Thursday 29 January 2009

How are corporate branding and the weather related?

Corporate branding and the weather are related by location. After a hike across the width of campus and back again in the pouring rain with only a mildly effective rain coat I was shivering and soaked to the bone. Thank goodness Wits has a 'gift shop' on campus displaying an array of items all branded with our logo and mascot and in varying shades of varsity colours. While the range extends from pens to crystal glasses, I was most interested in the dry clothing on sale today. Two-hundred rand, a quick change later and I'm fully branded a Witsie now. Hey at least I'm dry and warm again and there's no prospect of campus perambulations this afternoon, even though the weather is unlikely to clear until the weekend.

As an aside I had a momentary thought about the power of corporate branding, while using a free branded pen that was less than completely useful. Surely most corporates would spend a little more money and get Bic-like efficiency from branded merchandise intended for freebie give-aways. The longer it lasts the more impactful your brand. Well I bet the marketers would make that intellectual leap.

Thursday 22 January 2009

Partial eclipse of the sun

If you live in SA remember to look out for partial eclipse of the sun on Monday morning (26th January) between 7:10 and 9:30am. Western Cape viewers can expect an almost 60% eclipse. Get yourself a pair eclipse viewers, to block out heat, light and UV rays, and support the JHB Planetarium in the International Year of Astronomy.

Get your viewers here:
* in street sales only (while stocks last) (with eclipse / International Year of Astronomy poster) of the following newspapers:
- The Star and the Pretoria News - 20th, 23rd, 24th Jan
- Cape Argus - 23rd Jan
- Daily News (KZN) - 20th Jan
- Diamond Fields Advertiser (Bloemfontein / Kimberley) - 20th Jan
Thanks to DST & Independent Newspapers for the above!!

* at BP filling stations around the country (while stocks last) (one per customer)
Huge thanks to BP, who bought 150,000 viewers for this!

* from a couple of retailers:
- Experilab, Canal Walk Shopping Centre, Cape Town
- National Museum, Bloemfontein
- Digital Experience, Fourways Crossing, Jhb
- Park Meadow Optometrists, Park Meadow Centre, Kensington Jhb
- Jhb Planetarium, Yale Rd off Empire, Wits University Campus
Contact details for the above are at www.planetarium.co.za