Success On A Stick

So, as in most parts of the country it's state fair time here. I'm not sure if we'll squeeze in an agency lunch outing like we have in years' past. Deadlines kind of trump deep fried twinkies. But since we are so food-centric, obviously the part of the fair that strikes a chord with us is the eatin' part.



Eatin' stuff on sticks, that is.



We like sticks.



Sometimes we feel like we're the ones on the stick. Did I mention those deadlines?



In fact, we even create whole concepts around sticks. Like this super-fun Northwest Georgia Credit Union summer car loan commercial. Wait. Whoa. What a set up, right? I prefer calling it a segue. I mean, come on, did you really think this whole blog post was going to be about deep fried delicacies and gator kabobs?



This animated approach, sticks and all, was really fun to create. And while it was definitely promotion-based (seriously, what credit union marketer doesn't want to increase loans right now?) it was also a perfect compliment to the new brand awareness campaign Northwest Georgia launched earlier this year.



Granted, cute doesn't cut the mustard without results (mmm... mustard, I forgot about state fair corn dogs... the classic predecessor of all food on a stick). My point is, I'm happy to report that Northwest Georgia has seen their biggest loan month in August in the past ten years.

Now, I can't give the sticks all the credit. The marketing team at Northwest really felt their loan growth was a result of a combo of things: the vehicle loan offer, the advertising and some recent sales training with their front-line staff to help boost their confidence in having "the loan conversation." Because we all know credit union marketing is only as good as the staff and cross-selling doesn't always come as naturally in the credit union culture as, let's say, being super-warm and friendly does.

Their marketing team's efforts are also a great example of launching a promotion internally with employees before taking it to the streets.

All in all, another satisfied credit union. Another great day. Now, who's interested in a deep fried twinkie themed campaign?

Frying Us Some Eggs

Since it is a lovely 102 degrees today, we thought we'd truly embrace one of our Third Degree brand philosophies and serve it up hot...



... by seeing if we actually could fry an egg on the sidewalk.



Grade A

At 1:45 pm, we pushed back from our keyboards, proceeded single file down our back murder stairwell, and out into the afternoon sunshine (which in Bricktown seems even more sweltering, since we're surrounded by, well... bricks).



Cracked Up



Mmm. Yolky.

Kande (the instigator of the fried egg experiment) assured us that her sources indicate an egg will in fact fry on the sidewalk at 130 degrees (which the concrete apparently reaches when it's 100-plus degrees outside). We opted for a metal manhole cover for the first egg, figuring it was the most similar surface to a frying pan.



Like every good experiment you need other test subjects. So we also tried asphalt and tin foil.





Eggs-Eye Perspective



Taking Bets

As we stood there "egging" on our little embryos to fry, we realized we probably looked like we were shooting dice out in the alley.



AgriTourism

We even attracted some Wichita passersby, who asked if they could take a picture with their camera phone. We're going viral, baby!



Time & Temperature

Then our client from ACOG, Jerry stopped by. He had very specific views about the proper variables for "basting" an egg, as he put it.



He shared his scientific opinions.



And even though we went as far as attempting scrambling...



... Jerry remained skeptical.



We may not have concluded this day with egg on our face, but we did come to the conclusion that while an egg won't actually cook after being out in the heat for 20 minutes... the Third Degree-ers definitely got fried.

Sidenote: as we stood under a nearby shade tree waiting for some sizzle, we actually held an impromptu brainstorm meeting about the upcoming Ghouls Gone Wild parade, and actually came up with a fantastic theme on the spot. So we've decided to hold all our future brainstorms in 102 degree heat (you know, like how Gweneth Paltrow and Madonna take yoga classes in rooms where the temperature has been raised for optimal fat-burning). It's going to be this whole new thing. But we will definitely need to invest in sunscreen... and perhaps an agency shower.

Key Lime Throwdown

Pardon my delay in covering the contest of the century. I'm still reeling from the sheer calorie intake.



The first annual Third Degree Key Lime Pie Throwdown caused quite a lot of office-place trash talk and facebook chatter last Friday as we kicked off our United Way agency pace setting donations for the year with some friendly (tranlsate: cut throat) competition.



Ever since Kriste first interviewed for our media buyer position three years ago, Roy hasn't been able to shake her claim to making a kick ass key lime pie, and has been baiting her ever since to test it against his southern-boy-at-heart pie making skills.


The Contenders

No southern gentility here. This was a no holds barred, bare-knuckled culinary brawl.

(I don't know what that means, I've just been watching a lot of Top Chef on TV lately.)


The Moderator

Jentry needs to work on her Don King hair, but she put a stop to the sparring and got down to the formalities.


The Ring

Looks like an even match at first glance. Everyone chose both a slice A and a slice B for an anonymous taste test.


The Choices

At closer inspection there are definite differences. Tequila sauce? Intriguing. Nuts in the crust? Interesting.


