It's been a long time...

Since my last post... well, 6 days really... almost a week... and in case you're wondering, we're still awaiting the client's decision, so fingers crossed!

Ron Duque mentioned that we should keep the 'blog going, to keep a running social commentary on the goings on around the office... and what Ron says, I do, so we'll keep posting sporadically, and hopefully you all keep reading, well, sporadically I guess!

Hope everyone's enjoying the weather... go outside if you can!!!!

-A

Memories...

Ah, to be back in NYC... it was only 12 short days ago we embarked on the last part of our journey through this pitch, and we all feel relieved, elated, and excited that we made it through, had a solid meeting, shared some great ideas and strategic thinking, and most importantly, we worked together as one team without the many silos that exist between the offline and online worlds. The clients were engaged, were excited about what we shared, asked us some tough questions, but overall we think they walked away feeling good about what they saw and heard.

On a lighter note, we will all be detoxing our bodies over the next week or so... if you see any of us drinking anything with alcohol, take it away immediately... unless you know someone that can get us three healthy livers... Pappas, you must know a guy who knows a guy, right?

Thanks again to all for the support and great ideas you shared with us throughout the past few weeks... it was a great experience, we did great work, and yes, we had a great time too :)

Cheers,
A&A ( &J)

p.s. - there will be some (non-scandalous) photos posted of the apartment, soon

Fat Tuesday

The entire team is out in beautiful, sunny Hoffman Estates (my home, away from home, away from home) going through some last minute tweaks and run throughs for tomorrow's final presentation to the clients. We're very excited to wow them with some brilliant ideas and collaborative thinking (thanks again to all that contributed), as well as our charm and good looks... well, Alan's charm and my good looks only get us so far... Jeff helps balance us out!

Why is the title of this post Fat Tuesday, you may ask? Because we've eaten so well (and so much!) that collectively, we've gained 100 pounds... yes Francis, I'm off the wagon... but I'm heading to the gym now to sweat out all the booze, meat, booze, chips, sandwiches, booze, pizza, and booze that we've been consuming so I can feel at least somewhat healthy... when we saw fruit the other night at restaurant, Alan asked "What's that?"

Looking forward to posting an update to all tomorrow.... Cheers!

A&A (&J)

Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!

Nothing like working over the weekend (as many of you can probably appreciate). It's a beautiful day in Chicago, and we're hoping to not spend it inside, in its entirety...

Thanks to all for posting, emailing and IM'ing your ideas to us... they're all great and will be making it into the final presentation in one way, shape, or form.

Sadly, I have no scandalous pictures to add to the 'blog (well, not yet), and the most exciting things to happen so far are my cell phone getting stolen at a bar, Jeff devouring the biggest steak I've ever witnessed at a restaurant not marked "for two", and watching Alan get up before 10am on a weekend.

-A&A (& J)

p.s. - Sears/Kenmore should open up a restaurant like this: http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com/

TGIF!

Interaction people! How is NYC? Chicago is lovely, we're taking advantage of the City's natural resources (read: nightlife), having some great and creative sessions with our friends here at Mindshare, and are very much looking forward to kicking ass on Wed., 5/9, day of the final meeting.

Do we need to create a co-branded experience with a broadcast partner, should we be the exclusive retailer of a specific product, is there a celeb personality we should think about being the face/voice of the brand, like Rachel Ray or Giada de Laurentiis for Sears home appliances, do we become the official sponsor of Holiday events for Kmart?

With that said, please think about what big ideas we can add into the mix of what we're presenting, discussing and proposing. Think BIG - partnerships, sponsorships, creation of TV shows or content with magazines or sites... here's an example from Liz of what we'd love to see more of:

Gallo

Opportunity to promote (or develop) a line of wine refrigerators where Gallo has a wine 101 series that could include winemakers, tours of the vineyards, education courses. Gallo has extensive content and assets that would be available to Sears. Gallo brands become wine brands integrated in all sears in store product displays, ads, etc. Could be sweeptakes oriented where winner can tour sonoma, napa and santa barbara wineries (all Gallo). For Gallo, could promote on - going wine club with purchase of refridgerator for 6 months or personal wine tasting lesson from Gina Gallo. Cross promotion in both 15,000 grocery store chains AND sears.

