Cool Marketing Thoughts » Fun http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:54:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Marketing Interview And Such http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/02/08/marketing-interview/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/02/08/marketing-interview/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:15:24 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2008/02/08/marketing-interview/ There’s a super cool site I tend to visit a few times a week, just to browse through their archive and laugh myself silly with their hilarious geek jokes. The site’s called XKCD, and they publish a new toon every few days. If you’re not on track with this one, you’re missing out on some great fun!

Marketing Interview
Online Package Tracking
90s Flow Chart

This is just a tiny selection of their 300+ archive, and all I can say is: you’ve just got to go check it out… so many memories and ‘aha-erlebnis’ moments.

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/02/08/marketing-interview/feed/ 2 1 Unfortunate Logo http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/02/08/1-unfortunate-logo/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/02/08/1-unfortunate-logo/#comments Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:41:24 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2008/02/08/1-unfortunate-logo/ A few months ago I did a post about 8 unfortunate company logos. Recently I came across another logo that really could fit in well with the others. I’m not really sure it’s in Spanish, because I can’t really translate it, but the pic has been sent to me by a friend who found it on the web. Since it’s travelling around, I thought I’d post it here. Thing is, when it comes to picking the right company name, please make sure the abbreviation is not ambiguous in other languages. Chances are if a company like this depends on tourists to survive, I don’t think it will be quite as popular :)

S.H.I.T.

Thanks, Kristof

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/02/08/1-unfortunate-logo/feed/ 7 Fun With Food http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/01/27/fun-with-food/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/01/27/fun-with-food/#comments Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:02:42 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2008/01/27/fun-with-food/ If spend quite some time with my little hero the last couple of weeks, and to be honest I’m always amazed how fast they learn. One thing that’s proven to be a really funny time of the day is dinner (or lunch or breakfast, for that matter). I remember that when I was young, my mom always used to make plane noises as she moved the little spoon or fork in the general direction of my mouth. A tactic I’ve been using too to entertain while doing the necessary thing. Very recently, Arnoud sent me a picture of a really neat gadget that could be of great assistance, but I haven’t been able to locate the online store that sells it, so to compensate, I’ve made paper wings and attached it to the plastic spoon I’ve been using to feed that little devil. Anyways, I just wanted to show the original idea that inspired me to create my own:

Fork Plane

Like I said above, it’s easy to make some things like this yourself with two paper wings and a little bit of tape, but when I ever come across this one, I’ll buy it for sure.

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/01/27/fun-with-food/feed/ 2 Nostalgic Deluxe Talkboy http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/01/08/nostalgic-deluxe-talkboy/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/01/08/nostalgic-deluxe-talkboy/#comments Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:00:03 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2008/01/08/nostalgic-deluxe-talkboy/ Mmm. This one made me think about the old days. Where is the time when kids didn’t need a PS3 with 60 games to entertain theirselves? Where is the time when audio cassettes still did the trick? Observe the various implementations of this deluxe device Tiger once released, and think back to the endless days of super-spy-fun you once had. Fun for hours, unlimited rewind/rewrite functions… OMG. I feel sooooo old when I see this stuff flash by again. I think the clip is from 1995, but it seems almost like it’s from the 80s. Waaaaay back in the days.

Video: Tiger Deluxe TalkBoy

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2008/01/08/nostalgic-deluxe-talkboy/feed/ 1 Japanize Yourself http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/12/06/japanize-yourself/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/12/06/japanize-yourself/#comments Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:10:37 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/12/06/japanize-yourself/ A fun thing (it’s been aaaages since I posted one of these) to kill some time: what would your name be if it was ‘Japanized’ :)

