Priming

In January I went to a retreat in Quincy, MA for the annual Winter Org Retreat.  There were about 100 RWU student leaders who were there to discuss plans for the upcoming spring semester for their student-run organizations.


I found an example of priming during the weekend at the retreat.  To start our weekend, we participated in many ice-breaker activities because there were many students who we did not know. In order to feel comfortable with each other, we played many getting-to-know-you games.


The exposure to group activities and talking about our personal experiences was good priming to make me feel more cooperative and open in our group settings.  The ice-breaker activities made me more willing to share my thoughts and feel comfortable voicing my opinion.

[kuh-myoo-ni-tee]

On the Roger Williams University campus, I consider myself part of many groups.  However, my favorite group that I participate in is the Inter-Class Council (ICC).  The members of ICC represent the interests of individual classes and voice class concerns to the University Student Senate and Administration.  ICC also plans effective programing appealing to each class that fosters class unity and school spirit.

Our logo for this student run organization showcases school spirit by using our school colors, blue and gold.  Any time that ICC uses advertisements, the logo is incorporated into the design of the flyer/poster/banner to brand its event to make sure everyone knows that the event is by ICC and not another organization.  This logo sets us apart from other six student organizations on campus with its unique design.  This logo is the only one that uses blue and gold, so that makes us stand out more as the "spirit org." 


The ICC logo helps to resolve the tension between individuality and community.  I feel part of the group as a whole, but I also play an important individual role as the Public Relations Chair on the Executive Board.  My individual skills are needed in order for the org's success, but there is a great feeling of family and closeness with each member of the organization.

Alternatively, there is a group that I would love to be a part of once I have my life sorted out and I am looking to buy and decorate my own house: Martha Stewart Living.  I know, I know, I'm such a nerd.  But I love the simplicity of her interior designs and cute arts & crafts tips.  When I am older, I would love to be living in the preppy, perfectionist-mom, suburban lifestyle that you can find flipping through the pages of Martha Stewart Living magazine. 


Both of these logos have characteristics that make their brands community worthy.

The Pretty Good Problem

Great restaurant, great food, great service. 
Overwhelming menu.

My last visit to the Cheesecake Factory was very enjoyable; however, once the waitress handed me a menu, I started to feel stressed out. 

Not only did I want to eat everything listed on the menu, but I felt pressed for time to read all 40 pages.  There was an abundance of options and I found that it was hard to navigate through the menu to find what I wanted most because there was no "purple cow."

In interest of time, I decided to order a simple dish of chicken and pasta.  I was very satisfied with the meal, but I experienced consumer remorse, wishing that I had tried something new.    

Branding

Tito's Handmade Vodka http://titosvodka.com/

Produced in Austin at Texas’ first and oldest legal distillery, Tito's is made in small batches in an old fashioned pot still by Tito Beveridge and distilled six times.  This American handmade vodka developed in the early 1990s.  I thought that Tito's seems like a very country, classic American, summer drink.  The website was aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate.  However, it did not create a brand community culture like Sailor Jerry does.


Sailor Jerry Spiced Navy Rum http://www.sailorjerry.com/rum/

Celebrating 100 years (1911-2011), SJ is a well-known brand designed to honor the legacy of Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins by bringing his artwork to a wider audience.  The brand "espouces his traditional value system, supporting all different walks of creative individuals."  SJ summons feelings of hard work, community and craftsmanship.  Sailor Jerry's has more of a nautical, history-rich feeling, with more of an "idea" attached to the brand.   

OM NOM NOM

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!


Football, friends and food.  What more could you ask for?

To celebrate Super Bowl XLV my friends and I decided to order some pizza from Leo's Ristorante (http://www.leosristoranteri.com/).  Conveniently located in downtown Bristol, Leo's caters to every college student's level of energy by actually delivering right to his or her dorm room!  


How can you go wrong?  Plus, RWU students receive a 5% discount with a valid school ID.  It is safe to say that everyone loved the cheese pizza and we will definitely be ordering more take-out from Leo's ... PS, Paul Mancieri from Leo's loves working with RWU students and often donates to on campus events.  Thank you!!


All we do is win - see theme song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hF5-l7bz64I ... ok so it's not the original, but hey, it's still catchy.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

I found an interesting entry on ADVERBLOG, the interactive marketing and advertising blog that I am following.  The post featured a campaign for Lynx Dry Antiperspirant Deodorant.  Lynx is the UK’s biggest brand in male toiletries, which we can compare to AXE here in the US.  Check out the campaign here http://lynxeffect.com.au/lab/   

 

The campaign features attractive women in sexy clothing tantalizing men as they are researching a solution to “premature perspiration”.  The spokeswoman claims that the new Lynx Dry Full Control promises 24 hour dry, sweet smelling armpits in physical activity or out on a date. 

 

The ad is based off of the notion that men will buy any product with a hot girl or sports attached to it, and this campaign has both.  What guy wouldn’t want to try this new product?  Better yet, when you visit their “research facility” online, you can actually refer a friend who you think needs the product.  By just typing his name, an embarrassing fact, and his occupation, you can send him a personalized video message from a hot British girl telling him to buy Lynx! 

 

Interactive marketing is the way to go to attract consumers, especially of this specific demographic of young males.  Needless to say, sex still sells.    

No Longer Living the Teenage Dream

"Secret Life of the American Teenager"

In recent years it seems as though there has been a surge in teen pregnancy on television and in film.  Each week, people throughout the country tune in to watch “Teen Mom,” “Teen Mom 2,” “Secret Life of the American Teenager,” and “16 & Pregnant.”  Recent cinematography has glorified teen pregnancy in “The Pregnancy Pact,” based off of a true story of high school girls from Gloucester High School, “Juno,” and even “Knocked Up” with an unwed pregnancy.    

All of these situations made me stop and think.  What is going on?  Why is Hollywood glamorizing teen pregnancy?  And can someone please tell me why the actors on ABC Family seem to compete with each other to see who can say “sex,” “condom,” or “the Pill” the most?  Huh??  Why are so many teens getting pregnant and why is America so in love with these shows?    

In “Teen Mom,” each episode documents the girls’ first year of motherhood, showing their struggles with relationships, family, friends, education and trying to raise a family.  One would think that this would discourage girls from having sex from the fear of getting pregnant themselves.  But it actually seems to have the opposite effect.  MTV is turning these poor teen moms into American reality TV stars, and they are often found in celebrity gossip magazines.

Girls of "Teen Mom"

It would console me to hear that with all of these shows, the rate of teen pregnancy is declining.  Unfortunately, after some research, I learned that teen pregnancy is still a huge issue in the United States.  Each year in the US, “almost 750,000 women aged 15-19 become pregnant,” [1].  Even more disheartening, for the first time since the 90s, “the overall US teen pregnancy rate increased in 2006, rising 3%,” [1].  And finally, get this, “ten percent of all US births are to girls aged 19 or younger” [1].  How sickening.     

After each “Teen Mom” episode, a PSA airs announcing that teen pregnancy is 100% preventable and to learn more, simply visit itsyoursexlife.org.  The website gives educates teens about teen pregnancy as well as gives tips on how to prevent pregnancy and how to practice safe sex.  Nearly “3 out of 10 girls in the US get pregnant as teens, most don’t expect it,” [2].  Reading the tips on the site gives advice on how to take charge to one’s sex life. 

Hopefully teens will read up and educate themselves before they become yet another statistic.    

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-ATSRH.html [1]

http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/iysl [2]