Ad too potent for Denver billboard
One of the more interesting billboards you never saw was scheduled for a Denver run last week, until billboard operators refused to run the racy ad from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
No friend of the beef industry, PETA wanted the ads to run during last week’s summer conference of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in Denver.
The would-be ad featured a bikini-clad woman with text reading: “I threw a party, but the meat-eaters couldn’t come. Eating meat can cause impotence.”
The beef industry countered by saying that zinc, found in high quantities in beef, is an important nutrient for sexual functioning.
“PETA has taken the fun out of the kitchen,” beef spokeswoman Kim Essex said. “Now they’re trying to take the fun out of the bedroom too.”
Some coffee drinkers like it with sugar
Speaking of selling sex, the folks at Dunkin’ Donuts might have made a bit of a leap last week with a news release touting their new Turbo Ice coffee drink.
The pitch: More coffee equals more lovin’.
To “prove” the point, Dunkin’ Donuts released a survey in which two-thirds of respondents who drank coffee said they did the deed at least once a week.
Apparently, frequency increases with more regular coffee consumption.
Minimally, with enough caffeine coursing through your veins, the “I’m too tired” excuse won’t hold up.
Green-tea backer laments slow growth
Some Americans would apparently rather keel over from cancer than drink green tea.
That was the upshot of two recent announcements from the the American Institute for Cancer Research.
Green tea has long been promoted for its cancer-combating properties. New AICR research revealed a substance in green tea that may help prevent cancer by binding to a protein known as HSP90.
But the AICR also rolled out a study that said only 15 percent of Americans drink green tea daily – as compared with more than half of Americans who guzzle bottled water, soft drinks, milk, coffee and fruit juices daily.
“Clearly, Americans are not taking advantage of the health benefits that green tea may offer,” griped Jeffrey Prince, the AICR’s vice president for education.
Boulder-based Celestial Seasonings sells 11 types of green tea and says the popularity of the Asian brew is rising among its customers.
“We still sell more herb tea, but the segment of green tea is growing gangbusters,” said Celestial Seasonings associate product manager Molly Rennels.
PR firm in giving mode for anniversary
Getting your company’s name out there doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, it could cost as little as a dollar.
Denver-based Xstatic Public Relations is offering news releases to new clients for $1 in celebration of the firm’s first birthday. The promotion is available to 10 Colorado-based organizations on a first-come, first-serve basis. Xstatic will write a one-page news release based on one interview and background materials.
Normally, the service could cost anywhere from $400 to $800, said Stacey Andrews Sepp, Xstatic’s chief operating officer.
“What we’re wanting to do with this is open the door for companies who may not have much experience with public relations,” said Sepp, who cited nonprofits and companies without PR budgets as examples.
Sepp also noted that Xstatic reserves the right to refuse service to any organization in direct competition with its current clients. To register for the promotion, call 303-995-5747. The offer expires Aug. 31.
Conference should be scentsational
The first annual National Aromatherapy Conference will be Oct. 7-9 at the Executive Tower Inn in Denver. The conference is sponsored by Denver-based Aromatics In Action, which was founded in part by Raphael d’Angelo, a holistic family physician based in Aurora. Six guest speakers will appear and 13 workshops will be held, including “The Art of Blending, How Do You Smell?” and “Aromatherapy for Panic Disorder.” The trade- show portion of the show is free to the public. For more information, call 303-531-6377.
Supermarkets produce 75th birthday
Looking for a reason to celebrate this week? Look no further than the supermarket, which celebrates its 75th birthday Thursday.
The Food Marketing Institute recognizes the first supermarket was a King Kullen store in Jamaica, N.Y. The store sold more than 1,000 products and promoted itself as the “World’s Greatest Price Wrecker.”
U.S. consumers spent $457.4 billion at supermarkets last year and averaged 2.2 weekly supermarket trips, according to the Food Marketing Institute.
