TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Sep 18, 2004 9:40 am

Hi i recently purchased a pepsi mug bug and i was wondering if anyone had any information about the promotion or the cars. The promotion was done in the mid 90's

Thanks

Lindsey

Sat Sep 18, 2004 10:20 am

My wife said she believes promo was 96 or 97 i know we have some here in oklahoma so mabye it was in all states sorry thats all info i have other i think theres one around here for sale also..congrads on a bug..

Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:07 pm

Quote: Pepsi-Cola Canada capitalized on the launch of the new Volkswagen Beetle when it introduced its soft drink, Mug root beer, around the same time in the spring of 1998. John Grant, director of marketing, non-carbonated beverages at Pepsi in Mississauga, Ont., says the company chose the Beetle because "it was old-fashioned, and had a retro, authentic iconic image that fit well with our Mug's formulation."

As far as a vehicle can be an extension of a brand and have impact, marketers may also consider digging up classics for promotions. Roy Roedger, president of Second Dimension International in Toronto, says he located a classic, original 1968 Mustang Fastback for client Mr. Sub's 30th anniversary promotion in November 1998. It meshed with the event's nostalgic theme, he adds.

Pepsi actually refurbished and wrapped 25 vintage Beetles as well as a few of the new ones for the "Mug Bug" promotion, which ran again in the summer of 1999. Because Mug was targeted at teens and the Beetle is perceived as a cool car, it was the perfect choice of vehicles, says Grant.

"We wanted to get around to as many events as possible and we were trying to extend the (Mug) brand's persona, which made sampling all the more effective," he says. "I think the car promotion was the cornerstone of the whole launch."

From this site: http://www.tpscan.com/promotions/article/index.cfm

Quote: All the major root beer companies launch expensive promoting campaigns, and take part in careful image-building. If A & W has the Great Root Bear, Mug has the Mug Bugs. In the summer of 1996, Mug Root Beer gave away 12 Volswagen Beetles, or "Mug Bugs," in collaboration with MTV: Music Television Network. In addition to MTV Beach Parties, where Mug Bugs featured, MTV also organized the "Mug of the Day" competition, the aim of which was to find the craziest face possible. Pepsico, the manufacturer of Mug Root Beer, considers VW Beetles as the perfect vehicles to drive good, old root beer to the 1990's. In the company's opinion, the Bug is a lot like Mug Root Beer; classic but contemporary, and very funny as well. The idea behind the cooperation with the youth-oriented MTV is to introduce root beer to a whole new audience, the generation of Coca-Cola, Sprite and Seven-Up drinkers.

From this site: http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US8/PAPS/rootbeer.html

That's about all I could find.

Sat Sep 18, 2004 12:15 pm

All hail to jessica she rocks puttin out the info.. :D