Mistake proves propitious for Merlot Marketing.  Initially awarded three silver and three gold Addy’s for design, photography, promotions and self promotion, we later found out that one of our ’silvers’ was actually a gold and we had won another silver they forgot to include in the program or announce during the event.  In any case, we’re pretty excited, especially for our clients who we owe great thanks for giving us the opportunity to work on their business.  Here’s a listing of our awards:

GOLD:

Merlot Marketing Christmas Card (a green approach to Christmas)

Everpure Water Bottle Display

Statistics showcase the need for water filtration!

Susan G. Komen Poster

Everpure Exubera Brochure

SILVER:

Everpure Aqua Party

Bug! Realty Photography

Bug! Real Estate Photo Shoot in San Francisco

Thermique Photography

Photo for an ad campaign

At this year’s Addy Awards show, Merlot Marketing brought home six Addys: three gold and three silver awards.  However, most exciting was Merlot Marketing’s own, Brenda Granucci, being awarded the AAF’s Media Person of the Year!

I am so incredibly proud of the Merlot team for these honors.  It takes hardwork, passion and creativity to win - all of which exemplifies this team.  Here are just a few of them…

This is only a portion of the team, but all deserve a congratulations. And Robert, I won't even ask what you're doing...

After researching, planning and placing millions in media on behalf of our clients, I nominated Brenda for Media Person of the Year - and she won!  The award is well-deserved because her passion and enthusiasm for our clients’ business is second to none. She has negotiated literally millions in savings for our clients and has great relationships with the media.  What can I say?  It’s a well-deserved award… CONGRATULATIONS!

Brenda accepting her award!

Here are a few more images from the evening:

LtoR: Debi Hammond, President/CEO; Brenda Granucci, Account Supervisor (Media Person of the Year!)

LtoR: Julie, PR AE & Brad Dore, AE

Barbie in front of her real-life Malibu Dream House

Mattel’s PR stunts continue to garner press coverage.  I can’t say it’s always the best press coverage (i.e. her divorce from Ken), but this one was pretty good.  To celebrate Barbie’s 50th birthday, Mattel commissioned interior decorator Jonathan Adler to deck out a real-life 3,500-square-foot mini-mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean to look like the very blond and skinny doll’s outrageously pink dream home.

Every major magazine publisher in the shelter category and beyond create dream houses to promote advertiser’s products and increase press coverage for their respective magazines, so why not a toy maker?  It’s the parent’s attention you need to grab, right? They are the ones pulling out the credit card for their little one’s Barbie Dream (Play) House.

So, by creating something ‘real,’ Mattel was able to tap into additional press opportunities by partnering with Alder who is probably best known as head judge on Bravo’s “Top Design” and  “Project Runway’s” contestant Chris March, who designed a $200,000 chandelier that hangs in the living room.

I think Mattel was smart to focus on her home rather than her.  Especially since many mothers know that at 50 (or any age for that matter), you’re simply not that long, lean, tan or taut…

Barbie Dream House Living Room Okay, this is 'my' dream closet. Just look at those shoes...

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Southwest Airlines has received mixed reviews for its recent promotion of Sports Illustrated’s 2009 Swimsuit issue. 

The Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 features Sports Illustrated cover girl Bar Refaeli in a, hold on to your hat, ‘bikini!’ And yes, this has caused controversy.   The Sacramento Bee noted that some passengers complained that they are being forced to board an aircraft plastered with soft porn.  I think that is a bit dramatic, but did enjoy this comment from one woman who was quoted in the article: ”Many women do not enjoy having their husbands exposed to explicit pictures…”

Really? You don’t want your husband to see that? I wonder if she lets him read the Sunday JC Penny ads which include models wearing nothing more than bras and panties; literally!  I have to give kudos to Southwest for being the fun-loving, daring and ‘most on-time’ little airline that we all have grown to love. 

I also appreciate the fact that Southwest Airlines neither cowards or folds under this fake controversy.  Folio reported that a Southwest spokesperson said about a quarter of the response it has received about the promotion so far has been negative. “As with anything that’s different and unique, you do hear from some people who disagree,” the spokesperson said. “We wanted to make sure it was in good taste before we put it up on the aircraft.”

And isn’t that the truth.  Our job as marketers is to be different and unique.  And in being different and unique one is bound to garner the attention of those with far too much time on their hands and those who well, obviously don’t look so hot in a bikini (or Speedo).  So, great job to Sports Illustrated and Southwest Airlines for a marketing promotion that is, well, working. 

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And for those of you who are not faithful US Weekly readers, Bar Refaeli is an Israeli supermodel, currently dating actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Just so you know…