Thanks for the pointer, Ben

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/12/06/japanize-yourself/feed/ 7 Tie The Tie http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/14/tie-the-tie/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/14/tie-the-tie/#comments Wed, 14 Nov 2007 12:47:47 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/11/14/tie-the-tie/ One of the cooler things to wear is a nice suit with a tie. But unfortunately, the art of tie-tieing is not a given to all men… ask around in the girly part of your circle of friends. Many of those will have to help out their hubbies or boyfriends. Although I do find that a sexy idea (it has something ‘mothering’ which is soooo cute), a real man should be able to get this done on his own. A simple search on youTube for ‘how to tie a tie’ yields 92 million results, all with one simple flaw…every one uses a male model (usually an old dude or a web geek) to do the instructing. While this approach may be perfectly functional, its just not all that fun. SexyTie.com has taken it to the next level. Beautiful women are the stars of these tasteful instructional videos. What better way for the young guys to learn how to be a man than from a totally hot actress? Ties are hotter than ever before… Some Tie company or fashion label should endorse this. :-)

SexyTie.com | How To Tie A Tie | The Full Windsor Knot.

More fun at SexyTie.com

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/14/tie-the-tie/feed/ 3 Hummer http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/13/hummer/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/13/hummer/#comments Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:07:58 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/11/13/hummer/ Arnaud sent in this grassroots anti Hummer campaign that’s being sent around on the innerwebs. It’s quite funny, because in some cases it’s true. Contra-branding, a nice hobby for the modern hippies. Let’s see if there are any others alike. Feel free to send in your goodies.

Hummer

Thanks, Arns :)

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/13/hummer/feed/ 11 Problem: Milk Moustache http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/01/problem-milk-moustache/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/01/problem-milk-moustache/#comments Thu, 01 Nov 2007 11:23:53 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/11/01/problem-milk-moustache/ Let me picture it for you. You’re between the age of 4 and 12 (16 for some). You had to shove in your breakfast because things had to move fast. You drank too fast and now you have a milk moustache. You pick up your things and you’re ready to go and then you hear your mom calling: “hey, hold on a sec”. She sees the milk moustache, licks her thumb and starts cleaning with some spit… And then you’re off. This could also very well be the case for instance for a little stain of toothpaste on your shirt and dozens of other examples. Eventually your mom stops doing these things. You move out. And now what ? Well: here’s what:

Momspit

Momspit (inspired by the original) is the universal no-rinse cleanser. It’s not a sanitizer and does not contain any alcohol. In fact, it’s gentle enough to use on your face. Momspit foams for easy application, eliminates dirt and grime, and leaves skin moisturized and yummy smelling. It’s the perfect thing to throw in your purse, place on your desk, or keep in your car. To use: Apply a small amount on hands or face and rub in completely. No rinse needed.

Order yours today!
Via Crafty Hope

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/11/01/problem-milk-moustache/feed/ 0 The Last Day At Work http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/30/the-last-day-at-work/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/30/the-last-day-at-work/#comments Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:08:24 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/10/31/the-last-day-at-work/ So, you’ve decided you hate your job and want to explore new roads. Somewhere out there is that perfect job, the one you’ve dreamt of for all these years. Maybe you already have a new job in sight. Just one tiny detail left: making sure they let you go fast. You need to get out of that old company without further ado. So. Here’s one way to do it: proceed to your average normal lunchroom/company restaurant. Sit down with your colleagues, and make it a lunch to remember. :-)

Thanks, Dave

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/30/the-last-day-at-work/feed/ 3 8 Unfortunate Logos http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/27/8-unfortunate-logos/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/27/8-unfortunate-logos/#comments Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:27:00 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/10/27/8-unfortunate-logos/ Arnaud sent me some logos of companies from around the world. Big deal, you’d say. I think these ones are ’special’. Either the designer was really pissed off and wanted to screw over the customer, or the sales rep is a very very good storyteller and convinced the client they would really work. I’m still undecided but I don’t think that any sane person would ever agree upon having his/her business being represented by an unfortunate logo as the ones below. What do you think?

