Category: Marketing & Advertising

Leno, Vergara Loooove Dulce de Leche…. Gordon Ramsay Thinks it Tastes Like S**t

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In case you missed it, Colombian (nor Columbian) bombshell Sofía Vergara went to Jay Leno this week, apparently to talk about Modern Family, but ultimately to pitch Alpina’s Dulce de Leche, which by the way Chef Gordon Ramsay thought tasted like “shit.”

In a public statement, Carlos Ramírez, a spokesman for the U.S. subsidiary of Alpina said: “We were pleased that Sofia Vergara chose Alpina’s Dulce de Leche and we are very happy that Jay Leno liked it.”

Perhaps, what Mr. Ramírez really, really wanted to say was: “We couldn’t care less that Chef Ramsay didn’t like it. What do British people know about food, anyway?”

‘People en Español’ Ready to Unveil HEAT. Meanwhile, I’ll Keep Working on my MEAT

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Yeah, I wear a Mariachi hat every time I cook, which is like never

You might not know this, but last week, People en Español released its annual Hispanic Opinion Tracker (HOT) Study, which revealed some insights on “the changing role of Latina women in the U.S.”

This blogger attended such an important event (and ensuing cocktail, of course) to personally attest to the growing power of Latinos and Latinas everywhere -even at the Time Life Building, where most of the security and catering were done by our people… But I digress: In addition to presenting the study’s findings, People en Español also announced the upcoming launch of HEAT (Hispanic Ethnicity Attachment Tracker) which the magazine hopes will “help measure the effectiveness of a brand in reaching their demographic, based on Latinas’ attachments -or non-attachments- to their ‘Hispanic Ethnicity.'”

This is, like, cool, I think… Alas, I’m very busy these days trying to figure out my MEAT (or Mexican Ethnicity Attachment Tracker) to really get serious about my HEAT.

But don’t you people worry! I’ll be working on it and keep you posted.

Justin Timberlake’s Approach to Tequila Not Quite What You’d Expect From a 40-Percent Alcohol Spirit

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I’m not sure you care, but turns out the overrated multi-talented Justin Timberlake is the CEO and founder of some concoction known as 901 Tequila, which may or may not be the real thing.

So…. to show us that Agave-based drinks are not only good, but can be classy -and sexy- at the same time, Timberlake directed the following spot, which -according to Creativity–  seeks to “position the brand as the more distinguished choice of its agave brethren.”

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Call me old-fashioned, but when I think “tequila” I tend to think of other types of situations, which are not necessarily classy or distinguished but certainly more real.

To wit:

Paulina Rubio & Mom Get Milk Moustache. Someone [And This Blogger] Ruins the Surprise

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La Chica Dorada (aka Paulina Rubio) and her fabulous mom, Susana Dosamantes, are scheduled to appear on the next Got Milk campaign, out August 3rd.

However, a Paulina Rubio fan site spoiled the surprise for everybody and -of course- this blogger wanted to second the spoil. Here they are. Enjoy them. Or not. Whatever.

Wait… isn’t she supposed to be preggers?

Young Director Calls Her Abuela an Idiot, Shoots Her in NY Latino Film Festival Promotional Clip

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So much for the Waka-Waka controversy. The latest thing that -apparently- has many Latino really pissed off is New York’s Latino Film Festival’s promotional video (click on the photo below to watch), which shows a young girl as the director of what appears to be a Latino film directing her grandmother from behind the camera.

According to some angry Latinos, this promotional video “bears little to no relevance to Latino viewers.” I guess because most of us wouldn’t call our abuela an idiot and then go on kill her.

Quite frankly, I am not at all offended by the Latinoness or lack of thereof of the promo… But go on, judge for yourself and rejoice in one more thing to be angry about.

(Click on the photo to watch the video)

MAC-Rodarte Juárez-Inspired Makeup Line Not Such a Good Idea Anymore

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It was just a matter of time.

The not-so-brilliant founders of MAC and Rodarte today issued statements of apology for their cosmetics’ unfortunate choice of name. Among the Mexico-inspired cosmetics line ready to be launched, they created a series of blushes, lip glosses, eyeshadows and nail polish in shades of “factory,” “Juarez,” “Ghost town,” “del Norte,” and “quinceañera.”

You either have to be a moron, or a complete tofu-brain as my friend says, to come up with that. But either way, you can read both companies’ one-graph apologies here:

What is next? The Mexico City-inspired “kidnapper tote bag” or the “drive-by shooting pumps”?

