Body art integrity (Yes, he really said that ...)

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Portion of an NBA story from the Bloomberg News Service:

"All-Star forward Rasheed Wallace of the Portland Trail Blazers won’t wear a temporary tattoo as an endorsement, his agent said, rejecting a candy bar company’s offer that might’ve turned into a contentious battle with the National Basketball Association.

‘Rasheed felt that he would be detracting from the integrity of his existing body art,’ said agent Bill Strickland, who declined to name the company making the offer."

This flabbergasts me on so many different levels:

  1. A candy company actually thought having an NBA player wear a temporary tattoo would be a good use of their marketing dollars;

  2. An NBA player actually thinks his body art has integrity that is worthy of protection;

  3. The agent was able to say (without laughing, apparently) a phrase such as “detracting from the integrity of his existing body art”;

  4. The Bloomberg News Service actually found this non-story worthy enough to print.

Surely this is a sign of the End Times.

2

I think I may be the only hard-core marketer on the boards at the moment. At least, if there are any others they’ve been keeping their heads down.

So with that possibly fallacious establishment of my authority let me say that you can’t get your product too much brand impressions on national television. You just can’t. Someone at that candy firm (or their agency, more likely) had an inspiration and sent out feelers. It’s certainly a worthy gamble. My only concern with that would be guaranteeing recognition on the part of the audience. Placement of tattoo, color, distinctiveness. That sort of thing.

It’s not a bad idea. Someone will go for it at some point, I feel certain.

Jonathan “Remorseless Marketing Weasel” Chance

3

I would have thought wearing a corporate logo on your body, even temporarily, would detract from the integrity of your existence, period.

But that’s probably just me.

4

Au contraire, mon frere. Marketing genius extraordinaire here. :slight_smile:

While I’d agree with your premise regarding national product exposure in general, I’d disagree with printing a tattoo on an athlete’s body. I don’t want my candy logo printed on something that’s gonna be covered in sweat. Not the juxtaposition I’m looking for.

That is, assuming I’m a wealthy candy company owner, which I’m not.

5

Yeah, it’s just you. SOMEone has to make money for all these companies.

And that’s me. :smiley:

6

'Marketing Genius"!

Where the hell we’re you when I was hiring two slots last year!

Jeez. I get no respect.

7

Another God of Marketing checking in.

As the Product Manager for my company, one of the major things I do on a daily basis is marketing. Although, AFAIK I’m the only MBA on the boards (just like Dubya :rolleyes: ). At least I’ve not seen any others.

Unless you don’t have any T-shirts, hats, jeans, jackets, and (here’s the kicker) shoes without logos, welcome to the club. If you don’t that’s fairly amazing.

8

I previewed 5 times and still screwed up the attribution. Should be:

Sorry for the mix-up.

9

Jonathan Chance

I believe that word is spelled with a “u.”

I have only a hijack to add. I suffered a scalp injury when I was six, which left a scar on the back of my head. This scar was revealed to the world when I began shaving my head nearly four years ago, and apparently (I can’t see it myself) it closely resembles the Nike swoosh.

Whenever people see me from behind (like if I’m ahead of them in line, putting up drywall, whatever), they ask me if I got it on purpose and if I’m receiving money from Nike.

No, and no. It bugs the hell out of me, because I’m an avid runner but never wear Nikes…they’re crappy shoes made by child labor!

10 
Tell them as a child you were sold to a Nike sweatshop in Thailand and branded, but you managed to escape.
11 
Tell them as a child you were sold to a Nike sweatshop in Thailand and branded, but you managed to escape.
12

Well I’m certain that you knew that there would be some tattooed people on these Boards.

I’m proud of my tattoos, which I designed myself, and I would be unwilling to wear some crappy pretend tattoo to advertise some kiddy product. That would detract from the impact of the - well, the body art.

I don’t want you to rush out and get tattooed - that’s your choice. And frankly, I don’t appreciate it if you ridicule my choices. (“you” in the generic, rhetorical sense - this ain’t the Pit)

Sure, the whole thing is pretty crass, but in my book Rasheed comes off with more integrity than his team-mates. Don’t you agree? (“you” in the personal sense)
Redboss