Boston Market ups the pressure… (a.k.a. What now, Panera Bread?)


Insanity.

http://twitter.com/#!/W_a_L_D/status/136910586947715072

That’s right.  Boston Market not only reached out via my contact form thanks to Facebook, but also had the cojones to do this…

Boston Market RT!

Boston Market RT!

I still haven’t received a reply to my email to Mr. Wakabayashi, but what now Panera Bread? What now?  Clearly, this will pan out to be a bigger rivalry than Neil Young vs. Skynrd, or East Coast Rap vs. West Coast Rap.  Maybe even bigger than me vs. the people that think I’m McDonald’s (At Least Mr. Wakabayashi used my contact form correctly!)

http://twitter.com/#!/W_a_L_D/status/137169033266077696

http://twitter.com/#!/bostonmarket/status/137212008138424321

If you have no idea what’s going on, or if you work for Panera Bread.  You can catch up here…

In other news, did you know that they both cater?  I wish someone would have told me.

Panera Bread (Scott Twp. Greentree Road) on UrbanspoonI actually stopped at the local Panera the other night because the wife was sick and wanted some of that cheese-broccoli soup.  I went in to get some to go, and got myself a half of a turkey sandwich and a cup of the chicken noodle.

The employee (a young girl, of course) at the counter was quite friendly, asked if I wanted lettuce tomato or onion on the sandwich, and even asked if I wanted mustard and/or mayo.  Clearly, someone went over new procedures.  Sadly, I asked for lettuce & tomato… and got neither, but I did get mustard and mayo.  I applaud the effort, and shame on me for not checking before I left the store.

I have to say, after my initial complaint, they have totally stepped it up service-wise.  I still call shenanigans on the new soup.  They ought to let sales do the talking… OFFER BOTH.  It’s certainly a popular item.  Let the consumers decide if they want a great-tasting soup… or the crappy flat-noodled healthy soup.  Clearly, as a leader in the Fast Casual industry, you can afford to test the proverbial waters?  I think more changes have been made, but it’s still not the old soup.  Shenanigans.

Also, I counted 3 signs within  a span of about 8 feet on the counter where you wait for your order advertising the catering… and the pop machine still does it too.  I think the receipt may have even said something about it.

I spend far too much time contemplating fast food & fast casual dining.  If only I could save time buy purchasing already prepared meals.  Does anyone out there do that?

New Catering Advertisement Opportunities! (for Boston Market & Panera Bread)


I’m just sayin’.

Panera Bread  - vs. -  Boston Market

Panera Bread - vs. - Boston Market

From: Waldo Lunar <world.and.lunar.domination@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Nov 4, 2011
Subject: New Catering Advertisement Opportunities!
To: & Cc:  A bunch of Panera & Boston Market Employees

Hello friends at Boston Market & Panera Bread,

I assume that the lack of response to my last email about an all-out catering battle at my house was ill-received.  I didn’t get any interest from either camp, or even any kind of acknowledgement of my email.  Not even a coupon.  Isn’t that the typical response?  “Throw ’em a coupon!”  Color me disappointed.

No reply is rather rude, don’t you think?  Batman movie night has come & gone.  We dutifully provided a favorable dining experience to our guests thanks to an incredible local pizza shop.  Roasted red peppers as a pizza topping?  A hit all around, I tell you!  Subs with a homemade feel cut in to bite-size appetizers were also quite delicious.

I’m not sure why neither Panera Bread or Boston Market was willing to enter my catering battle royale.  It would have been an exciting opportunity for both of you.  I realize now… that you need help with forward thinking.  You missed this opportunity to advertise your catering and fight for my dollar.

I believe that I may have come around to your way of thinking.  Perhaps I need to fight for your dollar.  I previously saw advertisements on the pop machine and all over the windows as borderline obscene… but why stop at the border, friends?  Let’s trample the border, deface it on our way through, and not look back!  I have some ideas that you may find attractive.  I really look forward to your feedback.  (Don’t give me any shenanigans about unsolicited ideas and what-not, we’re all friends here.)

