Corporate shirt. PR flack. Web guy. Blogger. Beverage enthusiast. Hubby. Daddy. Diggity. Giggity.
Dino Baskovic Can't Lose
This space for rent
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Even sexy guys have smelly armpits
The following post is the third in the “Pandering For Posts” blog series.
This one goes out to all the ladies. Including one very special lady getting married this weekend.
Heather Schwartz, an account manager with the Minneapolis office of public relations firm Weber Shandwick (and soon to be Mrs. Heather Cmiel) asks:
my awesomeness?? JK. How about Old Spice & if their efforts impacted sales? And how they should respond to @alyssa_milano.
3:15 PM Jul 29th via web in reply to ProfessorDinoYes, you're awesome. And may your wedding be filled with awesomeness. As for Old Spice, arguably the world's most successful viral marketing campaign to date most certainly boosted sales. Adweek reported some Nielsen numbers stating that same-month sales for Old Spice body-wash products shot up a whopping 107 percent. Whether those sales can sustain in the long term remains to be seen, but they certainly won over new friends--Facebook fans grew by 118 percent, YouTube subscribers 227 percent and Twitter followers, 2,800 percent.
(For the uninitiated, Old Spice is a 70-some-odd-year-old personal care line of men's washes, sprays, deodorants and fragrances. Popular in the United States, the line appealed to older men and coupon cutters. In an attempt to rescue the brand from drugstore-aisle death and attract younger consumers, Old Spice worked with indie ad agency Wieden + Kennedy to sex up its image. And it worked--way beyond expectations. First they made former NFL player Terry Crews into a comically macho, shirtless pitchman that appeared in a series of zany ads. Months later, it was another ex-NFL player, Isaiah Mustafa, that really really turned heads, especially with the ladies. Research indicated roughly 70 percent of Old Spice consumers were women buying for their husbands or boyfriends. Like Crews, Mustafa appeared shirtless and muscular in the ads, but they went one step further with Mustafa and made him every women's tongue-in-cheek dream man. To boot, they created a YouTube campaign and allowed fans to interact with Mustafa via Twitter. The stunt worked so well, it even drew tweets from celebrities such as Demi Moore, George Stephanopoulos and Alyssa Milano. Over 180 YouTube spots were shot in exhaustive succession, landing Mustafa instant fame and Old Spice a new place in men's toiletry bags and women's hearts.)
But what about the former "Who's the Boss?" and "Charmed" star? Things got rather flirty with her and Mustafa for a while there, even if was just all in good fun. Turns out she's married, so no new nuptials for "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like," unless that's the guy you're marrying today. In which case, Heather, way to go. No, Milano and Mustafa went back and forth on Twitter several times, and for a while it seems the interactive would spawn some sort of social media mini-series. Alas, Old Spice had other things in mind, and now current NFL star Ray Lewis is the pitchman. Not as shirtless, but just as sexy. At least that's what I'm told. I like Lewis and all, but uh, you know, strictly on a plutonic football level. How 'bout them Ravens?
Milano could reprise her character from those old 1-800-COLLECT ads, I suppose, but I think Stephanie Courtney cornered that market with Progressive Insurance (you better know Courtney as "Flo"). As it turns out, Milano is pretty busy with TV and movie roles, philanthropy and her million-plus Twitter followers. She'll be fine.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the most memorable day of your life, Heather. And if you're ever buying toiletries for your your new hubby, then take solace in the fact that you can stare at all sorts of sexy new standees at the endcaps. It's that or he can do the shopping. Welcome to being married.
Ah, what the heck, I'll get my APR
Subject: Examination application approved
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 2010 11:52:49 -0400Dino V. Baskovic
Thank you for your Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations application. I am happy to tell you that it was approved. Please note that an official letter will be mailed to you soon.
If you haven't already done so, download the APR Study Guide from the Web site at www.praccreditation.org. You will also need to contact your Accreditation Chair (copied on this email) for details about scheduling your Readiness Review.
Don't forget - you have one year, from your approval date, to complete the Accreditation process and become Accredited.
Please consider subscribing to the APR Candidate e-Group. It is an online discussion forum specifically for Accreditation candidates to share ideas and seek advice on topics specific to preparing for the Accreditation process. Through the e-Group, you can seek advice from other candidates regarding their experiences with the Readiness Review, the computer-based Examination, APR study materials, the APR Online Study Course - just to name a few.
LOG IN (You may also unsubscribe. Details are explained within the e-Group.)
- PRSA members to access the e-Group, login to MyPRSA at www.prsa.org with your username and password.
- Once you've logged in, click the e-Groups link.
- Then, click on the APR e-Group.
- You will see a variety of categories to choose from.
- Chose a category and start networking!
If you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you and good luck.
