Disney.com partners with Walmart for new online promotion

Moms, tweens and teens have the opportunity to “rock out” with Disney.com and Walmart. The two powerhouse brands have created a unique online promotion tied to Disney’s U Rock 2, a user generated content event that invites fans to create their own music videos set to songs from popular Disney artists and post their original videos on Disney.com. This integrated promotion created by Disney.com brings together the music of U Rock 2 with Walmart’s popular new teen home furnishings line, “Your Zone.” The Disney Media Sales and Marketing team worked with Walmart on the U Rock 2 sponsorship to create a comprehensive multi-platform promotion that, in addition to the exclusive online offerings, includes television spots on Disney XD and print ads in Disney FamilyFun magazine. All media will drive traffic to the Disney.com/rockout microsite. “U Rock 2 is our marquee summer event on Disney.com, and we’re thrilled to have Walmart on board as the key sponsor,” stated Paul Yanover, EVP and Managing Director, Disney Online. “’Your Zone’ is a great fit for the U Rock audience.” The “Your Zone” line includes bedding, décor, and furnishings designed to be expressive and energetic, inspiring tweens and teens to create a space that expresses their evolving personality. “’Rock Out Your Zone’ is a great example of how we can uniquely leverage the broad reach of the Disney brand across multiple platforms, particularly in reaching tweens and moms,” stated Tricia Wilber, EVP, Disney Media Sales and Marketing. U Rock 2 invites fans to create their own music videos set to songs from popular Disney artists and upload their original videos on Disney.com (www.Disney.com/urock). The most popular U Rock video finalists, voted on by fans, will win the ultimate rock star experience including a trip to Los Angeles, an in-studio “take over” at Radio Disney, a visit to the set of a Disney Channel show, and more. This is the second annual U Rock event on Disney.com. In 2008, thousands of fan videos were uploaded and millions of fans rated and commented on their favorite videos. New this year, fans will be able to watch and vote for their favorite videos via mobile phone.

Demi and Ashton help Kellogg’s raise awareness of U.S. hunger epidemic

Last week, The Kellogg Company launched its latest philanthropic, digitally-based initiative to raise awareness of the growing hunger epidemic in the U.S. and encourage consumers to donate to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. At the forefront of the partnership with Katalyst (Ashton Kutcher’s social media studio) is a new “people-powered” web video, directed by Demi Moore and produced by Kutcher. The video features user-generated content submitted by consumers moved to end hunger following requests that @aplusk (Kutcher) and @mrskutcher (Moore) posted on their respective Twitter feeds and Facebook pages. The video can be found on the KelloggCares Facebook® page at http://www.facebook.com/kelloggcares. Consumers are encouraged to join the cause by becoming a “fan” of the KelloggCares Facebook® page (I recently became a fan—and so did more than 78,000 others!). The video and partnership are all part of the Kellogg Company’s ongoing commitment to fight hunger.   In April, the Company announced that it is donating an entire day’s worth of cereal production – more than 55 million cereal  servings – to Feeding America.   The donation of 3.5 million pounds of cereal is worth approximately $10  million. Last week, with the help of Ketchum, the donation was publicized via a media day with Samantha Harris, host of The Insider.

Dapple takes its baby-safe cleaning products on the road

Dapple, makers of baby-safe, baby-specific household cleaning products, has kicked off a six-week road trip to safely clean kids’ messes across America! A team of Dapple reps left from the company’s NYC headquarters on June 29th in a hybrid car stocked with free products and coupons, with the goal of visiting more than 50 kid-friendly stops throughout the U.S. – including daycares, summer camps, play centers, and more – to help them “clean green” with Dapple. The road trip will cover the East Coast, South, Southwest, and Midwest. The Dapple team will drop off gift baskets of free Dapple products to local schools, camps, and other facilities, as well as stop at malls, parks, museums, and other family destinations to pass out samples of Dapple’s natural cleaning products, and coupons towards the purchase of Dapple at local area Babies”R”Us, Toys”R”Us, and HEB stores. A complete list of tour dates and cities is available at http://www.dapplebaby.com/road-trip.html.  ”Safe, green cleaning is a must anywhere that babies and children live, learn, and play,” said Dana Rubinstein, Dapple co-founder and mother of three. “That’s why we’re on a mission to help day cares, kids’ gyms, and other facilities go green with Dapple, from New York to Texas to Chicago.” The Dapple road trippers will be sharing their experiences on a regular basis through postings and video blogs at the Dapple blog, http://dapplebaby.blogspot.com/.

