The first one comes from Mercedes.  They’re alleging that Santa rides his bike around and works for quality control at a Mercedes factory, which is attached to his home office. No wonder Mercedes are so expensive, they ship from the North Pole?

When Santa isn’t busy assuring quality at Mercedes, he’s shopping for flatscreens at Sears (with the reindeer). I don’t think I’d be allowed to bring my weiner dog into Sears, let alone 12 reindeer.

But be careful out there. That Sears Research Center might not be as simple as it seems. The Consumerist has a story about a woman who wasted 4 hours at various Sears locations trying to find a PS3.

All Santa commercials aside, who doesn’t love ugly sweaters?

Cozy! Sophisticated!

The Kansas City Art Institute’s website lets you make your own digital ugly Christmas sweater.

Happy Holidays!

Food Network Logo

Once again I was reminded why I simply love the world of marketing: Food Network. It was Christmas eve, late, and like many others (I’m sure), I was wrapping gifts – enjoying a frothy beverage – and watching Bobby Flay throw down in healthy competition. With cooking being one of my primary guilty pleasures, I find that whatever free time I can muster is mostly spent with the network that quenches my thirst for cookery.

Last year, the Food Network caused me to chuckle as they successfully managed to pull together my two favorite things in a blissful session of guiltless pleasure and did so with these two words: “Season’s Eatings.” “Ahhh, yes, there it is again,” I thought to myself last night as I cut my index finger on a slice of wrapping paper.  A simple innuendo or play on words makes marketers shake their heads in disgust, not because it is bad, but because we didn’t think of it! A few times I have found myself envious of people who have created these little bits of genuine geniousness.  “Season’s Eatings” sums up everything “Food Network” and “Holidays” and delivers it right in our lap, wrapped up with a bow. So, on this late Christmas day evening, with all the craziness of the day a memory, I offer a toast to smart marketers everywhere: Cheers to 2009 and all the wordplay that will come with it.  Season’s Eatings!