DGWB Takes Wienerschnitzel to the Net; MZ Lands Pendragon
What does Mel Gibson want?
Well, in his new movie, “What Women Want” the studly actor wants his Diedrich coffee.
Irvine-based Diedrich Coffee Inc. has negotiated a place in the movie with Paramount Pictures and is helping to create sets for the film using its in-store merchandise and fixtures. The film needed a coffee shop because the Gibson character,appropriately enough, an ad exec,frequents one in the building where he works.
“He drinks coffee in the morning and flirts with a gal who works behind the counter,” explains Catherine Saar, vice president of marketing at Diedrich, who says the film is being shot in Los Angeles.
The film, which sought out the Diedrich brand for its imagery, is scheduled for a December release.
“There is always a chance it will end up on the cutting-room floor, but there seem to be a lot of scenes with coffee in them,” Saar said.
But that’s not all.
The growing coffee house’s cups have been spotted on television shows including “Chicago Hope” and “Seventh Heaven,” Saar said.
Last month the company opened a new OC store,its first in two years,in Costa Mesa at Baker Avenue and Fair Drive.
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DGWB Advertising, Irvine, is launching a series of Internet promotions this year for its hot-dog chain client Wienerschnitzel, Newport Beach.
Internet surfers who clicked to www.wienernet.com recently competed in the company’s first promotion that awarded a couple a Valentine’s weekend getaway for two and $1,500 in spending money. The online contest required players to win prizes by trying to hit the fleeing hot dog with ketchup. The company’s spokesdog accompanied the winning couple to the airport in a limousine.
Other elements of the year-long campaign include point-of-purchase materials and bag stuffers.
DGWB landed the Wienerschnitzel account two years ago.
Madeline Zuckerman, president of MZ Public Relations & Marketing Inc., Newport Beach, has been retained by Pendragon North America Inc., the new owners of South Coast Motorcars in Mission Viejo and Newport Beach. Her agency will handle PR, marketing and special events for the Jaguar and Aston Martin dealership that was sold to the UK-based company Jan. 1. Zuckerman’s agency was hired two years ago by Jaguar Cars to handle a special advance marketing and PR program for South Coast Motorcars.
The agency has also added two other new clients to its roster. Seismic Structural Design Associates Inc., Laguna Niguel, and the 2000 Capistrano Antiques & Garden Show held in San Juan Capistrano June 8-11.
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Irvine-based El Pollo Loco has expanded its “When you’re crazy for chicken” campaign and expects to bill about $12 million system-wide on the new advertisements, which launched in January. The TV and radio spots feature people in everyday situations going crazy over the idea of eating the company’s Mexican-style chicken. The first 30-second spot features a traffic officer envisioning his El Pollo Loco dinner and breaking into a traffic-stopping chicken dance.
Daily & Associates in Los Angeles is handling the account, and the Hispanic advertising campaign, which is handled by cruz/kravetz IDEAS, is set to launch in the spring.
The company owns and operates 118 stores and has 153 franchises including four foreign licenses in the Philippines and Malaysia.
Rodheim Marketing Group, Costa Mesa, has added Sexton Companies to its client roster. The agency will provide marketing and PR services to Sexton, whose Irvine-based operation offers leasing and financing programs to small and mid-sized companies and specializes in building high-quality office equipment infrastructures.
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Bits and pieces:
Ryan Rieches, president of RiechesBaird Advertising in Irvine, a longtime resident of Huntington Beach, was recently named member of the year by the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce Kansas City-based Sales & Marketing Group, the North American division of Mosaic Group Inc., has merged with SMI in Irvine (formerly Super Marketing). The new operation has 50 OC employees. “It’s now one company based in Irvine,” said Craig Chenoweth, president and CEO of the new company Hyundai Motor America, Fountain Valley, has launched a brand loyalty incentive program that gives $1,000 cash back or down payment assistance to owners of Hyundai vehicles who purchase or lease a new 2000 Sonata. The program runs through March 31 Creative Media in Cypress is providing audio post-production services for a series of five public service announcements commissioned by the Smithsonian Institution for its traveling Star Wars artifacts and costumes exhibit Linda Garbett, president of B & A; Marketing has left to form a new company, LG Partners in Costa Mesa.
