Category Archives: advertising

Mar24

tang.

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Tang! The space-age drink that’s still a worldwide staple

When you think of Tang – if you think of Tang at all – you probably think of its association with the United States space program in the 1960s. After all, “Tang was chosen for the Gemini astronauts,” as a 1966 ad for the classic orange drink stated. Gemini was NASA’s second human spaceflight mission in the lead-up to the moon landing. The beverage always will be connected to the golden era of midcentury space exploration, but NASA actually did not invent Tang.

Tang orange drink mix is inextricably tied to ’60s space exploration, but the beverage remains popular today. Tang debuted in 1957 as a vitamin C-packed breakfast drink. Its selling point was that the powdered mix was shelf-stable, and it was promoted as a healthier and more convenient alternative to fresh orange juice. (And while it certainly may be more convenient than juicing oranges to order every morning, the first two items on Tang’s ingredient list are sugar and fructose.)

But General Foods, Tang’s original parent company, had contracts with the military for producing rations and other food items, such as instant coffee. Thanks to these connections and the aforementioned shelf-stable, “just add water” capability of Tang, NASA sent the drink mix into space with John Glenn on his famous orbit of Earth in 1962. General Foods’ advertising strategy shifted to capitalize on the popularity of all things outer space, and Tang henceforth became marketed as the astronaut’s drink of choice.

But Tang isn’t just a space age relic. It’s still popular across the globe, from South America to Asia, and produced in a number of flavors – including pineapple, mango, lemon, calamansi and its newest Filipino flavor,  Coco Plus Buko Pandan. Tang is also a popular drink during Ramadan in the Middle East, according to Mondelez International, the food corporation that now owns the brand.

Not only that, but home cooks around the world have been showing their ingenuity by using Tang in dishes that go far beyond a simple stir-it-up breakfast drink. Some of the popular recipes have been: Tang Creamsicle Pie, Frothy Tang-infused milkshake, Orange chicken, Tang Ice Pops, Tang Ice Cream, Friendship Tea, and Tang Beer.

Tang is an enduringly popular ingredient in kitchens around the world. Even after all these years, Tang remains, to quote the vintage ad, “for spacemen and earth families.”

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“whoo, what a day! i’m gonna drink tang all day until i forget it all!”

-jhonen vasquez 

 

 

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Source credits: Casey Barber, CNN, Kraft Foods, General Foods, Monedelez Int., NASA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov3

q and a.

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back in my advertising days

i often had to find answers to odd questions of all kinds

as there was no google then

 when i exhausted all possible avenues

(asking 2 or 3 random people in my office)

i knew there was a place i could go to find someone

who would unfailingly find an answer to my questions

i dialed up the local phone number

of the woman sitting at a desk in the detroit public library

who held the very interesting and important position of

 ‘chief and brilliant question answerer/researcher’

(or some such title as i imagined it to be)

she answered my call

when i asked in all seriousness:

“did gumby (of gumby and pokey fame), have a nose?”

she did not waver or judge and said she would research it and get back to me asap

true to her word she returned my call within the hour with this report:

she could confirm

that gumby did indeed, have a nose

brilliant

client crisis averted

just another moment in her day and i wish this position still existed.

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“i used to think i knew all the answers.

then i thought knew maybe a few of the answers.

now I’m not even sure I understand the questions.

nobody knows anything.”

― pete nelson, american author

Jul4

big red, white, and blue.

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Pabst Blue Ribbon latest offering

ensures plenty of beer to pass round

Last year, Pabst Blue Ribbon offered its gigantic 1776 beer offering. While the powers that be thought that 1776 was just the right number last year, it appears that 2022 has the iconic beer brand going bigger, jumping right to the 1844 pack.

