steal this idea

Steal This Idea: Man Jailed 6 months for Yawning!

Timing: ASAP

Opp: 33-year-old Clifton Williams may want to bring a cup of coffee the next time he visits the courthouse. While waiting to hear the sentence issued to his cousin for drug violations, Williams let out what court documents call a “yawn-like sound” during proceedings. Presiding Judge Daniel Rozak’s didn’t take kindly to the sleepy-time gesture, and sentenced Williams with the maximum penalty of 6 months’ time for contempt of court. Witnesses are divided in determining if the punishment was just or out of line…but it won’t be hard for your brand to put a stake in the ground! If your brand offers anything that could make Williams more attentive, courteous, awake, and respectful, send it to him in the boat-loads! So far, Williams has served 21 days of his sentence, and if he apologizes during a hearing with the judge tomorrow, he may be let out early. Let’s hope Williams gets plenty of sleep beforehand.

Steal This Idea UK Edition: Swimwear National Security

The director of the MI6, Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, is usually shrouded in mystery much like  "M" from the James Bond films or the secret of  Rod Stewart's lasting appeal. Thanks to Facebook and the UK press, the shroud of mystery has been unveiled. I (and the rest of Britain) have now seen the incoming director of MI6 (code named "C" - seriously) in his Speedo.

The wife "C" (real name: Sir John Sawers) had a hard time navigating the social network's privacy settings, and had uploaded a number of pictures of the spy chief when some enterprising member of the media discovered her profile. The one that really set the press on fire was the one of C in his beach attire.

Speedo has gotten a ton of free press out of this - even Foreign Secretary David Milliband spoke directly about the brand during his press conference that was used for dozens of pull quotes and headlines. I know what I would do if I had a swimwear client.

As you know if you read Jon's post from a few weeks back, we're going to be giving away PR stunt ideas we can't use here on the Crowdsource. Since we don't have a swimwear client here in the UK, I'm casting this idea off into the vast Internet to find a home on its own. Godspeed little idea! Here it is:

If you've got a swimwear client, dispatch a half-dozen bathing suits with a letter explaining that now that his Speedos are a matter of public record, C's swimwear has been compromised and must be replaced in the interests of national security. Why not try Brand X, which are more comfortable by a fair margin than those Speedos looked to be, anyway?