nVerse

Batter Blaster

it’s as easy to ‘apply’ as cheez whiz on a cracker, or whip cream on a slice of pie.

And it’s organic.

Really, it is infomercialtastic, but, it really is delicious and makes pancakes so much more accessible.  not that making pancakes from scratch is all that hard…making pancakes from a can is just _that _easy!

seriously, it rules.

Great packaging, great product, great viral marketing.

Whatsup With the Old-Timey Naming?

You’ve got to admit that ConAgra, the fine makers of Crunch ‘n Munch and fiddle faddle,  does have a way with words…It’s as if an octogenarian is running their product naming.

Other ConAgra products include:

ACT II
ALEXIA
ANDY CAPP’S
BANQUET
BANQUET BROWN ‘N SERVE
BLUE BONNET
CRUNCH ‘N MUNCH
DENNISON’S
FIDDLE FADDLE
FLEISCHMANN’S
GULDEN’S
JIFFY POP
LA CHOY
LIBBY’S
MANWICH
PARKAY
PATIO
PENROSE
PETER PAN
POPPYCOCK
RANCH STYLE
RO*TEL
ROSARITA
SNACK PACK
SWISS MISS
VAN CAMP’S
WESSON
WOLF
ahh the manwich - it’s not just a sandwich, it’s a sandwich for a MAN!

“Banquet Brown ‘n Serve” just sounds wrong in so many ways…

Disturbingly Descriptive Name for Teas

These herbal teas are “Herbal Stimulant Laxative” teas…you know, to get things moving.

I don’t know which one is more appealing, the image conjuring, “Chocolate Smooth Move” or “Get Regular.”

[source: the Ginger Midget]

Merry Corporate Christmas!

The holiday time is upon us.  It is a time for strange behaviors, Seasonal Affective Disorders, and deep discount retail-sales.  It is a time for cheesy NBC holiday specials brought to you Live! from Times Square! and egg nog and yule logs, and all that qrap.  But it is also a time when you see businesses shucking weird things…things that make you wonder if the folks running marketing are high on some really euphoria-inducing drugs that make dumb ideas seem brilliant or if they are indeed brilliant marketing gurus - so brilliant, in fact, that their corny tactics seem dumb to us mere consumer mortals, but really are, eh, em, brilliant schemes of brilliance.  Take for example, this Christmas tree ornament that you can buy at any Peets coffee shop for $4.95:

Why in the world would i want to have a mini-coffee cup, emblazoned with the Peet’s logo hanging on my tree? Why??? and why would i pay $5 bucks for it?

Seriously, they should be giving this away to us every time we buy two or more egg nog or pumpkin spice lattes, as a special holiday thank you that also serves as free advertising for them.

I don’t get it.  But perhaps, there is some other deviousness at work here.  Perhaps, this is exactly what they want me to think.  Perhaps i am doing exactly what they thought i would do.  For example, maybe the plan is to make it seem so asinine that i take notice- and i remember that they were charging $5 for this dumb little corporate logo emblazoned ornamental mug.  Then, next year, when i get it free with an order of two or more egg nog or pumpkin spice lattes (limit one gift per visit, promotion not offered in AK, HI, or NV) i will be overly thrilled!  what value!  how generous!  i remember these from last year! OMG, i actually have one.  I am going to go hang it on my tree right away!  Huzzah! this TRULY is a merry christmas!!!

Right?  that has to be it.  Or maybe they were planning to give these away, but are so hurting for cash in this economy that they are forced to try and squeeze a couple bucks out of everything they can.

Black Jack Tacos from Taco Bell

Fast food product packaging, IMHO, is fascinating…like that of the McDLT and the 7 eleven Big Nachos with Free cheese.  So you can imagine how floored i was when i saw commercials for the Black Jack taco from Taco Bell…Where the brilliant marketing geniuses at Taco Bell decided to let the food itself be the packaging.  Brilliant.  Really.  No, no…i am being serious.  My guess is that this will be a very popular Taco Bell menu item, similar to the McDonald’s shamrock shake and McRib sandwich which make their appearances only on special occasions, and when they do….look out!

“I’ll have the supersized #5 Value meal…and ooh!  throw in a McRib too!”

Mark my words, the 89 cent Black Jack taco is the next Shamrock Shake.

For only 89 cents you can get 210 calories and 17 grams served up in a blackened taco shell…