According to Nick Reely, Vice President of Marketing – Pabst Blue Ribbon, this summer’s offering is all about going bigger, basically one upping themselves. “That was really the genesis of the 1844 pack; 68 more beers than our original big box, while also paying homage to our heritage and founding year and trying to lend a hand to our consumers across the country. While that number is brewed in history, not everyone will be able to get their hands on this special offering. Only 250 of the special packs have been made and it’s unclear where they can be purchased.

But, if you do happen to find this, there is a big question to ponder.

Who will you share all the beer with?

happy 4th of july!

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“it’s no big thing, but you make big things out of little things sometimes.”

-robert duvall

 

 

 

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story credit: christine struble, fandom

Jun2

worthless?

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my favorite ads on nextdoor this week:

 

-FREE- round table, terrible condition (see above)

 

-FREE – old milk crate (very dirty)

in good shape except for being really filthy

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(at least i think they are priced fairly)

 

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“advertising is a valuable economic factor because it is the cheapest way of selling goods,

particularly if the goods are worthless.”

-sinclair lewis

Feb13

hunger harness.

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reynolds wrap made a food harness to keep your favorite super bowl snacks close
If you plan to watch the big game today on Super Bowl Sunday, and also anticipate eating your body weight in food while doing so, take a look back at Super Bowl 2019, when the aluminum foil aficionados at Reynolds Wrap had something they wanted to show you. Here was their unique promotional offering:

You can now satiate your appetite without moving a muscle or missing a play, thanks to the Reynolds Wrap Hunger Harness. This $5 “wearable snack pack” has plenty of pockets to hold your appetizers, main course, snacks, and beverage, all while keeping your food nice and toasty. Essentially, it’s a mini kitchen you can wear like a front-facing backpack or a baby carrier, because after all, snacks are precious cargo.

Want to nervously munch on mozzarella sticks and mini bean burritos while you yell at the referee on your TV screen? Just tuck them into the upper thermal pouch in your Hunger Harness and you’re good to go. Want to make sure you have enough tortilla chips to last through the halftime show? There’s a side pocket for that, too—plus an insulated slot for your queso or dip of choice. A built-in food tray rests on your lap and “turns you into a human table,” and there’s also a pouch for a can of your beverage of choice.

The Hunger Harness was sold in waves in limited quantities and is no longer available. Some may be found on other sites, but are now extremely rare. Just get out that old Baby Bjorn and repurpose as needed! Be creative! If you’re thinking of procuring one for yourself, please heed this advice from Reynolds: “Use caution when handling hot food and beverages.” Lovers of lava-hot pizza rolls, you’ve been warned.

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“our inventions mirror our secret wishes.”

-lawrence durrell

 

 

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credits: emily petsko, reynolds

 

Apr23

paper product.

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not sure how this amazon product is educational or robust, 
but i’ll agree it’s unique and not surprised it’s ‘in stock.’
maybe the fact that the frog scored a roll of toilet paper appeals?
Puzzles for Adults Jigsaw Puzzles 1000 Pieces for Adults Kids
– Frog Toilet Golf Educational Jigsaw Modern Home Decor Unique Gift
  • 1. Good quality and robust puzzle pieces – 500 pieces.
  • 2.Puzzle is one of the magical games that never go out of style. Enjoy your free time with family and friends, working together with family or friends to complete a puzzle can not only exercise logic and sensory coordination. But it also gives you the opportunity to develop a closer relationship with others and create a joyful atmosphere. Muscles are also used to increase cognitive skills
  • 3. IDEAL FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN – Perfect for having fun alone or with family and friends. Puzzles are an activity that all ages can enjoy together.
  • 4. FEATURES: Material: paper: Finishing dimensions: approx. 29.53 x 19.69 inches ： Packaging size: 38 x 26 x 5 cm: Package: 1000 puzzle pieces (1 set)
  • 5.PLEASE ATTENTION : DO NOT LEAVE IF YOU INFECT INFANTS. Made with high quality materials and subjected to safety tests.  (what?)
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“there had to be a market in order for you to be successful in a business. 

the market had to need your business, or the product of it.”

-chuck berry