Airwalk is making innovative use of Pop Ups to maximize bang for buck in the re-launch of the brand’s classic “Jim” shoe. Airwalk used an augmented reality app from startup GoldRun to launch pop-up stores in New York and LA on November 6. The twist: The stores were invisible.

In keeping with its “cool” approach to footwear, the promotion attracted cutting-edge shoe buyers to secret locales in New York City and LA.

So how did it work? Much like the brand promotion itself – as a fun, exclusive experience. To access the invisible store, customers downloaded the GoldRun’s app, available for iPhone 3G or higher, and went to Venice Beach in Los Angeles or Washington Square Park in New York. There, they were able to acquire the shoes that were GPS-linked to both locations. Continue reading...

With New York Fashion Week behind us, it’s just the right time to put aside those designer duds and embrace one’s inner "foodie" with the launch of Zagat Exclusives.

Tailored to please diners and dining establishments alike, this program will provide regularly scheduled discounts for a limited time, delivered by email, at Zagat-Rated restaurants in New York City, and will soon be rolled out in other major metropolitan areas.

"Zagat is harnessing the increasingly popular group buying model to provide the best possible deals for our customers and restaurateurs," said Tim Zagat, CEO, Zagat Survey. The program, which is powered by Groupon competitor DealOn, offered $30 off a three-course meal at Manhattan's famed “21” Club for its first promotion. This move signifies a bold effort by Zagat to follow Yelp and OpenTable into the highly competitive dining-discount game.Continue reading...

Whether it’s a trashy beach read, the adventures of Nancy Drew, or the classic board game Clue, one thing is certain: we can never pass up a good mystery.

H&M, a pioneer in smart designer collaboration, is capitalizing on fashionistas' innate curiosity with a series of cryptic videos. On the eve of New York's fashion week, the  Swedish fashion giant has released a new viral video campaign for an upcoming designer collaboration.

The videos, featuring strategically taped interviews with anonymous designers, were posted by the global fashion retailer on its YouTube channel this week. These sexy, 23-second teasers show only a designer’s body with his or her face entirely hidden. See the rest, and some educated guesses, after the jump.Continue reading...

As kids we were told to drink our milk, finish our vegetables, and NOT drink cups of fat? Well, not exactly.

But it appears that the New York City Department of Health is adding this last rule to the list. In a new campaign to address the detrimental effects of sweetened drinks, the Health Department is asking New Yorkers of all ages to think before they drink.

The agency’s recently launched public-awareness campaign, which cost about $277,000 to develop over three fiscal years, features graphic posters that will run in 1,500 subway cars through October.

In the spirit of last year's "Pouring on the pounds" campaign, its latest effort aims to wake up New Yorkers to "what goes into a large serving of sweetened soda." The answer: packets of sugar that transform into blobs of fat via soda, evidently.

It's eye-opening, but nowhere near as unsettling as last year's TV spot, in which an actor drinks pure fat from a glass, while asking viewers, “Are you pouring on the pounds? Drinking one can of soda a day can make you 10 pounds fatter a year.”Continue reading...

It’s that time of year again: malls flooded by over-caffeinated mothers, lengthy shopping lists, and reluctant children who would have rather stayed at the pool. Yup, it's time to go back to school. And in an effort to lift children’s spirits and capitalize on the 'back to school' market, major retailers like Macy's and Claire's are partnering with Twentieth Century Fox to launch Glee-themed merchandise.

"Glee has the kind of dedicated fan base that’s really rare," said Norm Yustin, global CMO for Claire’s. In conjunction with the highly anticipated third season of Glee, Claire’s will roll out an exclusive line of jewelry and accessories and mall-based karaoke contests. The line will include items like bracelets adorned with Finn and Puck charms, Quinn’s flawless makeup, and Don’t Stop Believing backpacks.Continue reading...

There’s a near-universal Pavlovian response to the smell of a McDonalds Big Mac and fries: the salivary glands kick in and a sudden raging need to abandon your commitment to health and nutrition overtakes you. At least that’s a reliably American reaction. But what happens when America’s most famous food export packs its bags and catches an international flight? Does the Asian nose react similarly to the redolent waft of a teriyaki-smothered pork patty with fried eggs (also known as the Shogun Burger served up in Hong Kong)?

And do the locals in Ankara swoon for the McTurco (a lamb or chicken pita wrap served in the Turkish capital)? Would any self-respecting citizen of the food capital of the Western World forego pasta with fresh olive oil and tomatoes for the McItaly (a hamburger sandwich made with Asiago cheese and artichoke spread)? Continue reading...