  • Advertising on the napkins.  You already do it on the receipts, walls, & windows.  Subway uses their napkins for nutrition information.  Show them up, advertise!  Think of all that clean wasted ad space ripe for the slinging of your delicious wares.  Were one ambitious, this could extend to the “to go” sandwich wrappings, the fancy new plates that you’re both using, and even the trays.  Hell, why not the drink cups?
  • Guerrilla advertising. You could have employees go into your parking lot at regular intervals, and put flyers under the windshield wipers of cars.  If you really wanna get crazy, try bumper stickers!  People would love decorations on their autos.
  • Me.  Send me a T-shirt that advertises your catering services.  I play in a band.  I’ll wear it to shows.  The throngs of bar patrons who rock out with me on a regular basis will be sure to flock to the nearest Panera Bread or Boston Market location.  I might be able to convince my band-mates to do the same.  If we’d like to get really crazy, may I offer to sell my forehead as a billboard?
  • Paystubs.  Your employees get paid right?  Get that money back!  Advertise your catering services on their pay-stubs, and any communications that you need to send.  There’s room on that W2 envelope for a 10% off catering coupon.
  • Right on the food itself.  This is the one that excites me the most!  You’ve seen the toasters that produce an image of Darth Vader, and the irons that brand your initials on to a steak, right?  There are also printers that print right on things like rice paper & cakes.  Why not take advantage of this technology?  Think about it.  Full color printing on wraps?  Toasty images on buns, bread, & bagels?  Delicious meat branded with confidence, demanding that you pick up a catering menu.  It’s never been done.  It’s opulent.  It’s genius.  (If I do say so myself.)

So, what do you think?  Can I help in this new advertising adventure?  These are the next steps in the evolution of promulgation.  Let’s move onward and upward, into uncharted catering promotional territory.  It will be an onslaught to the senses, and an influx in revenue for all involved.  I’m excited for this venture, and especially excited to get some feedback from everyone involved.

Excelsoir!
-Waldo Lunar
[ -YOUR AD COULD BE HERE- ]

incessant emails / incessant advertising

incessant emails / incessant advertising

Further Reading:

Five Stages of Star Wars Revisionism Fan Grief


Star Wars on Blu Ray

Image by nickstone333 via Flickr

Star Wars Blu-rays released today!  Woo!  I pre-ordered from Amazon with slow-boat shipping.  What agony I will be in until they arrive, but it’s a good agony.  (If there is such a thing.)

This is amusing:

Five Stages of Star Wars Revisionism Fan Grief
Five Stages of Star Wars Revisionism Fan Grief

Of all the changes that everyone is offended by the most, I feel angered at the loss of the original Ewok Celebration song (a.k.a. “Yub Nub”), and with the insertion of the horrible alien funk number in Jedi.

The originals were timeless, the new ones are terrible.  I’m surprised the nav/targeting screen graphics in all the ships haven’t been redone.  I can’t wait to watch these movies yet again, no matter if I’ll be grumbling or not… and I’m really looking forward to all the onus stuff, and hopefully some sweet Easter Eggs.

♬♪ |-o-| [-o-] |-o-| ♬♪


♬♪ |-o-| [-o-] |-o-| ♬♪

By AiXeLsyD13 from Pittsburgh, PA on 6/2/2011
5out of 5

Fit: Feels true to size

Length: Feels true to length

Pros: Great Colors, STAR WARS, Amusing, Nostalgic, Stylish

Cons: Thin Material

Best Uses: On stage, Casual Wear, Wear To Work, Special Occasions, Wear to School, Date Night/Night Out

Describe Yourself: Geeky, Goofy, Bargain Shopper

Was this a gift?: No

Who wouldn’t love this? The best part is that I’m old enough to have actually owned a ghetto-blaster/boom box like the one Vader’s holding in the shirt… and I did. I also own 600 copies of the Star Wars movies in various edits & formats (thanks, George Lucas), and now I can watch them in this new shirt. Maybe I ought to walk around with my ghetto blaster blasting the Star Wars soundtrack?

