hot off the press

Hot diggity, it's nearly ready.  I'm launching my new cartoon book in a couple weeks, and just received a few advance copies.  As you can see, my 5 year old was particularly excited by her choice in bedtime reading.

I set aside a signed advance copy to the reader who can write the funniest one-liner ending to this sentence:

"This one time, at Brand Camp, I ... "

Think about a true marketing-related example from your experience in brand team or agency life that shows how bizarre marketing can sometimes be.

Just post your answer as a comment to this blog post by August 20th, and I'll send a signed book to the best response.

I already sent out a few advance copies to some nice bloggers who will be writing about the book as part of the upcoming Post2Post Virtual Book Tour. Here's the full tour schedule.  Email me if you'd like to blog about it too, and I'll post you a copy.

Mon, Aug 25th: Marketing Fresh Peel by Chris Wilson
Tue, Aug 26th: Church of the Customer Blog by Jackie Huba & Ben McConnell
Wed, Aug 27th: Brand Autopsy by John Moore
Thu, Aug 28th: Digital Roam blog by Dan Roam
Fri, Aug 29th: Seth's Blog by Seth Godin

Comments

[louise]

This one time, at Brand Camp, I drank a shot of our new toilet bowl cleaner to show a journalist how non-toxic it was

[Angela]

This one time at brand camp, I convinced our CEO that our green chicken was no longer a health hazard, nor a marketing challenge, but now a unique selling point.

[Mike]

This one time at band camp, I didn't shower for 3 weeks to prove that my soap really does help you Stay Fresh™.

The WOM campaign never really took off though. :\

[Stephen Macklin]

This one tine at brand camp, I worked on an ad campaign making changes and tweaks and doing new versions for over a year before finally releasing an ad that differed only slightly from a first round concept that no one liked.

[Gus]

This one time at brand camp, we gave the client the creative exactly as they asked for it.

LOL

[Don Carli]

This one time at Brand Camp, I told the client what I really think.

[Don Carli]

This one time at Brand Camp we hired a creative director with a degree in theoretical physics and an account person that could say no.

[William Mount]

This one time, at Brand Camp, when my creative director was asked point blank by the Exec. VP of Marketing for a big snack foods account which of two campaigns he recommended, he responded, "I'm firmly committed to riding the fence."

48 hours later, I was the creative director on that account.

[mariana quiroga]

This one time, at Brand Camp, when the agency was stuck on a creative rut, i gave them an idea and told them the did not need to use it - and they didn't. Two years later, I saw the same on TV - they had pitched to my successor on the brand!

[mariana quiroga]

This one time, at Brand Camp, I could not believe I was paid to choose the toy inside the cereal box. I had become my childhood hero.

[Dan Huse]

This one time, at Brand Camp, I suddenly found myself questioning my self worth when I realized that the most steady and predictable growth in virtually every grocery category has been accomplished by the brand that violates every tenet in the holy grail of brand marketing. The brand? Private label.

[Su-May]

This one time, at Brand Camp, I had to repositioned myself after realising not many knew Singapore well. I was questioned if I could speak and write English well. Have I developed proposals before and if my ideas were practical in the UK or European markets.

I reminded them that David Beckham was in Singapore to win the bid for London to host Olympics 2012. Somehow, that stopped their doubts on me since.

[Tom Fishburne]

Hi all,

Really great submissions from everyone! Thanks for sharing your stories. It was a tough call because there was a lot of creativity, but I picked Mariana. I'm posting a signed copy from London tomorrow. Enjoy!

The book is launching officially on September 1st. Knock on wood.

-Tom