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Tag: copy cat

Copy Cat: Hallmark Hacks

Copy Cat: Hallmark Hacks

November 30, 2017July 15, 2022 Cherith AndesBlog, Copy Cat, Marketingad copy, ad writing, copy cat, copy writing, marketing writing, pr strategy, PR writingLeave a Comment on Copy Cat: Hallmark Hacks

The perfect birthday card. Ah, the elusive unicorn of celebrations and parties. I cringe to count how many hours I’ve spent in Target deliberating between this cutesy shoe motif, this edgy humorous layout or that blasé cake/candles/my-how-good-you-look card. While I’m sure its no easy feat churning out hundreds of soiree-themed slogans, birthday cards seem to strike the perfect (or imperfect!) balance of cheesy and cliche.

…until a recent afternoon in Rite Aid, of all the places. I stumbled on a card brand that snagged my attention but not just because of the clever copy.

It was the placeholder behind each card that piqued my interest.

When a particular card runs out, Shoebox — a Hallmark brand –– leverages this empty space as an opportunity to engage with customers and showcase its voice. Shoebox touts itself as “the perfect way to make someone laugh out loud. These sometimes edgy, irreverent takes on real life are surprising, hilarious, often inappropriate and always timely.”

The empty card slots were slathered with copy like this:

In a word: unexpected. In two: delightfully unexpected.

The witty whims were a surprise almost as much as the creative placement. So a big thumbs up to Shoebox for spying this opportunity to make an impression and increase a form of dialogue with its customer base. I’ll certainly be checking out the Shoebox cards section before my next birthday bash.

And that’s not all. Want to see our favorite (and not-so-favorite) copy? Check out other copy cat blogs!

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Copy Cat: The Piddling Puppy

Copy Cat: The Piddling Puppy

April 27, 2016July 15, 2022 Cherith AndesBlog, Copy Cat, MarketingAnne Lamott, Bird by Bird, copy cat, good writing, how to write, writing copyLeave a Comment on Copy Cat: The Piddling Puppy

I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for a good quote.

I’m not referring to glib cliches like “Live, laugh, love” or taglines such as “Sweat is just fat crying.” (Ew!) You can keep those t-shirts.

Skilled writers curate powerful verbs, adjectives and nouns. They shuffle, chop, revamp and refine until the sentence magically teleports an image from their brains into yours like a hologram. In the end, you forget you’re even reading.

One of these gurus is Anne Lamott. (If you haven’t read “Bird by Bird,” don’t walk; fly to Amazon.com and order your copy.) Anne’s thoughts are an effortless yet razor-sharp combination of humor and poignancy.

Writers’ minds are prone to wander. (What? Sorry, I was checking Facebook.) In Bird by Bird, her guide to writing, Anne encourages young authors to cultivate patience during the writing process. We need to gently train our minds to return to the task, a point she emphasizes in this sentence:

“Try looking at your mind as a wayward puppy that you are trying to paper train. You don’t drop-kick a puppy into the neighbor’s yard every time it piddles on the floor. You just keep bringing it back to the newspaper.”

Puppy. Sure, I can see myself as a puppy. Eager, cheerful, adventurous. And puppies are…wait, drop-kicked?! Heaven forbid we mistreat our four-legged friends!

That mild shocker drives her point home. Her metaphor crafts a mental picture of an emotionally laden yet familiar experience. Forget “use the bathroom” or “have an accident.” Nope, Anne chooses short, punchy verbs that you probably won’t find in a formal textbook. Piddle. And you know what? I got it.

From piddling puppies to smacking lips, we’re seeking eye-catching copy. Check out our picks so far!

 

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Copy Cat: Octopus Bowl

Copy Cat: Octopus Bowl

March 14, 2016July 15, 2022 Jasmin SessomsBlog, Copy CatAgency, bowl, copy cat, Creative copy, octopus, Raleigh PR Agency, ZGalllerieLeave a Comment on Copy Cat: Octopus Bowl

I love the work that we do for our clients. Have I mentioned that before on the blog?

A few days ago, while prepping for the Charleston Wine and Food Festival for our client Il Palio, I found myself thinking a lot about octopus – and no, on this occasion it wasn’t Chef Teddy’s grilled octopus. I was trying to figure out the best way to create an octopus-themed table at the festival to showcase Chef Teddy’s amazing grilling skills for such an interesting dish. I ran across this octopus bowl on Zgallerie and could not resist it, but the inventive copy was the very best part of the page – maybe even the best part of my day.

“Entertain in high style with our sea life inspired Octopus bowl. Fill with your favorite bottled beverages making the perfect statement for a festive fete. For decorative distinction, the piece has been finished in a silver hue, showcasing the multi-dimensional characteristics of the grandiose eight-legged marine animal. For ease of use, the bowl dispenser has been designed to be easily removed from its octopus base for refilling or cleaning. Crafted out of aluminum.”

Initially, I was merely doing research for Il Palio, but I gradually discovered my new love for this octopus vessel. I wanted one for my house because of the words that were listed on the website. I wanted to entertain in high style with my octopus bowl filled with San Pellegrino to make a perfect statement at my next festive fete. Wait, I’m not planning a “festive fete” anytime soon.

The most amazing part of this entire search is that prior to reading the copy I didn’t have the personal desire to purchase an octopus bowl. I don’t need an octopus bowl. I wanted it because of the way that it was written by Zgallerie! I bet this post has you planning your next party with this grandiose eight-legged marine animal!

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