After failed attempts at fad diets or reeling from information overload – consumers are looking for a comprehensive approach to healthy living – even if that means eating less meat. While the U.S. vegetarian population is small, more consumers are rethinking their meat consumption and opting for a “flexitarian” lifestyle. They consciously reduce their meat intake, while still occasionally enjoy protein. According to an Allrecipies.com user study, more than 1/3 of home cooks reported eating less meat compared to a year ago. While most people report that they are cutting back on protein for health reasons, saving money, environmental protection, and animal cruelty are also listed as top concerns. Continue reading →
While romance is alive and well in 2012, die-hard romantics are finding healthier ways than ever before to express their love this Valentine’s Day. Among the top three expected trends this Valentine’s Day among consumers pursuing a healthy lifestyle are:
The Couple that Cooks Together … Stays Together.
As part of the trend toward giving shared, memorable experiences over material gifts, couples cooking classes continue to surge in popularity. Williams-Sonoma, Sur la Table and other retailers continue to increase their complementary and paid class offerings, as do mobile culinary event companies like Parties That Cook®, which is increasingly targeting couples. Classes that stress organic and all-natural ingredients, aphrodisiacs and other niche foods or preparations are especially popular. A bigger trend is also at play this year: the recession-generated desire to bestow something lasting, in this case health and knowledge, versus just giving a fleeting thrill. Continue reading →
Year after year post-Super Bowl conversations around the water cooler focus on the commercials–which ads made everyone roar with laughter, and which elicited the sound of crickets. The meteoric rise of social media usage in recent years has only added to the chatter by allowing these conversations to flourish online and allowing viewers to voice their opinions–providing advertisers instant feedback.
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It’s not that easy for us to stop bragging about our client Thermador’s huge media splash in the wake of unveiling its Freedom Induction Cooktop at CES. But we’re not the only ones excited about the press coverage.
Trade, tech and consumer media went crazy for Thermador’s latest innovation, which will change everything about the way technology is used in the kitchen. But when digital tech expert Mario Armstrong elbowed his way to the Freedom Induction Cooktop CES display in Las Vegas he immediately wanted to be the one to introduce it to the airwaves.
And of course, we were happy to help him do it.
Wednesday morning on NBC’s Today Show, Armstrong took host Matt Lauer through some of the highlights from CES — and guess which particular highlight led the show off?
Toshiba Helping the Helpers Technology Makeover is the latest corporate social responsibility campaign from Irvine, Calif.-based Toshiba America Business Solutions, an independent operating company of Toshiba Corp. The campaign’s home base is Toshiba’s Toshiba for Good Facebook page, which DGWB Advertising & Communications is proud to help operate.
DGWB currently is reaching out to nonprofit organizations, as well as members of the national and business-to-business media, to spread the word regarding Helping the Helpers. And it’s a worthwhile one, at that: This nationwide contest will award a $100,000 technology makeover to one deserving grand prize winner and $28,500 in Toshiba technology to four other finalists.
Not only is this a terrific opportunity, it’s very simple for worthy charities to take part in. Nonprofit organizations of all sizes are encouraged to put together a brief video (no longer than 2 minutes in duration) describing their mission, goals and how they would benefit from a Technology Makeover. These videos don’t need to be fancy, either. Nonprofits can use whatever they’ve got on hand to create them, even a cell phone. Continue reading →
What a week it’s been for our client Thermador. The luxury kitchen appliance pioneer that introduced the world to so many amazing innovations has done it again. Actually, they’ve outdone themselves this time—and it was our pleasure to help get the word out. This week Thermador unveiled its Freedom Induction Cooktop at the CES Unveiled media event in Las Vegas.
First, a quick 101 on what induction is: it’s a technology that, unlike gas cooking, utilizes a magnetic field generated by alternating electronic current to efficiently produce heat directly onto the actual cookware, instead of transferring heat from gas flames to the cookware. Continue reading →
Earlier this year, Mattel endured a synchronized attack from Facebook users and activists when Greenpeace USA coordinated efforts to inform consumers about the rainforest deforestation that Mattel’s packaging supplier, Asia Pulp and Paper - contributes to. As part of the theatrics, Greenpeace created a video that had Ken breaking up with barbie over her use of paper sourced from rainforests. The video went viral and the story went global. The attack, including videos, theatrical window dressings, and an assault on Barbie’s Facebook page, Mattel was forced to reevaluate their sustainability standards. Social media gives consumers and organizations the platform to openly support their favorite brands, but with that they are also given the power to openly protest against brands. Companies taking conscious steps to be transparent give back are rewarded with accolades and new business, while companies behaving badly are scorned in online communities like Facebook and Twitter.
While the Mattel incident is an extreme example, companies are still looking for ways to proactively evaluate their triple bottom line, by making changes to both their internal operations and through corporate social responsibility campaigns. For the first time in 23 years, Pepsi skipped advertising during the Super Bowl and opted for a CSR campaign in 2010. We recently launched Toshiba’s Helping the Helpers contest to help non-profit organizations, and realized that not all Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaigns are created equally. Here’s our take on some notable CSR campaigns of 2011. Continue reading →
Image courtesy of Google Images
This holiday season brought many commercials that were worth watching. Campaigns like Macy’s “A Million Reasons to Believe,” are tied to philanthropic causes. Others such as Best Buy’s “Game On, Santa” are cleverly witty. Particular campaigns, like the Old Spice “Manta Claus” campaign, could only be seen online.
The advertising spots that were chosen for this year’s DGWB Holiday Favorites go beyond retail, getting consumers into the holiday spirit by striking an emotional chord. Peter Daboll, CEO of Ace Metrix, believes there’s much more to advertising than the “shop here, Continue reading →
Two shopping malls in the United States have suspended plans to use FootPath, a new technology system that tracks consumer movements through their personal cell phones, after questions of privacy issues were raised by U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.
Photo courtesy CIO.com
This new technology was planned to run in two Forest City malls, one in California (The Promenade in Temecula) and the other in Virginia during this holiday season. Signs posted at each location reported that the mall was conducting an “anonymous mobile phone survey,” which began on Black Friday. Concerns for privacy issues were then raised and both malls temporarily suspended plans for the run. Continue reading →
By fusing a striking use of visual effects with powerful messaging, DGWB Advertising & Communications creative professionals recently delivered what they believe to be one of the most impactful and personally fulfilling messages since the firm opened its doors in 1988. And they did it all with 100-percent donated resources.
In an inspiring showcase of DGWB’s creative talent — not to mention the pulling together of numerous community resources — we helped produce a pair of public service announcements (PSA) to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Taller San Jose, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping troubled local youths living in Santa Ana, Calif., where our DGWB office is located. Continue reading →
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After failed attempts at fad diets or reeling from information overload – consumers are looking for a comprehensive approach to healthy living – even if that means eating less meat. While the U.S. vegetarian population is small, more consumers are rethinking their meat consumption and opting for a “flexitarian” lifestyle. They consciously reduce their meat intake, while still occasionally enjoy protein. According to an Allrecipies.com user study, more than 1/3 of home cooks reported eating less meat compared to a year ago. While most people report that they are cutting back on protein for health reasons, saving money, environmental protection, and animal cruelty are also listed as top concerns. Continue reading 