A shirt fit for a Star Wars geek!

thumbnail

Tags: Darth Vader, Ghetto Blaster, Picture of Product, Using Product, Boom Box, Star wars

(legalese)

May the 4th Be With You!


So, happy Star Wars Day!  Be sure to check out my old Star Wars related posts for some goodies.  Maybe click on a picture or two and you’ll get a surprise.  (Check out the Star Wars Mix Tape or Dark Lord of the 5th Day posts if you’re in a YouTube mood… and last year’s post.)

Excellent news on the content of the Star Wars Blu-ray set today, check out FlyGuy.net for all the details: Star Wars Blu Ray Press Release & Details…Check out Disc nine!!

If you need other ways to celebrate the day, check out “10 Easy Ways You Can Celebrate Star Wars Day” from Death Star PR.

C-3PO vs. Darth Vader…?


This is amusing…

This is also amusing…

…jokes on them, I love Star Wars and this song.  Ha ha.  You can apparently get their whole alum here.

Anchorhead – “Shredisode IV” HD Re-Cut


Seriously.

I need an album full of complete songs, not just snippets.

A tour would be cool too, Anchorhead.

Best video ever?  Probably.

 

 

Facewars | A New Status


From Lamebook.com, too funny…

Lamebook | A New Hope... in one status

Calvin and Hobbes / Star Wars | by Jason Chalker [via Distracted By Star Wars]


Calvin and Hobbes / Star Wars | Mash-up

Calvin & Hobbes – Star Wars // by Jason Chalker | Distracted By Star Wars.

This is beyond awesome.

STAR WARS MOVIE NIGHTS


This is just a re-post/update of the STAR WARS movie nights we’ve been having at our place.  If anyone’s interested and they haven’t been to one, let me know!  We’ll be moving out of the movies proper into the crazy stuff soon.  We do snacks, food, pop, beer, and just chill while watching the movies and cracking the occasional joke or spitting the occasional trivia.

I have the movies in bold, need to get my hands on the rest…

Then we have Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Complete Season One & Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The Complete Season Two that can each be divided out over a few nights.

Confused with all this Clone Wars crap?  Well… we have 3 sort-of distinct entities…

  1. Star Wars: Clone Wars – the animated (like old-school cartoons) microseries split into 2 volumes, taking place after Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and before…
  2. Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The animated (CGI) movie taking place between the events before…
  3. Star Wars: The Clone Wars – The animated (CGI) TV series where apparently coming up with a new name was too difficult.  These events take place after the Clone Wars CGI movie and before Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.  Currently there’s 2 seasons.

I’m not sure if I have the time-line right there.  Wookiepedia is misleading.

Believe it or not, there are still other gems we can get our hands on… Including the Spaceballs animated series, Lego Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2, and certainly I can try to find more Ewoks/Droids cartoons including The Great Heep.  Then there are fan-films… like Troops, Pitching Lucas, Hardware Wars, Thumb Wars, etc.  If I can find somewhere to download ‘em.  There are a ridiculous amount of parodies, mockumentaries, documentaries, & fan fiction out there.

Related-by-stretching, we could watch TXH-1138 (Lucas’ 1st film based on his earlier short film, Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, & referenced multiple times in Star Wars movies), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill are both in it and it has a bunch of SW references), the Indiana Jones movies (a bunch of SW references there too!), the new Star Trek (R2-D2 is among the wreckage in an on-screen explosion), Willow (starring Warwick Davis who plays Wicket the Ewok and several roles in The Phantom Menace – and it’s another Lucasfilm movie), or I’m sure a bunch of other movies.

Chime in with your thoughts/opinions in the comments section below…

Utitti!