Costco participates in music video for “Costco Queen”

Looks like the brand is getting behind the song. “Costco Queen”, from the popular show, Motherhood: The Musical, is not only now available for download on iTunes, but users can also download the never-before-seen music video that was actually filmed inside a Costco in Brentwood, TN. The video features real Costco employees as well as the original Nashville cast of Motherhood: The Musical, a 90-minute journey through the lives of four women as they bring out in the open the real truths about motherhood—the good, the bad and the ugly.

Kellogg’s targets Latina moms

Kellogg Company is adding a subtle touch of 100 percent, natural honey to family favorite Kellogg’s Corn Flakes(R), giving Latina moms a simple and convenient way to make breakfast time special. For decades, the Hispanic community has enjoyed Kellogg’s Corn Flakes(R). The subtle taste of natural honey, one of the top sweeteners in Latino households, is a flavor addition Latina moms and their families can appreciate. “We added just a touch of natural honey to Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, reinvigorating this nostalgic favorite,” said LaKesha Hatch, Corn Flakes brand manager, Kellogg Company. “Kellogg’s Corn Flakes with a Touch of Honey is a simple way for busy moms to give their families some variety at breakfast.” Latina moms have trusted Kellogg’s Corn Flakes(R) as a wholesome and affordable breakfast choice for their families for years. Now Kellogg’s Corn Flakes(R) with a Touch of Honey offers the same benefits. At less than 50 cents a serving, including milk, moms can be confident that Kellogg’s Corn Flakes(R) with a Touch of Honey is a smart and special way to start their families’ day. In addition to the new product, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes is also teaming up with Alina Rosario, host of the popular PBS TV Show “Los Ninos en su Casa”, to offer moms some simple tips to make family time special.

New arrivals at Shutterfly: Mommy calling cards and baby-themed microsite

In addition to offering expanded offerings to its line of designer baby stationery, Shutterfly, Inc. has some new arrivals for mom—mommy calling cards and the launch of a baby-themed microsite.  The personalized calling cards are great ways for moms to connect during park visits and school functions and with more than 45 designs to choose from, moms can include their contact information on personalized calling cards that fit their style.  The microsite, http://www.shutterfly.com/baby, provides moms with helpful tips for photographing babies and children, choosing the right birth announcement, creating modern baby photo books and more. The site also features the “What’s in a Name” baby card finder, which lets moms enter their baby’s name and offers stationery ideas to suit that style.  “The arrival of a new baby can be overwhelming,” said Stephanie Roeder, Shutterfly’s card stylist. “Shutterfly is a great resource for everything you need to help celebrate your baby in style – from announcing your pregnancy to sharing your baby’s first photos or updating friends and family on happenings at school; moms can feel confident that photos are safely stored by Shutterfly.”

Comforts® contest helps moms with future educational expenses

Moms looking for ways to stretch their household budget are getting a boost from Comforts®, a line of products for babies and toddlers made and marketed by Ralphs and its parent company, The Kroger Co. According to the company’s research, the savings between Comforts and other premium brands can be up to 30 percent, depending on the product and any special promotions. And now, Comforts is expanding its product line-up, offering a wide variety of quality products parents want for their children and has re-designed the packaging to include the brand’s new icon – a happy, yellow firefly. To celebrate its new look and expanded line, Comforts is inviting parents to help name the friendly firefly. The winner will receive $10,000 to help with future education expenses. The funds will be placed in a college savings plan or 529 plans. “This is our way of telling parents that Comforts understands their daily needs and their future hopes and aspirations for their children too,” said Mike Donnelly, president of Ralphs. “The Comforts brand is all about helping parents meet the needs of their children with high quality products at reasonable prices.” Parents can enter the contest now through July 31, 2009. Names will be judged by the following qualities – most inventive, appropriateness to campaign theme and most compelling. Eligible entries will be judged by an independent judging organization. “In today’s tough economic times, trimming just a few dollars off the products parents buy and use every day for their children can make a big difference,” said Donnelly. “Getting a jump on future costs, such as a college education, is smart too. That’s why Comforts is offering this special contest to celebrate its new launch.”

