My sister bought me the book (thanks Tein) and I visited the site: Stuff on my Cat.

Cute kitties aside, the story behind the phenomenon is interesting. Mario Garza started the site in July 2005 because he liked putting stuff on his cat and decided to share his photos online. It took off! Millions of visitors, with many of them submitting photos of their cats, and write-ups …

When a company has successfully built up a strong brand, it is understandable that they would want to leverage that brand with new products through line extension. Logical, but not necessarily a good idea. Especially when (a) the brand has little recognition in a foreign market, (b) the brand as a word or phrase means something totally different from the product.

I stumbled across a …

We use marketing and PR to influence how people perceive us. We create profiles and elevator speeches. Knowing how people perceive you is always interesting. That’s why we seek out feedback on our marketing material.

It is useful to know how you come across to people; but such insights should not be relied upon as absolute gauges to base your actions upon. You cannot count on marketing and PR …

Walking off a packed train into this gushing forest of brown liquid is not good! Snapped at Sydney Central station. The same imagery is also available for your enjoyment at other quality locations city-wide.

Is this the first time a Coke ad showed the actual product? As opposed to showing desirable and “valid” people in the throes of enjoying life, with the product…

Saw this ad in a catalogue:
Colour laser printer, 22ppm mono and 5ppm colour. 32Mb RAM, 17s to first page, 600×600 dpi, network ready, USB, parallel.

4 new toner cartridges = $954
New printer (including 4 cartridges) = $799
Difference = $155

Hey, I may as well buy 2 printers instead of a printer and a spare set of cartridges. That way, I have a spare printer the cat can use! And when …

Why is it that we are told our food must be 100% natural and totally organic; while at the same time, the goop we put on our faces must be clinically tested, 100% synthetic and totally “scientific”?

This was yummy! But note the all-negative key selling points: No cholesterol, dairy free, no additives, vegan (no meat), wheat free, no preservatives.

“If two smart, savvy people can’t have an interesting conversation about your product, you haven’t done your marketing.” See the cartoon at gapingvoid.

This was an actual line from a cosmetics commercial. Hmmm…
What’s next? “Now with 80% air”?

Spotted on the side of a dirty truck: “Grease Trap Cleansing”. Seriously.

Here’s my contribution: “X is a scientifically formulated cleansing solution for concrete, sandstone and bitumen surfaces; with added organic silica gel that penetrates deeply to nourish the rock particles and restore the original deep shine.”

Maybe I am in the wrong industry…