S T U D I O 1 2 : Popeye the... Chicken Man?

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First Things First

January 12, 2020

By Kathryn Lundstrom

Popeyes Gives $10,000 to Game Show Contestant Who Confused Chicken for Spinach

When Eve Dubois smashed the buzzer during a sudden death round of Family Feud Canada, she was sure she had the correct answer. What's Popeye's favorite food? the host asked. With a confident body roll, Dubois yelled, "CHICKEEEEENN!" Her teammates hands flew to their heads, groaning, as Dubois realized the $10,000 mistake she'd made.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, on the other hand, was thrilled. "This happened in Canada, where we still don't have our new chicken sandwich but a good and growing presence," said Bruno Cardinali, head of North American marketing for Popeyes. "Her reaction and response was another great demonstration of how Popeyes is really part of culture and top of mind…even more so than the sailor man!" And so, as a thank you to Dubois for what's become a viral video, Popeyes announced on Twitter that it was offering her $10,000 worth of chicken.

Are Experiences the Future of Retail? Area15 in Las Vegas Will Put the Trend to the Test

While retail is certainly struggling, surveys show that Gen Z and Millennials still prefer to shop in stores—as long as they're getting a unique and engaging shopping experience. Area15, an upcoming retail and live entertainment complex located just off the Las Vegas Strip, looks to be a model for the kind of consumer experience that experts predict retailers will invest more in throughout 2020. The futuristic concept, a joint venture from real estate development firm Fisher Brothers and creative agency Beneville Studios, aims to be a hotbed of interactive art and technology experiences. It's also been approved by the Nevada Commission on Tourism as a tourism improvement district.

An Agency Is Placing Stuffed Koalas Around NYC to Drive Donations to Australia

An Agency Is Placing Stuffed Koalas Around NYC to Drive Donations to Australia

To send some love back to its headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, the New York office of Cummins&Partners has placed stuffed koalas all over the city to encourage donations to relief efforts as brushfires continue to devastate the continent. The New York team is "absolutely devastated and wanted to help in some way from across the pond instead of feeling helpless," said Diane Villavieja, who oversees operations at the agency. "Our agency has Australian roots and more than half of our team are Australian, so we are taking action and helping our furry friends back home, all the way from NYC." Those who stumble upon one of the plush toys will find a QR code directing them to a GoFundMe page where they can donate to the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service, Australia's largest wildlife rescue organization.

General Mills Makes It Official: Sugar and Cereal Are Back Together

While many of us may have been thinking that breakfast trends were moving away from the sugar-packed, brightly colored cereals advertised as "part of a balanced breakfast," all throughout the 90s, General Mills believes otherwise. The CPG brand recently debuted three new cereal lines: Hershey's Kisses, Reese's Puffs Big Puffs and Jolly Rancher, which features the flavors green apple and blue raspberry. According to experts, sugar's still what sells. The best thing that brands can do in this category is to just be honest about what's in their products, rather than trying to market something sugar-filled as nutritious, analysts say. Consumers are okay splurging on sugary foods, especially if they feel the brand is being authentic.

Best of the Rest: Today's Top News and Insights

Why Just Start a Brand 'Movement'? SafeAuto Hilariously Goes Full Insurrection

In the budget car insurer's latest spot, "We Are the Rest of Us," SafeAuto takes the brand movement trend to an exaggerated extreme. The ad was created by agency Joan, which won the account through a competitive pitch last summer.

At the beginning of the spot, we see regular people reading billboards advertising car insurance for "the rest of us." Quickly, and surprisingly, this mild statement escalates from a few shared looks between bus riders to a kumbaya circle to a mass insurrection, complete with smoke bombs and with bare-chested men on horseback flying flags—all because they can get affordable car insurance.

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Buffy Founder and CEO Joins Challenger Brands

Leo Wang joins Adweek in NYC to share insights on how this upstart brand is disrupting the bedding industry with its use of plant-based materials and recycled plastic bottles. Secure your pass for Challenger Brands, March 4-5, before prices increase on Jan. 28th and save up to $500.

Marketers Share Tips on How to Succeed at a New Company

"Come in with an open mind. Have a voice—participate, share. Be willing to accept challenges. Immerse yourself in culture. Ask questions. Listen. Be prepared. Be present. Have fun and enjoy the opportunity to grow."

—Tom Anderson, director of employee engagement, Doner

"Breathe. Get to know your coworkers, and don't be afraid to ask for help. Being a new hire can be extremely stressful especially for people coming right out of college. It's okay to not fully understand what you're doing for a little bit. Everything you do is a learning experience and needs to be treated as such. You get out what you put in!"

—Nolan Fitch, account manager, Modifly

"Ask questions. Take notes. Be prepared. Show up ready to work and on time. Stay hungry. At Tombras we have lots of events, so we love to see those who are new to the workplace show up and join in. Being part of the agency or a group with the agency makes you part of it and you feel ownership that leads to success."

—Ashley Bulszewicz, vp of human resources, Tombras

"Oftentimes, people are hesitant to ask questions because they want to come off as confident and knowledgable. Trust me, your manager wants you to ask tons of questions. It shows that you care and strive to produce your best work. Asking the right questions is important and necessary to your growth and development as a new employee. Remembering what you have learned and applying it to your work can help prove your value."

—Jackson Bullman, manager of paid partnerships, Modifly