Opinion BY Armin

Shiny Happy Lobster

First opened in 1968 in a single location in Lakeland, Fl, Red Lobster, “the world’s largest casual dining seafood restaurant”, currently has almost 700 locations across the U.S. and Canada, with more than 63,000 employees. Owned by Darden Restaurants — which also owns Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse and named after Red Lobster founder Bill Darden — Red Lobster’s average sales per restaurant for this past fiscal year was $3.9 million. I haven’t been to a Red Lobster in more than a decade, but I always remember eating my belly out at that place and the garlic biscuits that they serve while you wait for your food are heavenly. It’s not 5-star dining, but it’s very decent, accessible seafood. Last week, Red Lobster debuted a new national TV advertising campaign featuring a new tagline, “Sea Food Differently”, (cute!), and a new logo. Press release credits Grey New York for the overall campaign, not certain if they did the logo as well. Red Lobster will also be updating all of its new locations to the Bar Harbor design, “inspired by the New England coast.”

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Opinion BY Armin

A Moving Ship

Established in 1927, Mayflower Transit is one the United States’ biggest moving companies and in corporate speak they claim to be “the most recognized name in moving.” Having used moving companies when we moved from Chicago to New York and then New York to Austin, the moving industry is one of the most annoying, frustrating and scam-prone I have experienced or researched. So saying they are the most recognized name in moving is basically bragging they are the most recognized name in “things I don’t want to deal with because they suck.” So, yes, that gives them an advantage point I guess. But that’s enough of my personal grievances. Back in May or perhaps earlier, Mayflower introduced a new logo and this week it launched a new national TV campaign with a rather creepy spot by Grey Advertising.

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