Funny Logos 1

1. Institute for Oriental languages

Funny Logos 2

2. Kids furniture and clothing store

Funny Logos 3

3. Italian fashion brand

Funny Logos 4

4. A pediatric center

Funny Logos 5

5. Dental clinic

Funny Logos 6

6. Drugstore specialized in back injuries

Funny Logos 7

7. Hot-Dog Boutique

Funny Logos 8

8. PC repair store

Thanks, Arns

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/27/8-unfortunate-logos/feed/ 94 How To Deal With Telemarketers http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/19/how-to-deal-with-telemarketers-2/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/19/how-to-deal-with-telemarketers-2/#comments Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:57:42 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/10/19/how-to-deal-with-telemarketers-2/ Excuse me Mr., sorry to be taking some of your time but I really have some important questions/unique proposals [select appropriate] for you… How many times have you heard a phone conversation start like this, making you wish you never answered the phone in the first place??? Too many times. Now we need to unite and fight back. Today I’ll post two tips for you to try at home. Good luck, and please hold.

Part 2: A Taste Of Their Own Medicine

How To Deal With Telemarketers 2

Produced by Peter John Ross from SonnyBoo

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/19/how-to-deal-with-telemarketers-2/feed/ 4 How To Deal With Telemarketers http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/19/how-to-deal-with-telemarketers/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/19/how-to-deal-with-telemarketers/#comments Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:44:37 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/10/19/how-to-deal-with-telemarketers/ Excuse me Mr., sorry to be taking some of your time but I really have some important questions/unique proposals [select appropriate] for you… How many times have you heard a phone conversation start like this, making you wish you never answered the phone in the first place??? Too many times. Now we need to unite and fight back. Today I’ll post two tips for you to try at home. Good luck, and please hold.

Part 1: Flirting

How To Deal With Telemarketers 1

Produced by Peter John Ross from Sonnyboo

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/10/19/how-to-deal-with-telemarketers/feed/ 1 The Cialis Pitch http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/06/08/the-cialis-pitch/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/06/08/the-cialis-pitch/#comments Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:15:19 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/06/08/the-cialis-pitch/ Of all the spam email and spam comments I’ve received so far, I have to say Cialis is one of the most frequent products I can get for a serious discount and with 100% certain results. Obviously, the spam is going straight to the recycle bin, and I’m apparently not the only one who recycles these announcements. National Banana, for example, a creative studio and new online comedy network, came up with the one thing this product has never had. An online commercial that applauds the benefits of this wonder drug. Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., a must see.

:) video link

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/06/08/the-cialis-pitch/feed/ 2 Scratch Yourself http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/05/14/scratch-yourself/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/05/14/scratch-yourself/#comments Mon, 14 May 2007 13:14:45 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/05/14/scratch-yourself/ Pretty cool stuff coming up: here’s a fun way to spread your love to your friends and relatives. Instead of sending them those boring images of the lastest family gig in attachment, why not make it interactive and add a chance to win some money at the same time? ScratchYourself is a Flash application that lets users upload an image and build a lottery-style scratch card from it. Once a scratch card has been created, users can email it to friends or embed it on their site. Users could create and embed these on their blogs, MySpace page, etc. The only downside is that the card has a 550 px width and it’s just a little bit too wide to fit in the template.

Product Details:

  • Scratch card creators can email their scratch card link to other people or use a code snippet provided to embed the scratch card on their Web site.
  • Scratchers move their mouse over the scratch area to reveal the message underneath.
  • Every day, Scratchyourself chooses two winning times. The first person to scratch after each winning time wins an Instant Prize of US$10, and the scratch card creator wins a Bonus Instant Prize of US$10. Scratchers may reveal a message entering them into a Daily Draw for US$50. Users can scratch multiple times to win an Instant Prize but can only enter the Daily Draw once per scratch card per day.
  • Winners can choose to be paid via PayPal, check or Amazon gift certificate.
  • The current Scratchyourself promotion runs until June 7, 2007. Scratchyourself intends to run a second promotion from June 8, 2007, with bigger prizes.

Example (unscaled version – click here) :

The setup is very easy. First you provide the name of the ticket (the blueprint stamp you see before you scratch) – Next you upload an image (300k limit) and write the caption (text in the bottom left corner), then you pick a color panel and then you login or register for free, to send it off. (took me 20 seconds). Simple, cool and very nifty.