Burst Media heads “back-to-school” with new advertising network

As the first days of summer come to an end, Burst Media already has us thinking about back-to-school. Their recently released results of a survey on back-to-school spending habits found that nearly two-thirds (63.6%) of back-to-school shopping is done in July, August or September – with August accounting for 38.6% of back-to-school shopping. Additionally, the survey found that nearly half (48.6%) of parents will spend more than $250 on each child for back-to-school. The survey found that despite the current economic recession only 15.7% of shoppers will spend less money this back-to-school season and almost one-quarter (24.9%) will actually spend more money than last year. To help advertisers reach back-to-school purchasing decision makers this season, Burst has launched the Burst Back-to-School Network. The network features 125 content rich sites that draw the three key decision making audiences for back- to-school purchases: moms, teens, and college students. Burst’s Back-To-School Network delivers 246 million impressions and 73.6 million unique views monthly and can be targeted as a whole – or an advertiser can target any segment or combinations of segments. The network features standard IAB ad units and rich media placements such as expandables, in-banner video, and interstitials as well as custom sponsorships and programs. As with all Burst networks, advertisers and media buyers are provided with comprehensive campaign management and consolidated reporting. “Now more than ever, brand advertisers are seeking the most cost-effective ways to reach key purchasing decision makers with a high composition audience and, in turn, less media waste,” said Don Byrnes, executive vice president of Media Sales for Burst Media. “As a unique, pre-packaged solution, the Burst Back-to-School Network achieves this targeted reach with one single online media buy.”

Child’s Play PR adds Music Moms to list of innovative marketing services

Child’s Play Communications is excited to announce the launch of Music Moms, a new opportunity for marketers to increase visibility of their music projects through influential online moms.  Music Moms is a subdivision of Team Mom™, Child’s Play Communications’ award-winning network of mommy bloggers – influential, enthusiastic, social-media-savvy women who have been recognized for voicing their opinions thoughtfully and honestly. This active network of moms reaches more than one million other moms per month. Moms are responsible for more than 80% of all household purchases.  “We have been working with moms for more than 20 years and are in tune with the interests, trends and needs of bloggers across the country,” said Child’s Play Communications president, Stephanie Azzarone. “Music Moms is a great way to create buzz surrounding music artists. Members of Music Moms will be the first on their (virtual) block to know about new music, and to share that information with their online friends–thus positioning themselves as the go-to moms in their online communities.”

Music Moms reviews music across all genres, as well as children’s music and puts music in the hands of influential mommy bloggers across the nation. Companies such as Universal/Motown records have already participated in the Music Moms program.  Child’s Play also has the ability to create other innovative marketing opportunities through Music Moms including events and more. Music Moms is the newest addition to Child’s Play Communications extensive array of proprietary services including Team Mom, Web Mom, Mom Fests, Bloggers Brunch, Insider Mom Network, and more.

SheKnows.com, RealMomsGuide.com launch reality web series

SheKnows.com and RealMomsGuide.com have launched a reality web series, Real Moms Guide: Season 1, which portrays the life of four ordinary mothers. Users can follow the joys and challenges of motherhood with a new episode released every Monday now through the end of October. In addition to debuting the Real Moms Guide: Season 1, RealMomsGuide.com gives moms access to printable shopping lists, how-to guides, a recipe database, coupons, monthly cash-prize contests and community groups.

The Real Moms Guide community is enjoyed by all types of moms and offers everything from movie reviews, food tips and recipes, advice on relationship, love, sex, parenting tips and much more. It’s where all moms belong!