In an unusual partnership, New York rap legend Jay-Z and Proctor & Gamble's billion-dollar Duracell brand are joining forces to market wireless charging systems and deploy wireless hotspots in New York, including one at the multimillionaire’s own 40/40 Club on Madison Square Park in Manhattan.

“Mobile devices have become essential tools in business, entertainment and managing our social lives,” said Jay-Z, an investor in the Duracell Powermat joint venture. “Being able to charge wirelessly is a necessary step into the future.”

The 24-Hour Power System contains a charging mat that serves as a wireless power transmitter and a portable backup battery with micro-USB output and iPhone connection when in between hotspots. The kit is designed specifically for the iPhone 4 and 4S, but Duracell is working on greater device compatibility.

It hits select retailers today (just as Apple announces its new iOS 6 features) and is also available online. The complete system costs $99.99, with additional (colorful) cases for $34.99 and additional batteries for $49.99.Continue reading...

Many small businesses steer clear of anything controversial or political so as not to offend any potential customers. After all, the customer is always right, even if they are saying exactly the opposite thing from what the last customer said.

Brooklyn Industries, a 14-store outfit that's based in (where else?) Brooklyn, NY, and sells hipster-licious clothing, bags, and small household goods, is not afraid. Its store windows are provoking conversations about subjects that not everybody wants to talk about, necessarily, when all they want is to grab a t-shirt.

The retailer explained the thinking behind its thought-provoking window displays: "Inspired by Spike Lee's film Jungle Fever, we wanted to take a closer look at race in Brooklyn. We asked local residents about their lives and experiences growing up here."Continue reading...

The “I Love NY” advertising campaign in the mid-‘70s was one of the most memorable of all time and certainly ranks up there at the top as far as tourism promotions go. But it’s been more than three decades now and the logo (by ad legend Milt Glaser, who reinterpreted it for JetBlue), tagline and accompanying song are pretty well lodged into the collective cultural consciousness.

So whatcha gonna do? Change it up, natch. New York State has taken the heart (but not the love) out of the logo for its "Follow Your Heart" summer campaign and replaced it with user-submitted symbols and images of things to do around the state.

The goal is to have visitors not just think (or visit) the Big Apple — a smart move for a place branding campaign that is so often mistaken as an image campaign for New York City instead of New York State.Continue reading...

As New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg responded to criticism of his proposed ban on sugary drinks bigger than 16 ounces with statements of support, the inevitable animated version from Apple Daily's NMA.tv was released today. Hear more, in Bloomberg's own words, at this week's AllThingsD D10 conference.Continue reading...

It didn't take long for New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who has been on the warpath against obesity, to create buzz around his plans for a ban on banning the sale of sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces at cinemas, restaurants and other "service" outlets in Gotham.

Hizzoner barely had time to tweet messages such as, "Obesity kills thousands of NYers a year & adds $4 billion a year in health care costs," and, "Public health officials across America talk about fighting obesity. In NYC, we DO something about it," before one of the biggest brand targets of his proposed move, Coca-Cola, lashed back at the Bloomberg-spurred Department of Health proposal.

"The people of New York are much smarter than the New York City Health Department believes," Coca-Cola's statement said. "We are transparent with our consumers. They can see exaclty how many calories are in every beverage we serve. New Yorkers expect and deserve better than this."Continue reading...

Ask any New Yorker or any savvy visitor where to find the best frozen hot chocolate in Manhattan and they’ll tell you Serendipity 3 on the tony Upper East Side.

Also famous for serving hamburgers since 1954 to Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Andy Warhol, as well as more contemporary celebs including everyone from President Bill Clinton and Sarah Palin to Madonna and Justin Bieber, Serendipity 3 today announced a new Guinness World Record: its $295.00 hamburger (limited edition with 48-hour notice) is now the world's priciest. What, pray tell, merits a $300 burger, besides the solid gold toothpick that accompanies it?

Honoring National Hamburger Month, and dubbed Le Burger Extravagant, it’s a culinary extravaganza — check it out below — combining Japanese Waygu beef infused with 10-herb white truffle butter. But wait, there's more!Continue reading...

Competition for locals looking to book "nearcations" in New York City's tri-state area is heating up. While the Big Apple doesn't need much help on the marketing front, Connecticut just launched its big tourism campaign. Now New Jersey's fabled Atlantic City is wooing northeastern residents to visit — and not for the reasons you might think. 

The Atlantic City Alliance, a non-profit funded and operated by local casinos, is focused on increasing tourism by pitching. The marketing challenge: how to promote a city synonymous with gambling without focusing on casinos? The strategy: woo potential visitors on the city's other charms, as part of a campaign titled "Do Anything. Do Everything."Continue reading...

The obesity debate continues to dominate the public conversation in America. Policymakers and nutritionists and bureaucrats pondered "The Weight of the Nation" at a federal-government conference this week while the four-part HBO series of the same name that debuts on Monday. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are trying to position their brands as part of the solution, via the lobby group where they're the 800 pound gorilla members at any meeting.

The American Beverage Association's "Delivering Choices" campaign has already launched on TV to promote "how America's beverage companies are making it easier to choose the drink that's right for you — with more choices, smaller portions, fewer calories and clear calorie labels." (The sub-text: consumers have choices, and should take personal responsbility for their weight and health.)

The campaign is now getting more targeted with local marketing in the Big Apple. A New York-centric website talks up the Delivering Choices platform while promoting good works by the ABA's members in the city, such as Dr Pepper Snapple Group funding playgrounds in Brooklyn, and the recent Great Recycle event staged by Coca-Cola's Honest Tea brand in Times Square. Facebook and Twitter marketing are reinforcing the messaging.

Now the ABA is expanding its NYC push to the subway system, with a new campaign placing posters on trains and in the stations — New York being the same market where the mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has been promoting a healthy agenda, including a PSA campaign depicting their beverages with globs of fat and packets of sugar.Continue reading...