Kudos to ABSOLUT

Last weekend, I published a post about how Absolut vodka took artist who took part in the Open Canvas and their work for granted. And how they kept using the works of these artist for marketing, without duly compensating the artists nor actually finishing the competition.

I'm glad to publish this post to let you know that they have made concrete moves to correct their errors. I think I'm responsible for letting the public know what the outcome of that post was, after literarily slaying the brand.

In an email reply sent to Anthony, they indicated that they only got to know that they're owing the artists from reading my blog post and they fixed a meeting to talk about it. The meeting held last Wednesday, where they apologized, explained the situation which led to the neglect and promised to remedy the issues.

Part of what they promised to do include:

1. They actually offered all of the artists present at the meeting a pass to the "Road to MAMA" party which held last Friday night. As a compensation for not inviting them for their "Art party" which held last weekend.
2. The promised to settle the stipends for transportation and logistics, which the artist used-up during the Open Canvas competition and also to give them certificate of participation.
3. They promised to integrate the artists better in their activities in the coming months/year by collaborating with them as brand ambassadors and stuffs.

Aren't we all happy about this?

I love me a brand that is sensitive to the public perception of their activities and take corrective steps when they make a mistake. Brands that don't see themselves above the scrutiny of the public and once they discover they're wrong, they don't get defensive. Instead they reach-out and create an inclusive policy.

If they keep to their promises, they might just become one of my favorite brands. Wish them all the best and success in the Nigerian market.

Kudos to ABSOLUT. Well done.

ABSOLUT Scammers

The video below begins with a voice over from Anthony, my talented artist brother...



When Anthony told me last year, that he was invited by the Absolut people to join a number of other artists in an art project around Lagos, I felt like: "Finally, a solid brand takes art seriously."

I was wrong. The ABSOLUT open canvas (Lagos Edition) is a scam and a ploy by the folks at Absolut to get free creative marketing contents, using lies and trickery.

Since December last year till today, not a single one of the participating artists have been compensated for taking part in this project. Emails have been sent back and forth. Phone calls have been made. But NOT ONE SINGLE ARTIST has been compensated. They didn't follow through with their promise of increasing the visibility of any of the artists, neither did they pay any of them off for their efforts. 20 artists in total.

The worst thing about this is that they use these materials for EVERY SINGLE MARKETING they are doing. EVERY-FUCKING-SINGLE-MARKETING!

NONSENSE.

Yesterday, they had a party with MTV Base, as a build-up to the MAMA awards and the artworks of these 20 creative geniuses was everywhere. The idiots didn't even think it was necessary to send out official invites to the artists.

I don't know why MTV would drag their brand in the mud by associating with these idiots. Dear MTV, Ciroc is both a better vodka and a better brand. See what they are doing at Rhapsody and Kudetta Lounge. They are better than the fuckers who call themselves Absolut.

Anyway, I've advised my brother to take legal actions against them. Get all the artists who took part in this to come together and sue these guys and make sure they pay with their last penny. We are educated enough not to allow some set of stupid people to come here and pull a fast one. That era passed away with the period of slavery, and intellectual rights MUST be respected. If that is how they do it, make them hold their kai kai, we no want!

P.S.
To try get some more free contents, the guys hired an unprofessional joker to side talk one of the artist to come and do another free art work at the party. This joker contacted my brother. Halfway into negotiation, the joker eloped without saying a word when the invoice was sent to him... and went on to restart negotiation with another of the artist involved in the open canvas project. The joker didn't know that they were all friends, so story went round.

Moral of the P.S.: These Absolut guys want contents but aren't ready to pay for it.

ABSOLUT Nonsense.

UPDATE:
The guys at Absolut read this and acted accordingly, to which all parties involved are grateful. I blogged about it here: http://ezeokoyecelestine.blogspot.com/2014/06/kudos-to-absolut.html. However, we are all looking forward to them keeping their promises.