The Drink Cart: Bark-tenders
You're in the right place if you want to discuss Canadian political website design, Bob Uecker's place in ad history and even The Spanish Inquisition. Who expected that?
This header is absolutely click bait and shameless. And I’m not apologizing for it. Look at them. I wanted to write this newsletter about the packaging design and brand name in the recent Hallmark film, Everything Puppies. For the record, the treat brand was called Pups Palette Chew Bones. Not great. And fair warning there were not nearly enough puppies featured in the movie.
Seriously, what in the hell is this amateur hour packaging? This film ad everything. film An “evil big pet” company, called Pup Chuck. Which looked better, but all you can think about is “Up Chuck”. Knowing dog psychology, that actually makes sense. Dogs do love vomit. Maybe I’m underestimating the branding chops of places like Cranberry Lane or Peppermint Hollow?
It also had a less sinister company called Paws and Wellness that looked like the most generic yoga studio in the world. Needless to say, I could easily write 3,000 words on the branding and design industry of the Hallmark Cinematic Universe. I’m not going to subject you to that, yet.
But it enabled me to warm up to talk about the roller coaster ride for the creator economy and social media when Tiktok was banned, then not banned, well at least for the next 75 days. The always great Rachel Karten posted about the impact the app has on the whole ecosystem.
“the tiktok ban will be bad for the entire social media ecosystem, even the platforms we think will “benefit” from its disappearance. its discovery-focused algorithm acts as a feeder of followers, creators, and culture. other social media platforms rely on it more than we think.”
I think it was more the graphic, but I sarcastically reposted with comment, “Not the social media ecosystem!” In my head it was in the same tone as something out of Monty Python’s The Spanish Inquisition. Which no one expects! Rachel commented back with a “???”
The nuance of social media is hard sometimes, right? But I stand by my comment. My chief weapons are surprise and fear! I’m not doubting that Tiktok did or does in fact drive people to other platforms at all. I’m was more saying that as users, we don’t have to think or even care about that. I feel bad for creators, but you can’t rent your platform, then get mad when the rug gets pulled out from under you.
What I find more interesting is that following the same account on multiple platforms is usually a great way to burn out your fans. It’s too much! We do not have to care if they do or do not drive traffic. In short: I think we’ll all be okay if Tiktok survives or doesn’t. Maybe it’s because I survived the rise and fall of MySpace back in the day.
Political branding and web design is hard
I was going to get into the logos of the candidates fighting for the leadership of Canada’s Liberal party (and a potential short term gig as Prime Minister), but the websites are even more interesting. I say this despite Mark Carney having already changed his logo once (he’s been in the race for less than a week) and having more than a bit of a slogan overload problem.
Mark Carney’s website is basically a chaotic form with five buttons all located in the home page hero area. An extremely long headline. 3 steps. Oh, and did I mention the image is a slideshow too? This is a conversion nightmare with a vague sense of branding. I feel like I’m grading on a curve and still being too generous with this score. I’ll give him a point because his donation flow is actually nearly modern - but would it have killed them to get a photo of him looking at one of the buttons? This is easy win stuff. 4/10.
Chrystia Freeland’s website is an exercise in rushing the assignment. At least Carney tried to share his biography. The website is 3 buttons and what can only be described as the most intimidating form I’ve seen in over 20 years of making websites. No joke, the donate form also features her watching you. There’s no biography and absolutely no policy information.
She has included her launch video sitting awkwardly, and ridiculously small, beside her home page form. I would say it was just running on vibe fumes in some sort of Kamala Harris moonshot, but it’s not. Did we learn nothing from Obama in 2008? My lesson if you can’t get a credible website that looks like it was professionally done, you probably shouldn’t be Prime Minister. 3/10
Then there is Karina Gould’s website.
Now, on first glance it’s the only website that makes any sense. Do not linger and think too much about how the logo colour is different from the key call to action buttons. Or that they are both CTAs that instantly take you away from the site. Or that there is a hamburger menu for no reason whatsoever. Also don’t get me started on the fonts. My god the fonts.
I’m just glad there are not three steps here. She’s the only candidate with properly laid out video on the home page, which is a way to make you forget that she hasn’t added any policy content anywhere. The design, despite its flaws, is also the only one that seems to actually have a plan for other channels like social. 7/10.
A Tribute to “Mr. Baseball”, an advertising legend
Bob Uecker, affectionately known as "Mr. Baseball," passed away at 90 last week. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy that oversized his very modest playing career. He was a solid defensive catcher. He wasn’t an offensive player, but still hit 3 of his 14 career home runs of legendary pitchers Fergie Jenkins, Gaylord Perry and Sandy Koufax.
His real gift was humour. That was on display over 100 times on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” then in 1989’s classic film “Major League” and again in the iconic 80’s sitcom, “Mr. Belvedere.” You had to be there.
But it was his iconic Miller Lite commercials, where that incredible self-deprecating wit and everyman vibe really played. The ads were not just funny—they were an incredible template for blending comedy with sports endorsements.
The ability to be in on the joke while firing off all-star one-liners is elite game. Where that persona started and the real Uecker ended is hard to tell. But it was an authentic recipe that cemented his legacy as both a baseball and advertising icon.
Hat of the week: Expensive Hotel Hat Era
Who needs a ticket to Paris when you can spend nearly that much on the hat for all the humble brags. I love hotels. I love baseball hats. Do I have to love $117 or $109 hotel baseball hats?
That’s the question the new Sporty & Rich x Le Bristol Paris collection is asking. It’s all about channeling that certain je ne sais quoi attitude. A perfect functional croissant eating hat (not a terrible tagline or idea) if you will. I don’t hate that. But nothing says ‘chic’ like paying triple digits to have people wonder if you really stay at Le Bristol. I highly recommend going to the Bristol website, if only to see one of the best 100th anniversary logos I’ve ever seen.
Last call: The Drink Cart Rolls Royce-tini
Well in honour of pricey baseball caps and Mark Carney’s entrance into politics, it seems pretty good to serve up the Rolls Royce-tini. Think of this like a needlessly over the top martini with extra fancy ingredients. The whole idea of a Rolls Royce style cocktail reminds me of the classic Grey Poupon ad.
And to bring it full circle from the Canadian politics, of course this ad has been AI-ified and put to good use to make fun of Mark Carney.
So here’s your Rolls Royce-tini:
2 oz gin
½ oz dry vermouth
½ oz sweet vermouth
½ oz Bénédictine
3 dash orange bitters, 1 dash A
Lemon peel for garnish
Stir over ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass.
And while we’re making cocktails, this scene from an absolutely chaotic bartending video game is cracking me this week.
Drink Cart Approved™ agency discussion topics
Forced perspective campaigns are going to be so hot this year.
Still enjoying these Hotel merch collabs from Sport & Rich. On fence on if $109 is acceptable price for baseball hat.
I’m gonna feel pretty smug if cable is hot again.
Loved this Shane Gillis Under Armour ad, but as a Buckeye fan for family obligations, I was happy to see his prayers not answered.
See you next week my Drink Carting friends and barketender enthusiasts.
The Drink Cart is a weekly newsletter of advertising, pop culture, baseball and cocktails from Jackson Murphy.
Nice one Jackson. That forced perspective Gramicci campaign is very cool. Love that.