B-to-C Events

To get consumers psyched about its Summer Rocks Festival Tour Dell recently blanketed popular recreational spots across the country with a giant beach towel. Made up of individual soft bamboo material towels the 35-by-60-foot giant towel was reminiscent of a checkerboard with hundreds of colors.

To create buzz for its Sync technology offered in Ford Lincoln and Mercury vehicles Ford is connecting with consumers in 28 cities at state fairs festivals and other family events through next month. The tour is broken up into several challenges to target consumers of all ages and teach them about the product. The Sync challenges include Sync That Tune the Sync Tech Challenge and Sync Count Challenge.

For most cubicle dwellers it’s merely a question of Apple or PC. But for IT decision-makers database administrators cios and those tasked with keeping their companies’ multi-million dollar information systems running as efficiently as their laptops the answer is often Oracle.

To connect with Minnesota Vikings fans Qwest Communications on Sept. 21 set up the Qwest High Speed Challenge in an area outside the Metrodome where the Vikings have an interactive experience open to the public before each game. The tie in: Qwest linked its fiber-optic fast Internet service to the local sports hero’s speed to connect with a core market. Fans were challenged with topping all-pro running back Adrian Peterson’s 4.4-second 40-yard dash record time.

UPS has signed a multiyear deal to sponsor NASCAR driver David Ragan. Ragan will race the No. 6 UPS Ford Fusion next year in the Sprint Cup Series.

Both Ragan and Roush Fenway Racing (the team Ragan drives for) will be supported by UPS with a variety of new marketing advertising and hospitality programs.