Marketing - in your words. The Official TU-AMA Blog.

When a letter like this slips through corporate there’s a problem but when it comes from the head of marketing I am quite scared. According to OK Magazine, Kentucky Fried Chicken Chief Marketing Officer James O’Reilly wrote this letter to R&B recording artist Rihanna in response to her spotting in a Miami-area KFC with fellow R&B singer Chris Brown (which she is rumored to be dating). I could barely get through this letter without laughing at its ridiculousness.

It reads:

“Dear Rihanna:
We were very excited by your and Chris Brown’s recent visit to a Miami-area KFC restaurant.
Clearly, like Kentucky Fried Chicken and our founder Colonel Sanders, you two know how to kick it up a few degrees. And, Rihanna, that’s a secret recipe worth sharing with the world.

We could feel the heat – literally – in our restaurant that night … so much so that we’d like to invite you and Chris back to any KFC for a free meal including the Colonel’s Hot Wings. Whether lunch or dinner, home or on the road, our doors are always open to you. Think of it as a personal way to send an SOS whenever you crave a little Original Recipe.

Like you, KFC is dedicated to supporting charity causes. If you and Chris are again photographed making KFC a “hot” date-night spot, we’ll make a donation to your charity, BELIEVE, which helps underprivileged children.
Hearing about your fondness for KFC was music to our ears. Please don’t stop making KFC your favorite mealtime choice.
Good luck to you and we hope to see you again soon with or without an Umbrella.”

Future marketing professionals, there is a better way garnering partnerships or should I say a more appropriate way. According to OK Magazine, R&B singer/ performer Beyonce was given a lifetime of free meals at Popeye’s Chicken restaurants when she mentioned how much she loved the food during an interview on Oprah Winfrey’s talk show. In this case, it makes logical sense to offer such a deal. She’s a well-know, self-claimed advocate of the brand. But to write a letter thanking a celebrity for “kicking it up few degrees” with his/ her public display of affection fest, which by chance happened in KFC…well, let’s just say you might want to check yourself. With antics like this, it appears as though there may be openings in marketing at KFC. Lol!

Hey Gang!

Not necessarily marketing-related news or an internship update but I wanted to share a Healthy Reflection with you that I receive via email from a site called SparkPeople.com. The passage totally captures my state of mind right now as I took the last final of my undergraduate college career yesterday. I know there will be many tests ahead as I enter my career but it’s the most amazing feeling to accomplish one major chapter of my life. Hopefully, the passage inspires you.
It reads:

Don’t put off living the life you want

There is no lesson for today. You have permission to stop thinking for a moment and just enjoy yourself. Stop looking at your computer right now and go look at the world. Rediscover the natural wonders that you walk past every day. How can there possibly be that many shades of green? Let your mind be grateful for a break. Don’t think, don’t strain. Let the memories of loved ones remind you of your favorite times. Close your eyes and try to smell the sunshine. Listen to your heart beat in your ears. If it’s raining, smile at the thought of the flowers that will soon follow. If you’re surrounded by buildings, celebrate the creative genius of human beings. See the hope, the alarm, the love, the grief in faces that stream by. Thank whomever you’d like to thank for the chance to even be here. For a moment today, don’t worry about being better. Just be.

Woo! That’s all I have been saying since Monday. By May 2nd I would’ve attended the last class of my college career. It’s a bittersweet moment but I ready to take on the life of a working professional. I’ll be pushing prescriptions (I mean providing physicians with health care solutions) in a matter of two months as pharmaceutical sales rep for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

BUT…before I go on with this post. My apologies! I know I slacked a bit (maybe a lot) on giving you the inside scoop on working as an intern at Tierney Communications, a cool and dynamic ad agency in Center City . My final semester kicked my butt.  Yet, I know the past four years have shaped me into the woman I want to be–wildly sophisticated and utterly successful. With that said, I am back, and with graduation 22 days away, I will still be a TU-AMA thinker! You’re going to need someone to tell you how all of these (now abstract) marketing concepts play out in the real world. No worries, I am here!

To start, I did get an email from a reader! Sorry for not delivering prompt feedback but to answer the question: What is it really like to work at Tierney (i.e. people, work environment, atmosphere, etc.)?

