Brands cash in on the #blizzardof2015

By Shareen Pathak • January 26, 2015 •

A crippling and “historic” snowstorm appears set to bear down on most of the Northeast this week — a fact that has not escaped the attention of brands on Twitter. But before you prepare your workplace exit strategies, rush to the supermarkets for supplies and break out your Slankets, check out the smart, the servicey and the just plain stupid from brands on Twitter today:

The smart

DiGiorno
The pizza purveyor tends to get social media right (with one notably regrettable exception). This brand-on-brand action is a little cute and a little pandering, but they clearly know their audience.

#blizzardof2015 Survival Kit: 1. Pizza 2. @Netflix 3. Warm blanket (Optional)

— DiGiorno Pizza (@DiGiornoPizza) January 26, 2015

Nissan
A nation in the throes of “Game of Thrones” withdrawal sees what you did there, car company.

Winter is coming. #Nissan #GTR #blizzardof2015 pic.twitter.com/mznitnDH0l — Nissan (@Nissan) January 26, 2015

Orbitz
A very savvy marketing maneuver on behalf of Orbitz. One problem though: storm-slammed cities are seeing flight cancelations in droves. Saving for future flights is nice and all, but for now we’ll have to settle for a Mexico of the mind.

The snow won’t find you here! Save up to 55% on these Mexico getaways https://t.co/enQQ4AwxWY #OrbitzDealOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/xfarVHyVaE — Orbitz (@Orbitz) January 26, 2015

Sony
Clearly this isn’t a stock photo or hackneyed Photoshop job. Sony appears to actually live up to its “always ready” claim with this one.

Always ready for a snow day. #ActionCam pic.twitter.com/uNJQ6NUYH8 — Sony (@Sony) January 26, 2015

Sherwin Williams
A bit of a stretch here: It’s hardly house painting season. Still, this is a decent sentiment and serves equally to promote its “Snowfall” line of paint.

It’s too cold to paint outside today, so get out there and enjoy the Snowfall (SW 6000)! #blizzardof2015 pic.twitter.com/S7K7cFLL78 — Sherwin-Williams (@SherwinWilliams) January 26, 2015

The servicey

ASPCA
This is a great tip from an organization that does excellent work. Bonus points for the proper deployment of multiple relevant hashtags.

Cats often sleep under cars. Please check and knock loudly on your hood before starting it! #Juno #blizzardof2015 pic.twitter.com/iGV8bmr7Fv — ASPCA (@ASPCA) January 26, 2015

CVS
A helpful reminder from CVS to stock up. Though we can think of a few “essentials” glaringly omitted from this roundup. We might be talking about beer and other boredom, um, prophylactics.

Pick up the essentials before the #Blizzardof2015 arrives! pic.twitter.com/8bKUkrQoZb

— CVS/pharmacy (@CVS_Extra) January 26, 2015

Chobani
Often at the top of its social media game, Chobani tweets this drool-worthy recipe for all of us future shut-ins.

Consider your blizzard prep complete. {Chobani Mexican Bake} https://t.co/XAtOGsSsol #madewithchobani pic.twitter.com/cOYz2HTi66 — Chobani (@Chobani) January 26, 2015

The stupid

Crest
A botched attempted at making light of a botched hashtag. Self-aware, maybe. But mostly an awkward and, well, not especially germane to blizzard life.

aw man # changed to #blizzardof2015 RT Nothing to do during #Snowmageddon2015 ? Just brush your teeth with #Crest! — Crest (@Crest) January 26, 2015

Kenneth Cole
At least the shoemonger has moved on from trolling and being blatantly offensive. Sad that plain old groan-inducing puns mark an improved look, though.

Can’t resist temptation to acknowledge that w/ massive storm warning, the #NYC streets are being brutally a-salted. — Kenneth Cole (@KennethCole) January 26, 2015

Vitamin Shoppe
Ugh. What?

Getting ready for the #blizzard to set in here on the east coast, so we decided to make a #PROMAN (protein snowman)! pic.twitter.com/dHKL5ax4k2 — The Vitamin Shoppe (@VitaminShoppe) January 26, 2015

MTV
Using a massive pop-culture hit is a good look and on brand — especially for a youth-oriented network. But using last year’s massive pop-culture hit? More AARP than MTV.