Opening a can of questions

Skinny Pepsi Can Launch Is Heavy With Controversy
Diet Pepsi releases skinny can
Pepsi Press Release

Diet Pepsi recently announced a new product innovation - The Skinny Can. This product launch intrigued me for many reasons. On one hand, the can clearly communicates Diet Pepsi's brand positioning. It also gives it a new, chic persona which helps create a differentiation point between rival Coke. Given this positioning, a launch during fashion week was smart, and provided a vast pool of target consumers.

However, on the other hand, it seems like the marketing managers had to expect some kind of controversy. I don't think it helped either, the way they presented it. I can understand how some people could be upset that something described as "chic,""attractive," and a "celebration of women," is slapped with a "skinny" label.

Plus, nothing about the actual product changed; the serving size is even the same. So, deciding between the skinny can and the regular can is decision made solely on looks. Which makes this an interesting commentary on our society - that it's not about just about what you drink, it's how you look while you're doing it.

First thing's first

Look what I did, I started a blog! I've been wanting to do this for a while, but just wasn't sure if I had enough to say.

You know how there are those things in life that let you know you've become an adult? Like listening to talk radio, drinking coffee, reading other parts of the paper besides the funnies, and actually caring about what's in the news? Well, I'm there. So I'm thinking of using this outlet to link to stories/articles I find intriguing, and maybe get some people thinking.

So with that I'll leave you with my first, very serious, posting, that also ties in to the name of this blog (which, by the way, is subject to change. I wasn't quite prepared when I started creating my account, and had to think on the fly). It's a video from everyone's favorite animated 80's girl band - Jem and the Holograms. My favorite, of course, was Kimber. Mainly because she almost had my name, but also because she had awesome red hair and played the key-tar. Truly outrageous.