It’s fun! It’s the only internship I’ve had where I could wear jeans at least two days out of the week. Employees really are recognized and awarded for their contributions. Co-workers across departments learn and know your name. There’s a company softball team (let’s not talk about its record). You can decorate your work space. Every Friday at 4:00 p.m. the media department kicks off the weekend with a mini 5-minute cubicle party (Don’t ask). There’s always the occasional office party to build esprit de corps (a word every strategist should know). The coffee machine isn’t bad and on any random day, there’s free food–typically caesar salads, sandwiches and fruit. And most important, the agency is filled with professionals who have extensive and amazing backgrounds and experience in media, creative design, strategic planning, marketing and advertising.

Even as my internship experience winds down, there is still so much that I am learning as an intern. I’ve been able to sit in on staff meetings, complete competitive analysis for clients, interact face-to-face with clients and watch Tierney employees participate in a marketing strategy case competition. I can say I’ve learned the most from this internship opportunity.

With that said, if there is one thing you should do RIGHT NOW to add value to your entire college career (and degree) : GET AN INTERNSHIP!!!

Click here to check out an article about next week’s guest company, Target.

Everyone always uses the cliche example of how Colgate means ‘Kill Yourself’ or something like that in Spanish to illustrate global marketing snafus. Well - ha - it’s not always Americans who mess things up. Check out the following web site for Japanese company, Titty & Co!

Check out this article on the Top 10 Websites Among College Students on eMarketer.com.  I am not surprised of the top four websites among females.  Anyone that knows me knows that I live and breathe for Facebook, Youtube, Google and of course the Queen of Media’s website, Perez Hilton!

http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?id=1005972

Greetings fellow Thinkers!

The much-anticipated, long-awaited (at least for me) first ‘Lunch Special’ feature (brought to by your “Agency Insider Pass”–me) is coming next week. Yeah, I know, all that build-up for a minor let down. But, as discussed in my previous post, part of becoming an agency insider (and taking full advantage of an internship experience) is getting to know the people around you. And it’s more than just knowing their name or where they sit. It’s about taking time to build relationships because its the individuals, just a door or cubicle away from you, who have the industry experience and know-how to help guide your career.

With that said, “Lunch Special” is an occasional special feature that gives you a taste of who’ who and who knows what at Tierney Communications (where I am an account management intern). The section will recap my lunchtime conversations with various advertising professional across departments in order to give you insight on wonderful world (I love alliteration!) of advertising.

Next week’s feature: Josh Torrisi, an account director at Tierney Communications

The Chestnut Hill, PA native has worked for three different New York City-based ad agency powerhouses, including Bates Worldwide (responsible for classic tagline: “M&M’s melt in your mouth, not in your hand”) and McCann World Group. Over a platter of pippin’ hot Buffalo wings at Good Dog Bar & Restaurant in Center City, we talked about the beginnings of Josh’s career in advertising, working for a big agency vs. a small agency, and the role of account managers, including common misconceptions about them.

Tune in next week, Thinkers!!!

Your Think tank,

Malaika

Check out this new web browser - based on Mozilla - that integrates your social networking sites. Although I’m not a member of Facebook (long story), I think the browser is particularly sexy and has some potential. Try it out.

http://www.flock.com

Check out the following link.

I kicked off the new year under the banner: “Elevate in ‘08.” Meaning that this year is all about strengthening the areas of weakness in my professional and personal life as well as sustaining and building upon my strengths. It’s about taking my life and career to the next level.

To start, I’ve scored a semester-long internship at Tierney Communications as an account management intern (that’s one slash mark on the strengthening my professional side.Yes!). But the new gig will also be your opportunity to see the daily inter-workings of one of Philadelphia’s largest full-service marketing and advertising agencies. You’re thinking, how? Easy…you’ll come with me (virtually, that is) because what’s the point of moving to the next level if you can’t take some people with you. Remember that success is shared!

So, for the next four months, we’ll both become ad agency insiders. I will serve as your all-access pass, sharing quirky work stories, recapping lunch dates with advertising professionals, and giving you an overall better picture of what it is like to transition into a professional career in advertising and marketing. As we venture together, please leave comments or questions that you have for the pros.

So, come with me behind the velvet rope of the advertising industry.

Your fellow Thinker,

Malaika