Kmart Got Your Attention... Their Work Is Done!

So I was watching Good Morning America today and saw all the hoopla over the new #ShipMyPants Kmart commercial that has gone viral on YouTube.
If you haven't seen it yet… take a look…


It's funny, right?
People are pissed.
Currently the commercial is only online but it is supposed to hit television soon and only airing after 9:00pm… for obvious reasons.
People are pissed.
They are all over social media gasping, clutching their pearls, covering their children's ears, and wagging their fingers in outrage.
"How dare you, Kmart!? How dare you taint your wholesome family brand image with such near-profane filth!?"

(insert exasperated sigh with an extra long eye roll here)
Gimme a break.

Okay… don't get me wrong… I get it.
You don't want your little ones running around saying "ship my pants" any more than you wanted them running around singing "bow-chicka-wow-wow."
Personally, I don't see this ad being all that different from the "sex sells" ads of Victoria Secret and Old Spice. What about the Herbal Essence shampoo-gasms and the Liquid Plumber menage a trois?
Think about the countless brands you see using ridiculous violence or gross behavior and yes, plays on words to sell their products… or at least get you to notice them. I missed the fist-shaking outrage on those… clearly it wasn't enough to get it on GMA.

Bottom line… Kmart did exactly what it wanted to do and that was get your attention… get you talking about it… and hey, hopefully get you into a store so you can ship your pants too.

Love it or hate it, it's just damn good marketing.
Some folks just need to lighten up.

Putting Up A Fight

I've always wanted to try kickboxing.
It looked fun. It looked intense.
A combination of strength and endurance training mixed with cardio all wrapped up in a neat little package.
Good stuff.
The promise of an amazing workout.

But I have a confession...
I tried kickboxing because I wanted to beat something up.
Hit it.  Pulverize it.

I felt the need to "fight."
The desire to concentrate all of my energy and emotion to my fists and release it through a powerful blow that connected with the jaw or body of the enemies I pictured on the surface of the heavy bag.
Occasionally, the enemies had a face.
More often, they formed words... fear, doubt, negativity, inadequacy, bullshit.
Sometimes, I saw myself... the me that needs a good swift kick in the ass... for whatever reason.

The rumors were true... it, indeed, is an amazing workout.
It took everything out of me.
But it replaced it with physical power I never knew I possessed.
A physical power that I've always wanted.

The desire to hit something is now satiated.
I no longer feel the need.
I am satisfied knowing that I can.

Special thanks to the folks at X3 Sports (Marietta) for an unforgettable experience. 

Ask And Ye Shall Receive... With Interest (a tale in customer service)

This is a story almost a year in the making.
A story of trust and honor... and maybe a little chivalry too.
At the heart of it, good old fashioned customer service that sometimes seems to be a lost art.

Last year, I attended High Gravity Hip Hop
As the tagline states, it's "Where Craft Beer Meets Real MCs."
If that was completely lost on you... in a nutshell, it's a beer and hip hop festival.
Dozens of indie brewers giving the crowd a taste of their wares while being entertained by the dopest of underground and unsigned hip hop artists.

Before leaving the event, I wanted to buy a tshirt... truth be told, I am in love with the logo.
They were out of the style and color I wanted.  The person manning the booth said I could "order" my shirt and they would ship it to me... and by order, he meant write my name, mailing address, and email address on this piece of paper along with $20 and I would get my shirt.

I can feel you all eyerolling me right now.
I hesitated at first because there clearly was no guarantee I'd get the shirt, but for some reason I decided to just trust.
Of course later that evening I needed that cash and was pissed that I had spent it on a phantom tshirt... but I digress.

Time passed and I didn't get the shirt... and I forgot about not getting the shirt... until...
A couple of weeks ago High Gravity Hip Hop was featured in my #CoolestThings Daily on twitter.
Lenox Mercedes, the man behind the event and the twitter account, sent a tweet to say "thanks."

Then it hit me... I never got my effin shirt!

I almost didn't say anything, considering how much time had past.
But I am a girl who values closure.
Scratch that... I NEED closure!
I saw this as an opportunity.

I was fully prepared to get a "yeah, right... where's your proof"
Instead I was met with the sincerest apologies and and offer to make it right... with interest.
That is... get the shirt I paid for AND two tickets to High Gravity Hip Hop's next event, Cinco.

As you can see... Lenox made good on the deal.

A lot of cliche conclusions came out of this...
Ask and ye shall receive
You never know until you try
Good things come to those who wait... etc... etc.

I'm tempted to add the customer is always right, but I don't think it really applies in this situation.
I'd like to think that it is more about a company/brand valuing the consumers that make it's world go round by knowing a small gesture of kindness and trust can possibly yield a high rate of return.
Monetarily?  Perhaps...
But let's never forget that good karma brings wealth too.