• Simpsons Marketing, Part 2

    Posted on July 26th, 2007 by and currently 4 commenting.

    Simpsons Movie Logo.JPGOn July 2, Spike wrote about some of the fictional brands from the Simpsons showing up in specially outfitted 7-11s (now Kwik-E-Mart’s). There has been so much additional Simpsons marketing this week, I had to post an update with some of my favorites.

    • C. Montgomery Burns has taken over the blog of JetBlue’s David Neeleman. As you might imagine, they have dramatically different views about the importance of customer service. Definitely not the flashiest part of the campaign, but especially funny for those of us who really do read corporate blogs.
    • Burger King has launched a huge group of TV ads that lead to their Simpsonize Me microsite that allows you to upload your own image and transform yourself into a Springfield resident (disclaimer – I had some technical problems with this this morning). Depending on how far you click, you will enter virtual Springfield. Good times.
    • Appealing to a completely different target market, Simpsons characters hit the Paris fashion shows and were “snapped” for the pages of Harper’s Bazaar.

    And my favorite, though simple, touch? Last night, the superimposed FOX logo in the bottom right of the screen during such hit shows as “So you think you can Dance?” (not that I will admit to watching that, mind you) replaced the “O” of their logo with the pink Simpson-world donut also featured in the movie logo I’ve inserted here. Subtle and fun. Now, we’ll get to see how this elaborate marketing web pays off (or doesn’t) in this weekend’s opening numbers.

  • http://stevedragoo.typepad.com Steve Dragoo

    Enjoyed the post today! Perhaps the Simpson’s Movie – coupled with a relaxing trip to some exotic locale (Springfield perhaps?)will help fill the Potter-shaped “hole in your soul”.

    I can relate to the mix of feelings–as my daughter (soon entering her senior year in college)and I have lived with and loved Rowling’s characters since they were first introduced.

  • http://www.fizzcorp.com Ted Wright

    VeeDub –

    Wander on over to http://fizzcorp.com/blog/ for our take on The Simpson’s Movie WOMM as well as fav Simpson’s moments we love. Don’t forget to add your own.

  • http://www.pinkertonsouth.com david benardo

    For months now we’ve had a life-size 3-D sculpture kind of thing at our theater of all the characters sitting on their orange couch. Pretty cool, you can sit next to and have your picture taken with your cell phone. db

  • http://www.brainsonfire.com FI Chris

    When I was in LA last week, I had an opportunity to go to a Kwik-E-Mart. While I’ll admit it was a clever marketing ploy, the execution left a bit to be desired.

    They did in fact have several product tie-ins from the Simpsons TV show; there were Squishees, Buzz cola, and those iconic doughnuts with pink frosting and sprinkles (although no Duff beer, I was sad to see). However, the quality of these items was severely lacking. The doughnuts looked like they were several days old straight off the truck; not particularly appetizing. I actually got a Squishee, but didn’t take more than two sips of it. It was vile (think Robitussin smoothie). I didn’t even bother with the Buzz (though I did notice that they offered a Coca-Cola Classic Squishee, but no Buzz Squishee).

    I understand that they were trying to attract potential viewers with this 7-11 transformation. But what does it say about their message when the changes are all superficial? When the quality of their tie-ins doesn’t live up to the novelty that they exist in the first place? When people leave feeling disillusioned and disappointed rather than Fascinated, Inspired, Rewarded, or Engaged? When their brilliant scheme has exactly the opposite effect they intended?