Punk Paperclip

My last post was about my advertising class that I've been enjoying 0h-so-much. I talked about what is referred to as "punk marketing". Basically it's the idea of using new ways to advertise. Advertising to get people talking, not just tolerating a 30 second one-sided conversation. It's the idea that advertising does not have to require a large budget anymore.

This week in my advertising class we were put into groups, we were told to pretend we were an ad firm, and that Acco Paperclips has decided to use our services.

Problem: How does a person advertise a specific brand of paperclips when no one even knows brands, or has brand loyalty, or even cares about something as insignificant and as boring as a paperclip. Oh, and we have no budget.

Believe it or not, I'm pretty excited about this project. This weekend I've been brainstorming different ideas to bring to my group on Tuesday. Here are a few of my ideas:

1. A performance art piece using paperclips. Find volunteers from nearby art schools. Have these across the country, put on YouTube and pray that it goes viral.....because I don't think it would. This isn't a great idea is it? Maybe it just needs more love and development.

2. Acco can hold a competition where people use paperclips to prank someone at their office (film it of course). Upload the film to Acco's facebook page. Winning pranker and prankee are given some sort of insentive...maybe we would have to slide on the "no budget" rule for this one....or give them a lifetime supply of paperclips! Woot Woot!

3. Dump paperclips into those magnetic toy-catching machines. Illegal? Possibly. But hey, this is just a brainstorm!

4. I read somewhere online that during World War II, Norwegians wore paperclips on their collars to demonstrate their opposition to Nazism and anti-Semitism. Maybe Acco could work with this a bit and make it a national day of remembrance? I mean, when in America, do as the Norwegians do! http://www.paperclipcampaign.com/

5. I really wish that the sculptor Oldenburg had created a giant stapler..because if he had, It might be neat to make a giant paperclip net to put over the evil stapler. After thinking about that, I was reminded of Christo and Jean-Claude, the environmental artists. Which led me to my next idea.

6. Create an environment art piece using paperclips. Now, Christo and Jean-Claude would probably hate it because it would be more of a disruption of the environment than an addition to the environment. But hey, think how shiny it would be!

7. Random paperclip fashion shows! (Slightly like the performance art piece) I would be pretty confused if I was out shopping and all of a sudden there were all kinds of weirdos wearing paperclip garments. It would be important for everything to be covered, though...if you know what I mean.

So those are a few of my first-stage ideas. Remember, there is no judging during brainstorm session! Unless you want to judge in favor, and then that's okay. We'll see what my group thinks. I'm also excited about what they've come up with.

Let's Get Down to Business

I've just finished my first week back to school (and by the way, it is my LAST SEMESTER!). My past semesters have been filled with fun art classes where I was able to stretch my creativity, and I did not have to worry about reading assignments, writing papers, or taking tests....Oh the good ole days.

Now I'm just finishing up my minor (marketing) and so my days are filled with business classes. I start my day with Principles of Management, move on to Retail Management, stay in the same classroom for Small Business Management, and then on Tuesday nights I have my Sales Management class. The only class that I feel like I really belong in is my Principles of Advertising class.

I really find advertising interesting since only about 5% of advertising is actually effective. I might be exaggerating...Maybe it's only 1% that is effective. In a world with DVR's, we no longer have to put up with commercials. In a world with so much clutter, how can companies reach their market? It's interesting to think about. My textbook for this class is called "Punk Marketing" (not your average textbook), and the authors point out that old vehicles of advertising are dead. It's time that advertisers engage consumers. Maybe even let consumers apply branding to a product instead of trying to "brandwash" masses of people.

It has definitely given me a lot to think about. I really am looking forward to a whole semester in this class. As for the other classes, I think I will be learning important skills, but I'm not jumping up and down with joy at the thought of being there. But hey, I'm graduating in a couple of months!