Kathy Mulvihill
Manager, Accreditation
Public Relations Society of AmericaRing On Pineapple Express
The following post is the second in the “Pandering For Posts” blog series.
Stocking up on last-minute groceries for an end-of-summer soiree? Whether buying a few extra brats for the barbeque or more bubbly for the boat, you may want to mind your manners as you hurriedly rush through the express checkout lanes this weekend. This means you, Marjo...
A self-described "mother, wife and CEO of the household" in Holland, Michigan, Marjo Petroelje asks:
Post Panderer: Is it right to go through the Express (10 items or less) check out lane when you have 15 items? 25? 30? Thots?
8:28 AM Jul 29th via TweetDeck in reply to ProfessorDinoThanks for asking, Marjo. (May I call you Marjo?) Personally, I think that if the express lanes aren't all that occupied and you have a few extra items, then what the hey?To be sure, I reached out to a handful of grocers in the area for their take on proper express-lane etiquette. A couple were kind enough to respond:
@PlumMarket: We don't have a policy about express lanes, but you can usually go to the Guest Relations Counter when you have fewer items.
12:11 PM Aug 25th via web in reply to ProfessorDino@WholeFoods: Each of our stores have their own express lane setups; ck w/ the Customer Service desk at yours if you're uncertain. Thx!
12:30 PM Aug 25th via CoTweet in reply to ProfessorDinoAt least one other grocer promised to respond via email and I will update this post if they ever get around to it. As for a few other opinions around the web:Quite simply, if the sign says "Express Lane: 10 Items or Less," that's what it means. There are no hidden meanings to be sought. Don't try to be philosophical.
"Supermarket Checkout Lane Etiquette," The Zealous Water Buffalo, June 2, 2010Obey the express lane item limit. Express lanes are created for people who have a certain amount of items, such as a little snack or a little handful of groceries. This limit may be set between 6 to 15 (on average), depending on the store. Cashiers will probably look down at customers who have more than the limit and try to use the express lane to get out quicker.
"How to Practice Supermarket Checkout Etiquette," WikiHow, Last edited: August 26, 2010ABC News aired a 2009 exposé on "Cutting the Express Lane" though I am thus far unable to locate it online. But enough critical authority already. Marjo, you asked whether it's okay to skirt the system. Based on the above responses, grocers appear to be reasonable about it, as they must figure we police ourselves. Then again, there are those such as the above bloggers that abhor anything over 10 or 12 items. Again, I think it's subjective and just depends on store conditions. Clearly you will raise the ire of fellow shoppers if you merrily stroll up with a brimming basket of goods. Unless the express cashier sees you with a full cart and motions you over anyway, it's probably best to wait your turn in the regular lanes.Also, here are some tips on finding your way to the parking lot faster:- Look for manned open lanes that may be empty. Remember that many express lanes are really automated self-checkout kiosks, which may amass long lines all their own. Seems silly to get behind a dozen other people when there may be an open cashier just down yonder.
- Skip the supermarket altogether. Yes, I too belong to a warehouse club like any red-blooded, God-fearing capitalist but no way will I get in and out of a CostCo in under an hour if I just want a jar of pickles. It tends to be a tad costly, but convenience stores, pharmacies and even gas stations are great for grabbing and going. I did this the other day with school supplies for my daughter, realizing I'd neglected to buy her 3" x 5" index cards for her first-grade class. That was a very specific item on her teacher's recommended list and I knew I could get them cheaper from an office supply chain, but that meant a farther drive. Sometimes bucking up and paying the extra buck is worth avoiding the hassle and may even out cost-wise when you consider the price of gas these days.
- Shop once a year. Sounds crazy, but in the fantasy world I live in, I would rent a 24-foot truck and go crazy at CostCo in a single day. Buy everything by the pallet. They might even let you drive a forklift. It also helps to have a big basement and an icebox the size of a Volkswagen. As for perishables, settle on the one grocer that works for you and take advantage of the end caps at the front of the store. They typically keep thinks like milk, eggs, breads and juices right by the front entrance. See, they're thinking of you, Marjo!
Of course, if you're anything like my wife, you bake your own bread, keep a well-stocked pantry and take advantage of free online shipping. And get into gardening if you aren't already a green thumb. It's surprisingly easy, rewarding and you never feel guilty about leaving your coupons on the kitchen counter when you pick tomatoes out back.I hope this helps, Marjo. Thanks for the idea for this post; it was a good one. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, and if you do find yourself in need of fresh pineapple juice before the 5 o'clock rush, I hope you feel more prepared. Better yet, buy an island in the tropics. Then you'll never run out of fresh pineapples. -
Dino Baskovic's Posterous
Corporate shirt. PR flack. Web guy. Blogger. Beverage enthusiast. Hubby. Daddy. Diggity. Giggity.
