Irvine-based hot dog chain Wienerschnitzel is going for howls of laughter with its fifth annual dog-themed calendar, available at all restaurant locations.
The 2013 calendar theme is “Howlywood” and features a variety of dogs photoshopped onto movie posters of 12 popular films, with names tweaked to match a canine theme for each month of the year. They include: Home A-Bone (Home Alone); Ferris Drooler’s Day off the Leash (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off); Dogatar (Avatar); and Bark Wars (Star Wars), among others.
The calendars are free, while supplies last, with the purchase of a kid’s meal; or it can be bought separately for $2.
The calendars were designed by Weinerschnitzel’s advertising agency of record, Irvine-based Morgan Marketing and Public Relations, and serve as a promotional tool to remind customers of Weinerschnitzel all year, said Erica Martinez, account coordinator at Morgan Marketing.
Weinerschnitzel tied in social media by running a Facebook contest where it asked fans to email their favorite dog-featured movie. Twenty participants were chosen to win a calendar.
Wienerschnitzel is also offering its most popular menu item, the Original Chili Dog—a grilled hot dog smothered in chili and served in a hot bun—for 99 cents at participating locations through Jan. 27. This is the third year the fast-food chain has offered the chili dog promotion.
The Business Journal estimates Weinerschnitzel’s 2011 revenue at $35 million. It has about 700 employees in Orange County. The chain has a mix of about 350 company-owned and franchised restaurants in 10 states, with 33 locations in OC. It operates under parent company Galardi Group Inc. in Irvine.
Orange Label Lands Friar Tux
Anaheim-based men’s formal wear company Friar Tux Shop has selected Newport Beach-based Orange Label Art + Advertising as its advertising agency of record.
Orange Label began working on a project basis to complete market research and an email campaign for the client.
“We were impressed with Orange Label’s attention to detail,” said Greg Goodwin, president of Friar Tux Shop. “We appreciated the thoroughness of their process, and were impressed with the plans they developed.”
Orange Label interviewed brides to understand their needs, as they are the “primary decision makers for men’s wedding attire,” said Alyse Stranberg, integrated advertising supervisor at Orange Label.
“With that knowledge, we were able to create powerful messaging and visually engaging design to create preference for the Friar Tux Shop brand,” Stranberg said.
Orange Label’s task is to position Friar Tux Shop as the first stop for a wedding tuxedo purchase and rental in Southern California. It is developing signage, brochures, a new website, direct mail, and digital media to include social media and email campaigns. Future goals include bolstering non-wedding events, such as high school proms and black-tie events.
Orange Label launched the first new elements of the campaign this month to coincide with the January bridal show season.
Friar Tux Shop has 31 locations in Southern California with eight of them in Orange County.
Orange Label had 2011 OC capitalized billings of $11 million. It has 14 employees in Orange County.
Social Strategies
Among recent promotions involving social media:
• Irvine-based clothing retailer Tilly’s Inc. offered fans a chance to win a free pair of headphones by filling out a form through its Facebook page.
• The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau features Trivia Tuesdays with trivia about various OC tourist attractions.
Bits and Pieces
Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau hired John Ehlenfeldt as vice president of sales and marketing. … Orange-based PR and marketing firm Westbound Communications Inc. hired Sandra Bernardo as vice president. … Irvine-based Bolt Public Relations hired Lauren Miller as account executive and Danielle Solich and Chelsea Thompson as account coordinators. … Costa Mesa-based commercial printer C2 has added a contract with the Anaheim Convention Center to its existing work with the city of Anaheim. C2 will provide Anaheim Convention Center exhibitors and guests with on-site print, shipping and general fulfillment and distribution services related to conference and tradeshow needs.
