Nuances of the Oyster Sauce Market

A sign like "LKK Oyster Sauce - Old" would not seem to be the best way to sell a product...unless one knows the nuances of the oyster sauce market.

Lee Kum Kee has been selling oyster sauce since the 19th century; I remember going with my grandmother to Honolulu's Chinatown in the 1950's and buying a bottle with a picture of the "lady on the boat."

LKK introduced a cheaper, sugary "Panda" brand later in the 20th century, but those of us who grew up with the lady on the bottle much prefer the "old" oyster sauce. Thousands of Asian cooks can't be wrong.

Mindful Chewing

I'm an infrequent gum chewer. I buy a pack before boarding a plane, when needing a breath freshener, or am feeling some stress and need something to chew on.

"Mindfulness" ad is not meant for boomers.

Mars Wrigley has come to the realization that we boomers aren't the demographic that will lead a chewing-gum revival and have designed a new marketing campaign [bold added]

that jettisons typical category promises such as fresh breath or great taste.

Mars is instead promoting its Orbit and Extra gum brands through the lens of mindfulness, purporting that mastication can silence anxious thoughts, improve focus or boost confidence. “Quiet your mind mouth with Extra Gum,” one ad concludes...

commercials in other countries lean more obviously into the idea of mental wellness with surrealist images of mouths in the middle of people’s foreheads.

Surrealist images of mouths evoke a negative reaction in this consumer--is that psychologically revealing?--but these ads have no influence on my gum-purchasing decision anyway.

Having no clue to what the TikTok generation will respond to, I wish Mars Wrigley--two venerable brand names--success.

Apple's Ad Misfire: Grist for Social Media But That's All

In the age of social influencing, quick first takes, and harvesting of clicks, the crowds swarm over topics important and trivial, then move on to the next thing.

One of Apple's ads for the new iPad has attracted negative attention:[bold added]

An Apple advertisement that depicts a patchwork of creative tools being crushed and revealing a new iPad in their place is facing broad criticism on social media.

The ad, which Chief Executive Tim Cook posted on X after Apple unveiled new iPads Tuesday, depicts a studio filled with musical instruments, a record player, cans of paint with vibrant colors and other items being physically crushed by what appears to be a giant compressor.

When the compressor lifts, an ultrathin iPad is all that remains in place of the tools.

“Apple’s new iPad Pro ad is a rare fail from a normally flawless advertiser,” Peter Intermaggio, a former marketing and advertising executive for companies including Comcast, wrote on LinkedIn. For a brand that “elevates creators, this is an ad that celebrates destruction. It is heavy handed and nihilistic.”

While the ad, named “Crush!” emphasizes the thinness of the iPad, a point Apple executives highlighted when they unveiled the device, some critics saw it as an ominous symbol of the company’s power, the rise of artificial intelligence and its potential to replace human creativity.

Your humble blogger felt a little uncomfortable watching the artifacts of his era being "crushed" and amalgamated into a new iPad.

Not liking this ad should have no bearing on customers' decision to purchase an iPad. Dear reader, if that was the determining factor in not buying a thousand-dollar item, your decision-making process likely needs some work (in my humble opinion).

Below is the ad in question.



Update - 5/9: Apple Apologizes for iPad Ad Depicting Crushed Creative Tools

Minimal Marketing

When I'm going for food at the mall, I don't want to waste time figuring out the menu. For example, I might be craving sushi or ramen, but a restaurant with a Japanese name often offers one but not the other. At the Lanai food court at Ala Moana Center Kamakura Ramen tells you exactly what it serves.

I like the specificity of the names: Ahi and Vegetable, Musubi Cafe, YYK Dim Sum, and Mahaloha Burger. Yes, just show the dishes in the display along with the prices and don't bother with the florid descriptions.

Minimal marketing is greatly appreciated by those who are pressed for time.

Another Sign I Should Stay Retired

If I'd known personal branding was important
I would have taken better care (WSJ illuatration)

Here are Five Skills College Students Will Need for Their Future Careers

Entrepreneurship in the Metaverse

Ethics and AI

Networking 101

Designing for Natural Disasters

Building a Personal Brand

Back in my business school days nearly 50 years ago, none of the above subjects would have been deemed worthy of spending more than an hour on. I also would have had no idea what "Metaverse" meant, and "Ethics and AI" would have been a topic in a science fiction course.

By the way I think it's more important to have a basic knowledge of marketing, finance, MIS (Management Information Systems, how quaint), accounting, business law, production, and human resources to advance one's career. I also place communications and math skills higher than the aforementioned ones, which is why I should stay retired.

Hot Take on the Hot Chip

(Mercury News photo)

Yet another example of social media being harmful to young people: [bold added]

Sudden nausea, profuse sweating and blue tongues — these are just some of the symptoms associated with the ‘One Chip Challenge,’ the latest social media trend to trigger warnings in Bay Area schools.

