SQUAWK BOX VIDEO

25 Nov 2009

A look at what's likely to happen at the registers once the doors open on Friday, with Richard Hastings, Global Hunters Securities; Richard Jaffe, Stifel Nicolaus & Co. and CNBC's Jane Wells.

Black Friday: Bargain or Bust?

25 Nov 2009

Whether the deals are better than what shoppers will usually see or if it is just another marketing tactic, with Hitha Prabhakar, Style File Group; Brad Wilson, BlackFriday2009.com and CNBC's Jane Wells.

Holiday Central 25 Nov 2009
A discussion of the many ways retailers are preparing for Black Friday, live from K-Mart in Burbank, CA, with CNBC's Jane Wells.
Retailers Getting Ready for Black Friday 25 Nov 2009
Retailers are getting ready for Black Friday, and CNBC's Jane Wells has the play by play. Stacy Janiak, of Deloitte, shares her insight.

Amazon vs. Wal-Mart

24 Nov 2009

What began as a price war between Wal-Mart and Amazon over a handful of books has nos spread to a wide assortment of consumer goods. Lee Eisenberg, a noted retail expert and consumer behaviorist, and CNBC's Jane Wells discuss.

Prices to Be Thankful For 24 Nov 2009
A decrease in food prices is something to be thankful for this holiday, reports CNBC's Jane Wells.

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Jun.26

2:57 PM ET

Thursday, 26 Jun 2008

The Colonel Plays A Politcal Game Of "Chicken"

Posted By:Jane Wells

Topics:Marketing

Sectors:Food and Beverage | Media

Companies:Cadbury Schweppes, PLC | Yum! Brands Inc

Oh those marketing geniuses at Yum! Brands [YUM Loading... () ]and Dr. Pepper Snapple (formerly Cadbury Schweppes [CSG Loading... () ]). Slogans like "Finger Lickin' Good," and people dancing around singing "I'm a Pepper" just don't cut it anymore in the age of dogs riding skateboards on YouTube and products which promote "going commando." Sigh. I miss wanting to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony.

But we live in different times. Politically intense times. The era of eBay.

So KFC, owned by Yum! Brands, is playing a political game of chicken this election year by selling "Right Wing" and "Left Wing" T-shirts. (See images.) For undecided voters, there's a shirt saying "Tastes the Same to Me." The slogans are printed on American Apparel T-shirts (man, read Margaret Brennan's past blogs on THAT company), and all proceeds go to charity. While being sold at www.kfc.com, the company is also flooding Young Republican and Young Democrat events with the tees, and hoping to convince some celeb to wear one. But what about Bob Barr fans? "Wingless"? Ralph Nader? Maybe just an egg.

Dr. Pepper couldn't give a hoot about the election. He's a lover not a fighter. And he recognizes crass commercialization when he sees it! A Virginia bride named Kelly Gray auctioned off a spot at her wedding on eBay to help pay for the $7,000 event. The winner, out of 23 bids, was Dr. Pepper! Paying $5,700! Actually the winner was "Nick" from Dr. Pepper, as in PR guru Nick Ragone (www.nickragone.com) who came up with the idea. Ragone says the company will actually pitch in $10k for the wedding and supply all the drinks. Gee, what drinks they'll provide?

Ragone says, "We're finding that traditional media just isn't reaching our target audiences anymore, and so we're taking on more 'disruptive' tactics - things that get inside a story in a way that connects with people." ABC's "Good Morning America" is doing a story on the stunt, but, of course, being on my blog is the true sign of successful. After all, I "broke" the story when Dr. Pepper offered everyone in America a free soda if Axl Rose finished his 17-year-in-the-making epic "Chinese Democracy." "We've caught lightning in a bottle again," says Ragone, who makes more money than I do, thinking up stuff like this.

The Colonel Plays A Politcal Game Of Chicken

But you don't think Nick s actually going to the wedding, do you? Dr. Pepper plans to launch a website to help Gray find a guest to actually show up in Ragone's place.

Still...forget being a wedding guest! Fake Jane wishes she could just marry the good doctor...he's rich and famous, and he wouldn't require much from her. Plus, she can always "can" him in the recycling bin if things don't work out.

EMAIL ON MR. POTATO HEAD!
From Julie B:
"Someone needs to have a talk with Mr. Potato Head. It looks as though he's been experimenting with Mrs. Potato Head's wardrobe (earrings... pouty pink lips... WAND)....maybe that's why he has a suitcase..."

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