot topic in America. You know, shacking people up a little with the black and white thing.
Plus did they just introduce the concept of skits. Where ads will now become sequels too. I think that's a great trend. You'd hook those loyal customers with endless stories.
I personally can't wait to see the baby brother!
Again emotions, kids, animals, and celebs seem to be winning this ad thing. But on a serious note, ads are ought to be more creative. To get people talking for months after. Plus no one wants to be burning through 4millions in 30 secs. My thoughts, feel free to share your own below.
