One of our account coordinators mentioned in passing that her friend was looking at Disney Princess bridal gowns. What? Being a former Princess junky as a child and the sucker that I am for a beautiful wedding dress, I just had to see this, myself. I thought, how corny they must be. Who wants a Belle or Cinderella replica dress for their wedding. Only those weirdo Disney freaks. But to my surprise, the dresses were not overtly theatrical. They were “inspired” by the various princesses, but pretty and normal in and of themselves.

http://www.disneybridal.com/bridalgowns.html

This is a perfect example of stretching a brand to target a new segment of demographic, while keeping true to the brand’s core values and mission — Making females (of any age) feel like a princess.

Just for a little perspective, I thought I would share one of my favorite things about the internet. People who love to design, but might never get the chance to design what they really love, now have an arena to put their work out there. Not for money, because no one is paying them. Not for fame, because hardly anyone is looking for them. And certainly not for awards, because there is no award for best Pinterest board, Facebook album or etsy site…not yet.

So in the spirit of the award season, I present my winners for best movie poster design that no one ever asked for…but still deserves to be seen…enjoy.

Pinterest’s traffic more than quadrupled between Q3 and Q4 2011, bringing in 7.5 million unique visitors in December.  With this influx of new pinners comes a significant increase in the amount of traffic sent to retailers’ websites.  According to recent reports, among social networks, Pinterest is the fifth largest driver of referral traffic.

This post from Mashable has a cool infographic with stats about Pinterest and tips for how companies can use it to their best advantage – check it out.

And if you’ve ever got an extra mason jar lying around, I’ll gladly show you how to make it into a soap dispenser, a chandelier or a terrarium.

With hundreds of thousands of products on display, there was definitely a buzz around the following:

1. Ultrabooks — thin and light laptop computers, expected to challenge Apple’s Macbook Air. What’s more, Intel expects more than 75 new ultrabook designs this year.
2. OLED TVs use organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and are amazingly thin with impressive color depths and are priced (as of now) around $5,000.
3. Smartphones – and not just any smartphones – models with touch screens, and the market is flush with options from almost every mobile phone manufacturer.
4. Connectivity – not really a specific product – but there was definitely buzz around all the internet-connected devices hitting the market, including camcorders that stream digital videos directly to Facebook and also MSI’s own client, LiftMaster, who unveiled their new generation of garage door openers with MyQ Technology.

These new garage door openers with MyQ Technology use a patented, two-way communication technology that allows homeowners to connect to and control the garage door opener, gate operators, and home lights from anywhere in the world using their Internet-enabled mobile phone or computer.  Equipped with a fully integrated Battery Back-up system, these LiftMaster openers continue to operate the garage door even during a power outage, ensuring reliable, uninterrupted access to the home and garage. LiftMaster offers a free downloadable app any mobile marketplace.

Since these products were so unique to the show floor, the media took notice. Check out all the great media coverage for LiftMaster’s new line of garage door openers with MyQ Technology at CES 2012.’

PR Highlights

CNN/HLN TV Coverage

NY1  TV Coverage

The Bangels Still Rockin It

Just last Monday, I had the opportunity to see my childhood idols, The Bangles, live in concert at the House of Blues. Joining me in this experience were two of my best friends growing up, Sarah and Tammy.

Now you have to understand, The Bangles held some pretty high importance in my little world. It was also the first concert I attended around 11 years old at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Indiana. (Yes, I am surprised they played there too.) My best friends had also attended this show back in the 80’s, they with their moms, and me with mine.

When we were in grade school, whenever there was a talent show, we would obviously have to be the Bangles. I was Susanna Hoffs, probably because I had the darkest hair.

Then later in high school, I started playing guitar and became influenced by other female musicians like Tori Amos, Sheryl Crow, Liz Phair and Veruca Salt. But to me, the Bangles would always be #1 because of the bond my friends and I shared over their music.

It had been discussed for quite some time whenever the girls got together that we’d love to see The Bangles live again, to see what had changed (and what hadn’t) after all these years.

Then, I came across an email in my inbox about a month or two ago soliciting help with promoting the show in Chicago in exchange for free tickets. I jumped at the chance, albeit a bit eagerly, and emailed the street team leader back, expressing my love for the band and how I’d been wanting to see them again, and wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity?

To my surprise, the label responded and sent me some flyers.

When it came time for the show, we got a really good spot on the main floor and settled in while listening to the opening act. Before it was even time for The Bangles to start, the girls came out and danced a bit on stage with the opening band (whose name escapes me). I could not believe how good they looked after all these years. I didn’t even recognize them at first!

All in all, it was a really good show and definitely brought back memories. They played all the usual hits, “Manic Monday,” “Eternal Flame,” and of course, “Walk Like an Egyptian.” While the lineup has changed just slightly (different bass player now), it was obvious that the Bangles still knew how to rock.

Jedi Kittens Strike Back

Thanks to YouTube and other media sharing websites people with  obscure hobbies and interests can connect and share easily. This phenomenon can be seen in this fascinating dramatization involving both cats and Star Wars. These topics separately would not pique my interests in the least; however, when their “forces” (har har har) are combined it results in some pretty entertaining footage.