Since 2016, Paqui chip makers have promised to “shock” consumers with their annual “One Chip Challenge.” The directions are simple: Eat one of their pepper-laced chips, sold in individual coffin-shaped packages, and see how long you can last before “short circuiting” and seeking relief...

The 2022 chip is laced with Reaper and Scorpion peppers, which both contain more than 1 million Scoville units of heat (the average jalapeno pepper contains less than 8,000 Scoville units). The company says the seasonings will turn your tongue bright blue.

Multiple teenagers have reportedly been taken to the hospital after ingesting the chips, with one TikTok user posting a video of herself in an emergency room that has been watched more than 15.7 million times.

It's not unusual for people to chase fame by risking life and limb; now they're experiencing gastrointestinal damage and courting near-universal derision from thousands of their peers.

Youthful misjudgments were once considered embarrassing; now they're celebrated. Worse, they're stored on the permanent record that future employers and spouses can view. Well, at least the Hot Chip Challenge hasn't killed anyone....yet.

Brand Loyalty

Apple's computer dashboards are fine, but if this is its real
auto dashboard it still needs work (Mercury News photo)

Apple's brand loyalty is such that new-car buyers would immediately consider buying an Apple Car, although Apple has never confirmed that it is even looking into producing one. [bold added]

Strategic Vision just released the results of an annual study that this year reached 200,000 new-vehicle owners. For the first time, the consulting firm included Apple among the more than 45 brands it surveyed consumers about. The findings: 26% said they would “definitely consider” buying a set of wheels from the iPhone maker, behind only Toyota and Honda. And 24% ticked the top box (“I love it”) when asked their impression of the quality of the brand, beating all others by a wide margin...

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported Apple is shooting for a fully autonomous electric car and aims to have one ready around 2025...or the time being, at least, Apple lacks an industrial partner. But one of the companies it knows best — iPhone assembler Foxconn — recently acquired a former General Motors assembly plant in Ohio from struggling startup Lordstown Motors. That factory is big enough to easily make 400,000 vehicles a year.

One rendering of an Apple Car (vanarama)

Unlike other product announcements, Apple couldn't possibly keep an Apple Car secret. It will need to be tested on public roads for years. (Google's autonomous car trials have reportedly been conducted over 12 years and 20 million miles.)

Once seen, a real car can never live up to what people imagine it to be. Will there be enough Apple loyalists to make the Apple car a success? Maybe, but they should probably buy the extended warranty.

Missing It Now That It's Gone

"The cone. The nuts. The chocolate. The fudge."

Nearly 40 years after its creation, a cheesily-named dessert was pulled from the market...or maybe not.

Unilever, the parent company of Klondike, blamed an “unprecedented spike in demand” and the pandemic supply chain for what it called “a necessary but unfortunate” decision to discontinue some of its products. “Even a beloved item like Choco Taco,” it said.

A spokesperson for Klondike said killing the Choco Taco wasn’t a ploy to sell more Choco Tacos. But within a few days of announcing its demise in the middle of summer, as social media was melting into a puddle of eulogies, the company said it was already “exploring options to bring it back.”

It's clever marketing--if that's what this is--to drum up desire in people who have never tried a Choco Taco (like your humble blogger) by taking away that product forever. Nothing makes the demand spike more than that the product will become, well, nothing.

Fair Weather + Shirt

The Giants (46-43) are 13 games behind the Dodgers(59-30), yet the bleachers were filling rapidly an hour before game time. It could be the dedication of Giants fans, or the perfect weather (69 degrees, sunny), but the likeliest motivator was the free aloha shirts given to the first 20,000 to enter Oracle Park.

Someone close to me suggested that I could leave after obtaining the colorful garment. No sirree, if I left now these would be the most expensive aloha shirts in the closet at $100+.

Besides, I'm not just a fair-weather fan. Admittedly, the weather is pretty nice...

Update: the Giants won 2-1 on a balk in the 8th inning:

Former Giants reliever Jandel Gustave balked home Wilmer Flores with the go-ahead run and San Francisco held off Milwaukee 2-1...Crew chief Bruce Dreckman said plate umpire Pat Hobert noticed a “start and stop” by Gustave in his motion, terming it a “textbook balk.”

Present Tents

Now that I'm retired, I have (even more) difficulty keeping up.

Earlier today I had to go to McDonald's(!) to discover the term "table tent." In McDonald's case a table tent is the triangular plastic on which a customer's order number is inscribed.

Table tents are more commonly used as marketing tools.

These cardboard, self-standing mini billboards can help you display promotions, menu items, service list and more. They’re also a great way to greet and guide customers at tradeshows, reception areas, and lobbies.

