Stay Away From My Wife, Richard Simmons!
I kid, Richard, you can do no wrong - which is why you are such a great brand spokesman.
The fantabulous Richard Simmons was live and in person at Chicago's Union Station this morning, promoting OceanSpray's new Cranergy drink (which ain't half bad, I must say).
My wife Christy stumbled into this grand marketing event en route to work and couldn't believe her eyes. Nothing like a random appearance by Richard Simmons to really liven up your morning.
"I noticed a huge crowd of people taking photos, so I figured someone famous must be there," Christy wrote to me of her encounter. "I wandered over there and saw crazy hair first and immediately knew it was Richard Simmons. He was extremely happy and overly nice to everyone."
Christy said Simmons, wearing his patented red-and-white stripped shorts and a red tank top with a rhinestone heart on the front, was singing and screaming and doing some exercises alongside some OceanSpray reps. And then, he stopped everything and noticed my wife.
"I was standing kind of behind him (but still about 8 feet away) as he took photos with people," Christy wrote. "Suddenly he turned around, walked toward me with arms outstretched and said 'Oh! I haven't said hello to you yet!' He gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I said a surprised "hello!" as we embraced, then walked away shocked."
"It was bizarre."
Yeah, and memorable, and hilarious, and definitely buzz worthy. Christy of course isn't the only Chicago commuter who will be sharing a Richard Simmons Chicago encounter story, likely for weeks and months to come.
But of course, with a personality like Richard Simmons, there's a pretty good chance your brand can get overshadowed (even though he's a natural fit to represent an energy drink). That must be why OceanSpray was giving out not just single bottles of Cranergy, but entire 24 bottle cases, right outside of Union Station, one of which I brought up to our office kitchen.
Work it, OceanSpray!