So here is my official “Thank you” to YouTube for brightening Tuesday afternoons all over the world.

Check out what those smart British folks have incorporated into their grocery carts — iPad-enabled shopping carts designed for viewing live sports. A partnership between Sainsbury’s and Sky is allowing shoppers to watch key sports events using iPad-enabled shopping carts with iPod docks with speakers.

It’s genius! When can these come over the pond to the U.S.? If we had these at my local Jewel, my husband would happily go grocery shopping every week. Of course…it would probably take him hours since he wouldn’t want to miss anything and perhaps he would break into the chips as he peruses the aisles, but I’m ok with that.

Whenever I get sick, this is the first thing that pops into my head. It’s from a tv show I saw when I was a kid. It was The Mary Tyler Moore show and it was my favorite and I adored her.

My blog entry is due today, and I am writing it from my kitchen table…because I am sick. What I want to be doing is laying on the couch, drinking Fresca, flipping between home improvement shows and reruns of Mary Tyler Moore, while I dip in and out of a nyquil coma. So, why don’t I do that? Because I have a job and I have kids. Kids don’t care that I am sick because they still need to have breakfast, complain about the lunch I packed and get to school by 8:30. I do get a “sorry you’re sick, mom”, but really, they’re just hoping I am so tired I don’t notice the extra treats they are sneaking into their lunch. I noticed.

On the job front, I am lucky. I work for a company that really does work around individual situations. Even though I’m sick, unless I am unconscious, I can still do some work from home. And I do, because my sick days really are not for me, they are for everyone else who’s sickness I cannot control. I can will myself to sit up, drink some tea and start blocking out a brochure cover. When my child is crying because drinking juice hurts, there is not much I can do but call the pediatrician who will tell me just to make him comfortable and wait.

So, outside of some grumbling and complaining, where am I going with this? I don’t know, I’m sick. What I do know is that a sick day ain’t what it used to be. I used to sit around watching tv and drinking from a bendy straw and it was actually kind of relaxing and even a little bit of a respite. When Mary Tyler Moore got sick it was funny and charming made me feel better, so I’m going to indulge in a little of that today.

And if I start feeling too sorry for myself, I’ll just remember the wise words of Mrs. Morgenstern…”There are millions of children in europe who would be thrilled sit around a have the flu in a gorgeous room like this.”

Enjoy.

Mary Tyler Moore Show:  Put On a Happy Face via Hulu

Over the last 34 years, GSP offered integrated advertising services as well as photography and video production to clients such as Sears, MB Financial Bank, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Follett Corporation. 

In addition to increasing our bench strength with new professionals from GSP’s staff, the acquisition brings additional capabilities, including a sizable photo and video studio. 

We welcome our new team members and look forward to the future successes of our combined efforts!

To learn more about GSP, visit www.gspmarketing.com.

Since our own Dave Weiner has been MSI’s fearless leader since opening up shop in 1961, we started wondering about other area companies that share a similar story… After doing some research, we found that there are quite a few Chicagoland companies that have been owned and operated by one person or family for 50+ years – so we figured we’d celebrate their success along with ours while we’re at it!

Enter the “50 Over 50” Celebration – an idea that we dreamed up earlier this year that’s now becoming a reality.  As the name suggests, we’re selecting 50 independently owned and operated companies that have been in business for more than 50 years.

We’re visiting with the owners of these companies to learn about their rich histories, hear their craziest stories from the past five decades and get their secrets to success.  Then we’re taking their inspiring stories and putting them in print, along with photos of their work in action, with a coffee table book dedicated to the “50 Over 50” honorees.  We’re also creating a website that showcases each of the companies involved. 

In addition to receiving a complimentary copy of the book, each participant will also be invited to toast to our collective 2,500 years in business at a cocktail event later this year.

So far, we’ve lined up an impressive roster of companies across a broad range of industries.  To date, our “50 Over 50” participants include the following:

1. Manny’s Deli 
2. Lou Mitchell’s
3. Garrett’s Popcorn
4. Butch McGuires
5. Elkay Manufacturing
6. La-Co Markal
7. Fishman Fabrics
8. Billy Goat Tavern
9. Superdawg
10. Dinkel’s Bakery
11. The Talbott Hotel
12. National Van Lines
13. Laystrom Manufacturing
14. Anderson Lock Company
15. Club Lago
16. Marshall Thompson and the Chi-Lites
17. Bill Brown Sales
18. Iwan Ries Tobacco
19. Central Camera
20. Leona’s Restaurant
21. Baird & Warner Real Estate
22. The House of Glunz
23. Tucker Company Jewelers
24. American Fluorescent
25. Sally Ann Corset Shop
26. H. Horwitz Jewelers
27. Paulina Meat Market
28. Bergoff
29. Italian Village
30. Archie’s Bar
31. Swanson’s Blossom Shop
32. W.S. Darley
33. The Bagel
34. MSI (of course!)

And the list continues to grow every day!  If you have a suggestion for a company we should consider for the “50 Over 50” celebration, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 50fifty@msinet.com.

You can also learn more about it here – http://www.msinet.com/50fifty/.

Stay tuned for more updates as we toast Chicago’s thriving independently owned and operated companies!