Tycoons Row

What kind of M&M are you?

I just came across this M&M’s site where YOU can become an M&M. I didn’t plan on spending an 1.5 hours here, it just happened. If there is one brand that is definitely a lifestyle brand, I think it’s the M&M. This site alone, Planet M&M goes to show, that Mars, Inc., knows how to attract people to their brand.

For those that don’t know, Mars, Inc. is the company that owns the M&M Brand. Mars, Inc is an $18 billion dollar business that spans over 65 countries. Here’s the best part too, the business is privately owned. Who needs an IPO? This started out as a small business which grew into one of the largest food businesses. They based the company on 5 values:

1. Quality: Quality is the foundation for their success while they key concept is “attention to detail.”
2. Responsibility: Turning the communication & the team work of common business goals into shared aspirations.
3. Mutuality: Sharing benefits - between all that are involved with the company
4. Efficiency: Maximize limited resources.
5. Freedom: Profits are the key to achieving freedom

I too almost 2 hours & played around with the Planet M&M site, creating my own M&M. I came up with Capt. Goldie The Great. The site allows you to:

• Customize an M&M - Using a flash based platform
• Email your M&M to your friends
• Create a customized photo picture of your M&M
• Play your M&M in an arcade simulation game
• Star your M&M in movie: You can choose sci-fi (I did this), a Western or Horror movie.

What would make this more Web2.0 friendly is allowing for people to make instant communication back to you in the creation of an M&M. Currently, you can make your own M&M, but for anyone to notice you have to send it out by email, or download & upload it as an avatar.

Overall, this is a way to not only market the M&M brand, but also the 2008 Academy Awards.

 
These are a few screen shots of the movie.