VISA: is further leveraging its “Life Takes” campaign launched in February (PROMO Xtra, Feb. 8, 2006) with events that engage Greenwich Village artists and designers. This week, the financial services company took its “Life Takes Expression” extension to the streets to allow New Yorkers a chance to view and interact with the work of Trish Grantham and over a dozen other artists.
BIG BOY RESTAURANTS: is teaming up with Pepsi to offer customers a chance to win free gas cards as part in celebration of the chain’s 70th anniversary. Starting today, customers can go to any Big Boy Restaurant nationwide and obtain a Pump It Up entry form for a chance to win free American Express gas cards. One winner gets a $1,000 gas card; 70 other winners get a $75 gas card from Big Boy. The Big Boy/Pepsi gas cards are redeemable at gas stations and mini-marts that accept American Express. The promotion kicks off the Warren, MI chain’s 70th anniversary. In-store signage supports.
RMG CONNECT: hired Debbie Van Ooteghem as director of client delivery in its Chicago office, handling project management and operations for the direct- and digital-marketing arm of JWT Worldwide. Ooteghem, who joined RMG Connect Rmgconnect.com last week, also will supervise the Chicago office’s account work for Nestle. She had been VP-director of special projects at Leo Burnett, Chicago.
2KGAMES: has rolled out a new video game tied to film The Da Vinci Code. The Da Vinci Code video game lets players explore detailed environments and discover hidden clues by solving puzzles to find world famous locations, including The Louvre and Westminster Abbey. The game T-rated game, which hit stores on Friday— same day as the film’s release— available for PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.
EAT’N PARK RESTAURANTS: is offering a $100,000 recording contract to the American Idol runner-up to sing a new jingle for the fast food chain. Eat’n Park will make a formal offer after the show’s finale airs Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. In addition, the company also plans to bring the Idol runner-up to Pittsburgh to record the jingle and to make various appearances at Eat’n Park restaurants. Last year, the chain offered American Idol runner-up Bo Bice a $10,000 contract to record its “It’s All Here,” jingle. Eat’n Park operates 77 restaurants in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.