"Table tent" has been in use for at least a decade,

Frankly, I don't like the coinage because the underlying noun, "tent," is a temporary shelter made of cloth, soft plastic, or cardboard. "Table tent" appears to originate from the triangular shape that used to be commonplace but is no longer a prerequisite for tentship.

There's no point in being distressed. If McDonald's is using language that I'm unfamiliar with, I should just accept that I have become permanently out of the loop.

One Marketing Survey That Was Worth a Look

I walked to the local Citibank branch a block away and conducted a straightforward deposit transaction with the teller. Citi promptly sent an email survey (right).

First take: another marketing survey for the benefit of a large corporation. Delete.

Second take: hasn't everyone--and the banks especially--told us never to click on e-mail links or open attachments? The risk of identify theft and crooks trying to steal our money is very high. Press doubly hard on Delete.

Third take: hold on a second. That small neighborhood branch has been there for over 40 years. We opened an account with Glendale Federal, which was acquired by Cal Fed, then Citi. The big banks are always looking for ways to cut costs, and I definitely want to keep that branch open.

After carefully screening where the email came from and examining the marketing feedback site (that didn't ask for personal information), I answered the questions, giving the teller mostly 10's and a few 9's just to imply that I thought about the questions. I also typed in a comment about how friendly, efficient, and accurate she was.

Emails from "financial institutions" are risky because of the probability of fraud; this is the rare one that was worth a look.

Quixotic Endeavor

From 1964 to the turn of the century the store at 801 Kaheka St. was called Holiday Mart.

It hawked a variety of items in keeping with its description as a "full-line, one-stop discount department store," but the retail economics that would lead to Costco, Walmart, and Amazon gradually strangled Holiday Mart. A date with the wrecker's ball seemed inevitable; Holiday Mart had a single-story structure in a highly desirable location with commercial and residential multi-story buildings all around.

Daiei, the Japanese supermarket chain, showed that retail could still survive in the location by appealing to the tastes of Hawaii's Asian population.

Don Quijote, another Japanese company, acquired the property in 2006 and doubled down on Daiei's approach. Don Quijote seems to be succeeding by embracing the over-the-top colorful displays popular in Japan and Korea.

It's a pleasure walking down the aisles, and it keeps one from noticing that the prices are well above competitors'. Don't get me wrong---I'd rather have Don Quijote there than another condo highrise. Long may it tilt at windmills.

Stuck With Nowhere to Go

Postscript to yesterday's visit to the dentist: Stan gave me the usual sampler kit upon leaving. The items are perfectly suited for the toiletry bag in the suitcase.

Of course, no one has gone anywhere recently, and we're deterred from doing so not only by the health risk but also by the COVID-19 question, "Have you gone outside the Bay Area in the past 14 days?" that stops one from getting into places.

Overstocked, we normally donate toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss to charities that take hotel soaps and shampoos, but they've stopped taking donations in kind.

So, like many people, processes, and dental sampler kits, we're stuck with nowhere to go.

Not Their Target Demographic

When the Wall Street Journal started sending me the oversized WSJ Magazine, with ads for jeans, shoes, and personal items that start at four figures, I knew that I probably didn't fit in with the subscriber base.

Curious about a 24-day trip ("Take the Trip of a Lifetime With WSJ and National Geographic Expeditions"), the details of which the WSJ didn't want to put in the email, I clicked the link, then had to login to my subscriber account. They didn't want any Tom, Dick, or Harry to check out the offer; it's bad form to horrify the hoi polloi.

I do like National Geographic products and do watch the channel, but I don't love it to the tune of $4,000 per day for 24 days. Strike that, I wouldn't be going alone, so that would be $8,000 per day for 24 days. I'm definitely not in the WSJ's subscriber demographic.

Wait a minute, the "complimentary" Ground Voyager Bag valued at $1,099 looks awfully tempting.

Kidding.

Spam: When You Just Gotta Have It

No sale, and quantities are limited to 2.

Another probable casualty of the coronavirus: Costco's semi-annual Spam sale.

After skipping it in September, 2019, I looked for the sale this March; however, it wasn't there. We were just beginning to experience the supply shortages brought on by the virus. Surely by now, September, the shelves would overflow with America's favorite canned luncheon meat. Alas, again there was no sale.

We were down, uncomfortably, to our last eight cans, so I bought 16 more at full price.

Hey. don't judge. When the power goes out for days, I'll be dining on a slice of moist, salty goodness to accompany a hunk of bread or a scoop of rice, while others will be picking through formerly refrigerated spoils. It would have been nice, though, if I had gotten $5 off each package.

Too Useful to Get Rid Of

My Amazon shopping cart normally has 1-5 items.

