As children, we’re taught to both respect our elders and learn from them.
During these formative years, we’re also forced to pick a path that will shape the very people we become: the superior dunker, a primitive twister, or an obtuse and unequivocally ignorant licker.
In other words, what kind of Oreo eater we’re going to be.
Thing is,
Oreo is not only driving societal credos, but also serving as an example—if not
the example—of marketing standards to which all brands should aspire.
Last year, for example, the cookie celebrated its 100th birthday with its wildly popular (and at times
controversial)
"Daily Twist" campaign. And despite its age, the brand shows no signs of slowing down.
At this year’s Super Bowl, it
stole the show with one quick-witted tweet during the infamous power outage—a move that would inspire other companies to test their own hand at real-time marketing.
For instance, Poland Springs clearly embraced the spirit of the cookie when it leisurely
reacted to Senator Mark Rubio’s
disastrous water-guzzling response following President Obama’s State of the Union Address. A number of companies also tried to repeat Oreo’s brilliance
during the Academy Awards telecast last month.
No wonder everyone from
Cinnabon and
Intel to
USA Today took to Twitter on Wednesday to wish Oreo a Happy 101st birthday:
So what’s exactly on the horizon for 102. More of these “
Oreo separators,” I hope. Other than that, there’s just no telling.
Happy Birthday, Oreo—sent with a “
high-five” on behalf of marketers everywhere.