Tomorrow, Thin Mints and all the rest of the Girl Scouts' cookie offerings go digital in an even bigger way. As the organization kicks off its annual fund-raising push with National Girl Scout Cookie Day, the drive will be awash in all things mobile and social.

There are new iPhone and Android apps to help locate a seller; a blog; a contest on Facebook (tomorrow only); and an appeal for customers to share their enthusiasm for the cookies (and the Scouts) across other social media platforms, including Pinterest. This year's drive also comes equipped with its own Twitter hashtag: #onemorebox.

Meanwhile, a Girl Scouts cookie truck will also be making appearances at select locations in Manhattan to publicize the launch.Continue reading...

McDonald's spent a good portion of last year in the U.K. promoting exercise for kids with tie-ins to the 2012 London Olympics. It also introduced a fruit-juice-based drink called Fruitizz as part of its Happy Meal revamp.

Now, McDonald's U.K. is pivoting to feed kids' minds as well. It has launched a new campaign called Happy Readers to put millions of kids' books into the hands of families and to help make reading fun.Continue reading...

Last year, Americans spent nearly $135 billion on gifts during the holiday season, with video games ranking most popular for kids. So this holiday season, Energy BBDO and Xi Chicago decided to remind kids the simple joys of play with the opposite of a video game: a cardboard box. 

Remember Caine's Arcade, the touching video of a boy who made a cardboard arcade in his dad's used auto parts store in East Los Angeles? Cue "Mister Imagine's Toy Store," a pop-up shop selling nothing but cardboard in Chicago’s Wicker Park, to promote real play and creativity, as part of the Chicago Children’s Museum’s current “Unboxed: Adventures in Cardboard” exhibit.

As Adweek notes, “Children can select a box (a donation is requested) and then head to the art room to create their own unique creation. If kids are having trouble figuring out what to make, they can step up to an augmented reality station and see options appear on their box, ask a handy art facilitator on staff, or simply look around at the stunning artworks that make up the decor.”Continue reading...

In a bid to outdo last year's April Fool's Day jokes, a few April Foolin' Around branded fake gags today include:

• Richard Branson's next adventure, Virgin Volcanic, will take the intrepid billionaire to the center of the earth with Tom Hanks;

• in addition to really advanced search and Google TV Click, perennial prankster Google brings its self-driving car to NASCAR racing (above) and, below, announces Morse Code-based Gmail Tap (double your typing speed!) with LL Cool J, plus 8-bit Google Maps for the neglected Nintendo Entertainment System, and more:Continue reading...

"There's always room for Jell-O." But Jell-O may not have room for you — at least if you're a kid.

In one of the latest applications of the facial-recognition technology that is intriguing more CPG brands and retailers, Kraft's Jell-O unit is testing a vending machine that doles out free samples of Jell-O's Temptations line.

The catch: you don't get the sample if the machine's Intel-developed facial-recognition optics and software identify you as a child (based on your height) instead of an adult.Continue reading...

Apple stores have been getting a lot of buzz lately, so it comes as no surprise that the video above is taking off on YouTube. From the fake apple stores in China to today's green light for a splashy new location in New York's Grand Central Station, Apple fans and observers have the brand's retail experience top of mind.

Cue the "Apple Store Challenge" video, which now boasts more than 100,000 views on YouTube. But instead of an Apple store fake-out or take-out, it's actually an ode to Cupertino's computing giant, underscoring the high consumer perception for Apple's customer service.Continue reading...

Happy April Fools' Day! Some of the better branded pranks today, starting with YouTube's 100th anniversary nod to the best viral videos — sorry, "pictures" — a century ago, with a wink to their modern-day inspiration. Also part of the gag: vintage merchandise and a "1911" button (above right) at the bottom of videos today, turning them into silent films with an old-timey scratchy, sepia-toned look.

Below, check out more April Fooling Around from BMW, Ford, Groupon, Ikea, KFC, LinkedIn, Nike, Starbucks, Toshiba, Virgin, Whole Foods, and more — and let us know what you think of it all by commenting on our debate.Continue reading...

Stand down, Facebook and MySpace — Lockerz’ mission is to eat your lunch and have the cool kids sit at its table. With a goal of worldwide domination — which these days, means being the digital homepage of teens — the Seattle-based Lockerz is a social network with a twist.

Offering a blend of content, community and commerce, participation reaps tangible rewards in the form of points that can be redeemed for purchases and discounts. After watching a video, PTZ (points) can be redeemed for up to 100% on hot brands in the Lockerz SHOP.  Non-members are informed how many PTZ they earned watching that video, and are then invited to join.

Its two revenue streams: advertising and selling real (not virtual) goods. To boost engagement, time spent on the site and the user experience, Lockerz also offers its members original content, and is already seeing success from its scripted programming.Continue reading...