Get your own at: Scratch Yourself

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/05/14/scratch-yourself/feed/ 3 A House Or Champagne 2 http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/21/a-house-or-champagne-2/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/21/a-house-or-champagne-2/#comments Sat, 21 Apr 2007 09:59:48 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/04/21/a-house-or-champagne-2/ UPDATE 21st of April, 10.59 am: Hilarious !!!

While Jan is working for BBDO and Johan from LG&F made the spoof (and Michael from Duval Guillaume E sent it to me), now the guys over at TheseDays came up with their spoof, and they turned the spot into a commercial for Spotter.be / Any other agencies want to give it a go?

There’s a lucky guy named Jan. He works at an ad agency and has a beautiful wife and family. They live in a wonderful house and they’ve been having the time of their lives there. But.. the time has come to move on and now they’re selling the house… on YouTube. However, Jan’s ‘neighbors’ have noticed the clip on YouTube and decided to post their response… and now the bet is: if the response has more views than the original, Jan will buy bubbly wine for ‘the neighbors’. Other than that, it’s pretty cool to use YouTube to sell your house, but instead of showing just the house and the rooms and all that you add a story to it, you make the material thing come alive. And that’s so awesome.

Jan's House

See the original clip here, but please make sure you see the spoof twice, so Jan has to share the booze ;-)

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/21/a-house-or-champagne-2/feed/ 1 King Of The World http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/20/king-of-the-world/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/20/king-of-the-world/#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:33:06 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/04/20/king-of-the-world/ You have to admit that Russian people have a great sense of humor. If there’s one thing that made me laugh today, hehe, then it’s this remake of the Titanic. An absolutely funny party gadget that will make the kids happy. King of the woooooooorld :-) Boy oh boy, I think I’d even try this myself too :-)

Titanic

Thanks, Arnoud

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/20/king-of-the-world/feed/ 0 A House Or Champagne http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/19/a-house-or-champagne/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/19/a-house-or-champagne/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:25:26 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/04/19/a-house-or-champagne/ There’s a lucky guy named Jan. He works at an ad agency and has a beautiful wife and family. They live in a wonderful house and they’ve been having the time of their lives there. But.. the time has come to move on and now they’re selling the house… on YouTube. However, Jan’s ‘neighbors’ have noticed the clip on YouTube and decided to post their response… and now the bet is: if the response has more views than the original, Jan will buy bubbly wine for ‘the neighbors’. Other than that, it’s pretty cool to use YouTube to sell your house, but instead of showing just the house and the rooms and all that you add a story to it, you make the material thing come alive. And that’s so awesome.

Jan's House

See the original clip here, but please make sure you see the spoof twice, so Jan has to share the booze ;-)

UPDATE: Hilarious !!!

While Jan is working for BBDO and Johan from LG&F made the spoof (and Michael from Duval Guillaume E sent it to me), now the guys over at TheseDays came up with their spoof, and they turned the spot into a commercial for Spotter.be / Any other agencies want to give it a go?

]]> http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/19/a-house-or-champagne/feed/ 2 Roxorloops http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/04/roxorloops/ http://www.coolmarketingthoughts.com/2007/04/04/roxorloops/#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:23:12 +0000 Miel Van Opstal http://blog.coolz0r.com/2007/04/04/roxorloops/ I know the concept of beatboxing is pretty old already and I can’t remember having seen any commercials or advertising with a serious beatboxer in it… but honestly, Roxorloops is da bomb. If you can endorse this guy for a funky brand… you have an entire community within reach. And if you endorse him right without abusing the concept for some cheap stunt I can assure you there’s a hit commercial ready to be born. Other than that, I’m pretty sure that this guy can be a headliner in just about any cool event that targets youngsters. And yeah, I was just looking for a reason to post these kick-ass clips. Still… there’s got to be something you can do with this.

Video Link: one & two

Thanks, Arnaud!

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