The Chowdown

This is where the conversation dipped and the calorie intake spiked tenfold, but it was for a good cause, right?


The Live Tally

Then the voting began. Jentry started tallying the score before our very eyes.


The Lead?

Could the lead be the southern style Nutty Crust (B) choice?


Nope. The Clear Winner.

Ah... the Tequila Sauced (A) choice won hands down.


The Outrage.

"How could this happen!? Kriste won!? Recount!?"

(Actually I voted for Kriste... her pie is freaking unbelievable, hence the calorie whiplash)


The Excuses.

And so Roy's backpedaling began. He put the Redi-Whip on too early. (Ahem... Kriste had home made fresh whip cream). He couldn't compete with the alcoholic ingredient! (Whatever.. this is Third Degree buster.)

But in the end he stood by his pie, and had the quote of the day:
"I like nuts in my crust!"

Followed by the second best quote of the day, exclaimed as he opened the fridge and realized his canned whip cream substitute had "melted" on his pie:
"Oh, my pie is F'd!"

Grocery Fun for MECU and You

I think there is something so appealing about fake food. I like it when it's plastic, or miniature, or pretending to be something else like a hamburger phone, or like when you get your lemon juice in that fake plastic lemon squeeze bottle.



I realize that most people probably don't have this same obsession. But I think most people agree they love food... you know, the real kind. So it's for more than self-indulgent reasons that I can say I love the food themed promotion we recently launched for MECU (Motorola Employees Credit Union) who are based outside of Chicago, IL.



MECU exists to be the go-to financial institution for employees or family members of employees of Motorola. So they rely less on mass media and more on member-focused marketing. When they asked us to come up with a new take on a member referral program, we came up with a yummy solution: a chance for a lucky member to win $400 in groceries for themselves and the person they get to sign up to be a MECU-er just like them.



Since their service centers are one of the primary places we'd be reaching members, we wanted to make an instant impression. We created an oversized standee that could be further elaborated upon by service center managers who are encouraged to fill the three dimensional "sacks" with real groceries and arrange real paper bags also filled with groceries around the base of the standees.



We wanted to get really dynamic with all the components of the campaign, so the die cuts and three dimensional details just helped give everything that extra pop...



... like floor clings (actually heavy traffic removable carpet clings) made to look like toppled bags of groceries on branch floors...



... and a die cut direct mailer that carries out the paper sack theme.

But, our theme was more than just a food fixation. It was really based on the idea of MECU providing for their members like they've always had. Putting groceries on the table is something that is fundamentally family and financially oriented. With messaging positioning MECU as a not-for-profit alternative to big banks, we're helping them put their difference out there "on the table" for their members to remember and share.

And there's nothing fake about that.

An Uncommon Farewell

Yesterday we said goodbye to one of our favorite places, our downstairs neighbor, the Uncommon Grounds coffee shop, who as of today has turned off the java latte machine, packed up the chocolate covered espresso beans and, to our deepest regret, closed their doors.

We gathered with our favorite Uncommon Grounds gals, Janice and Megan, along with many of their loyal patrons in an all day come-and-go farewell.

 Everyone at Third Degree will especially miss them for lots of reasons:

1. The warm cozy smell of fresh brewed coffee when you first walk in the building.

2. Megan's bagels (nice and toasty), Megan's sandwiches (perfectly layered), Megan's soup (full of yummy ingredients), Megan's fulfillment of special requests (peanut butter toast and milk), and Megan's dry raised-eyebrow-response whenever Roy's being sassy.

3. Meetings in the coffee shop are more fun than in a conference room

4. Bouncing on the huge iron scale in the floor from when the building was an old warehouse

 

5. Always having donuts just an elevator ride away (poor Jeff).

6. Watching the Bricktown bicycle cops try to flirt with Janice.

7. Just seeing the same faces every day, even if they're people you don't know... but now you kind of wish you did.

What will you miss most about Uncommon Grounds?

Would You Drink a Jar of Salsa for $100?

What says Christmas at Third Degree Advertising like our personalized stockings?

Like our shining faces hung on the tree with festive holes punched in our foreheads?

Like salsa chugging?!!

Every year Third Degree sends out chips and salsa to our friends. This year, we're sharing the heat inside the agency as CEO and founder (a.k.a. "king") Roy challenged project manager and firecracker of a gal, Jamie, to chug a jar of our homemade salsa in five minutes for $100.



Third Degree Salsa Challenge

If you are a friend of Third Degree, you might be getting your own jar in the coming week. Which poses the question. Would you chug a jar of salsa for $100?*

*Prize only applies to the chugging of Third Degree distributed salsa to pre-selected recipients. Actual chugging must be completed within five minutes and documented on video or with digital photography backed up by reputable witnesses. Other restrictions may apply. Hey, that's advertising, baby!