Also, Gallo will be launching a wine with Martha Stewart next year. I know of MS connect to Kmart - not sure what to do with this info - but maybe opportunity to cross pollenate sears idea with kmart (introduce a line of wine entertaining products (wine glasses (gallo partners with Reidel), napkins/table cloths, etc.

Campbell's

Opportunity to connect Campbell's with home kitchen appliances? Every year we do a home remodelling promotion that includes all new appliances. is Kenmore a good fit? It would need to be the highest end products. We partner with HGTV to sponsor Kitchen Week on-air and online, as well as with Better Home and Garden in print/web/broadband.

Please post your ideas to the comment section... if you don't know how to do that, ask someone!

Thx,
A & A (& J)

Love, Alan....

In case you didn't see Alan's post in the comment section:

"I'm here now as well and looking for some big thinking!

Chicago is bright and sunny and the work looks good.

The apartment is pretty cool. Pictures will be posted Friday."

Jeff's Here!

One down, one to go... Jeff got into town late on Tuesday night and since he's on California time, is hungry, at midnight Central Time... I think he's going to 7-11 for a Big Bite and Slurpee

Speaking of the convenience of shopping at a store that has it all, what other great and creative ideas do you guys have for the pitch on Sears or Kmart?!?!?!?!

I miss you all...

-A (&J)

Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town...

What's good for Sinatra is good for me! So I'm here, in the apartment, and it's pretty cool, albeit a little strange as I've been completely spoiled by hotels and their amenities... but seriously, is toilet paper an amenity, or something you leave for guests staying with you, hotel, apartment, treehouse or otherwise... this is why 7-11 (24 hr, mind you!) is an ever thriving business.

The pitch work is going well, we had a fantastic brainstorm session yesterday with some folks over at Mindshare. And thank you to all who have shared their ideas with us as well... we have a lot to fit into a 2 hour presentation next week!

Jeff gets here tonight, Alan tomorrow... then the fun begins... how's NYC?!?!?!

-A

Big Ideas!!!!

One other thing we'd like for everyone to contribute to the 'blog are some creative, fun and BIG ideas to help us win! We're going to have an ideation brainstorm on Monday with the core pitch team, and would love to get everyone to contribute to this session.

Our assignments, in a nutshell, are as follows:

Kmart: Provide a fully integrated multi-channel strategy and tactical media plan to improve awareness and traffic to Kmart throughout Holiday 2007

Sears: Provide a fully integrated multi-channel strategic and tactical media plan for the Home Appliance category at Sears across the three phases of the consumer decision funnel: planning, purchase and post-purchase services.

With that said, if you have any ideas, please post them in the comments section or feel free to email to me, Alan and Jeff.... and they don't have to be limited to online media either- big, small, cross-channel, TV, print, in-store, out of home, email, radio, whatever you think would fit in the mix, let us know!

Cheers,
A & A (&J)

Our (temporary) home

Can you believe that I've agreed to share an apartment with Alan? It's a 2-bedroom (Jeff gets the couch), located in South Loop, in downtown Chicago... should be interesting... I think I'll be doing the cooking, Alan will be cleaning, and Jeff will be the entertainment.

I call top bunk!!!!

Sweet Home Chicago

So we're embarking on a journey... a journey to Chicago to defend some business. Just me and Alan... and Jeff Semones! It's going to be like Three's Company, but different.

For anyone that cares to track our progress, check in and see how we're doing, or just wish us well (remember, Alan said to hug us if you see us next week, so a virtual hug will do!), make sure you stop by meandtheboss.blogspot.com

Archana, I'm looking forward to some updates from Pod 216 while we're gone !!!!

Cheers,
-A&A (&J)