South Africa, South America, Same Difference…

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A picture circulating the Internet shows a screen shot of Chicago TV’s channel WGN-9 during a broadcast of the recent World Cup in South Africa, featuring a map of South America labeled “South Africa.”

I have not been able to find the actual broadcast, but a comments page on Chicago’s News at Nine still shows some viewer’s comments regarding the blunder.

Upon reading about this geographic mistake, I could not help but wonder: in its tireless search for Osama Bin Laden, are Americans looking in the right continent? [I mean, I’m just asking…]

Hat tip: LatinVision

Veggie Latina Pitches Alternative to National Hot Dog Month, Wears Chili Pepper Bikini

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You might be busy celebrating National Hot Dog Month (July) but Latina stunner Vida Guerra opted for making a veggie statement.

The model this week was spotted handing veggie hot-dogs in Washington, D.C. wearing -what else?- a chili-pepper string bikini.

This blogger, of course, has decided to support the cause, but my followers will have to wait a bit… [I am working on my guajillo bikini, which should take a while to put together. If that doesn’t work, I will dig up my pasilla one-piece and be done with the whole thing.]

Dominican Bodega Owner Knows Mexicans Dress Weirdly, Lurk Around ATM’s

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New York City’s Hamilton Heights, the cradle of the Hispanic lettuce, is also home to “Superior Market,” a Dominican-owned bodega that now caters to an increasingly Mexican clientele.

Not only they offer Mexican produce, but they seem to know that hat-wearing Mexicans with pants à la Michael Jackson tend to lurk around the ATM machine.

Photo: Laura Martínez

It’s Tough Being a Cop in Arizona

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One of the few good things about Arizona’s SB1070 (besides opening a world of business opportunities to this blogger) is that it has proven to be very good for the creative minds. On the heels of Zubi Advertising’s Gringo Mask, comes this year’s winner of the Círculo Creativo’s Not So Young Creatives contest.

Thanks to this piece, Flor Leibaschoff and Matías Sada, of Dallas-based Dieste, are now on their way to Cannes, where I am sure they will not be asked for their documents… [given they don’t look like Algerian immigrants, that is.]

Mexico’s National Soccer Team Might Not Score Goals, But they Know How to Make a Good Sandwich

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It is only eight days before Mexico faces South Africa in the first match of this year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. So, the folks from the Mexican national soccer team are busy making, well, Bimbo sandwiches… which is not at all bad, because they could be drinking and smoking…

Oh, wait, they are doing that, too!

oh, and one more thing: since when is a sandwich ‘el alimento ideal’?

Marketing to Hispanics Takes One Smart Tagline

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We can talk forever about “cultural insights” and “smart” marketing strategies, but the organizers of this Latin single’s event in Queens, NY do know how to write one catchy tagline.

“Venga frío y salga caliente” has got to be, like, the most attractive, appealing and convincing branding slogan, ever. [So much so, I wouldn’t even know how to translate it]

So, stop reading! What are waiting for? If you live in the New York City area, free on June 3rd and feel like leaving a party venue feeling positively horny, make sure to check out this Latin Single’s Hot Fiesta.

Hat tip: LatinVision

Zubi Gets Cold Feet About the ‘Gringo Mask’

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Remember the Gringo Mask?, Zubi Advertising’s provocative –yet hilarious- idea to protest against Arizona’s SB1070 immigration law?

Well, turns out it is no longer out there.

Apparently, yielding to criticisms by some gringos who didn’t like Zubi using the word gringo to describe gringos, the agency this week pulled it off the Web, replacing it with an explanation of what the mask intended –and didn’t intended to do.

Gone with the Gringo Mask was the dedicated Facebook fan page and previous URL’s linking to the Gringo Mask on Zubi’s own blog

I think Zubi doesn’t care what I think… but I think it shouldn’t have yielded to the pressure. The mask was not only funny; it was one of the very first attempts I’ve seen from a Hispanic ad shop trying to push the envelope and make a strong –yet witty- statement about one issue that touches the nerve of the very market they are supposed to serve (immigrants, specifically U.S. Hispanics).

Only the ignorant would take offense: the mask was a comical tool to show that we (non-gringos) know very well that “gringos” come in all shapes and colors. And no, I do not think the word “gringo” is a racial slur.

I don’t know you, but I was among the lucky ones who managed to download my gringo mask. You never know when you’re going to need it!