Abandoned shopping carts are a burden to supermarkets that have to retrieve them. Abandoned carts are also a nuisance in the on-line world because they distort merchants' data on what products attract customers.

They also cause an administrative burden by triggering e-mail reminders to "customers"; if the messages bounce back, eventually the merchant has to intervene and delete the cart.

Which brings us to the mysterious shopper John Smith who has been abandoning carts across the Internet.

John Smith started shopping early on a recent Wednesday and didn’t stop for days.

(Image from iaffiliatemanagement)

He visited an auto-supply site where he loaded his cart with a replacement turn-signal lever, emergency strobe light and two dozen other items. He hopped over to a home-goods merchant for another 10 items including wood picture frames, address plaques, a towel rack and mailbox. He ordered one of every kind of baby bundle, ranging from about $80 to nearly $500, from a site that sells infant sleeping boxes popular in places such as Finland.

When the roughly 48-hour spree was over, John Smith did what he always does. He walked away without buying anything.

For more than a year, online merchants selling items ranging from kayaks to keychains have puzzled over the mystery shopper with the generic name behind thousands of abandoned carts.

In a triumph of investigative journalism the Wall Street Journal tracked down the serial looker. Merchants noted that John Smith always had a gmail address. Repeated telephone calls to Google unearthed the truth:

The mystery shopper is a bot of its own creation. The purpose: making sure the all-in price for the product, including tax and shipping, matches the listing on its Google Shopping platform or in advertisements. It wasn’t to cause angst to merchants due to thousands of abandoned carts.

Internet platforms and news sites have been flooded by bots that dispense fake news, sell products, and degrade debates. So why aren't they eliminated completely? Because the platforms find them useful, too.

The Simpler Life, for a While

(The above WSJ graph shows the percentage year-over-year reduction in the number of varieties per product category.)

May 28: only whole chicken, but at least it's organic

A couple of months ago we observed how only whole chicken was at the time available at Costco; the packages of parts--breasts, wings, drumsticks, and thighs--were nowhere to be found.

But it's not just food; broad sections of the consumer industry are winnowing their product offerings: [bold added]

Some IGA Inc. grocery stores now offer only four choices of toilet paper. A few months ago, before the coronavirus pandemic, IGA’s 1,100 U.S. stores typically carried about 40 varieties.

Harley-Davidson Inc. has cut some models from its motorcycle lineup. Outback Steakhouse has stripped roughly 40% of its menu, is studying whether customers care and may drop some items for good even after the pandemic...

Restaurants are thinning menus as Covid-19 changes how they can seat and serve customers. For years, eateries used new menu items to attract customers. Those often required chains to buy more ingredients and train employees, while complicating customer ordering...

Last year, auto makers built and offered more than 605,000 vehicle configurations even before taking different colors into account, according to industry research firm J.D. Power. In auto showrooms today, U.S. buyers will likely find choices more limited for now because of supply-chain bottlenecks and lower volumes, said Doug Betts, president of the firm’s automotive division...

Consumer choice in meat aisles has narrowed as Covid-19 outbreaks among meatpacking-plant workers in late April forced meatpackers like Tyson Foods Inc., JBS USA Holdings Inc. and Cargill Inc. to temporarily shut plants and allocate workers to lines producing more basic products, meat-company executives have said.

The result in grocery stores has been more bone-in hams and chicken breasts with ribs attached that require less hands-on cutting in plants. Though meat plants have resumed operations, many workers have continued to stay home. “Right now,” said Will Sawyer, economist for agricultural lender CoBank, “the processors are more focused on supply than they are the convenience.”

It does look like we will have to live in a world of fewer choices for a while. That's what happens when it's a supplier's market for an extended period.

When the manufacturers and supermarkets go looking for customers again, the niche offerings will return.

Haughtiness Oozing

A firehose of information comes at us every day. Accordingly, a filter that tells us what we need to know without tipping over to advocacy is specially valuable. I don't want to get deep into the weeds about intelligent curation--I know it when I see it!--but a wise editor decides which stories are important and, if an action is being promoted (ban fossil fuels, nationalize health care, tax both wealth and income, impeach the President) which arguments, pro and con, carry weight.

I am a paid subscriber to the San Francisco Chronicle and Wall Street Journal, both of which have not only strong opinion sections but also trustworthy news departments that frequently undermine the editorial positions. And I'm on the lookout for a few more information sources.

On the Twitter feed was an ad for Blinkist, a site that identifies "important" books, summarizes their contents, and links to the sources if the reader wishes to dig deeper. I clicked through...to my regret. Nearly every sentence was a turnoff to me, and, I suspect, many American readers. (Particularly irritating words and phrases are highlighted for your convenience.)

The Innovative App That's Trending Among Intellectuals - Blinkist Magazine

Studies have shown that last year, the typical American read 4 books. In contrast, the average number of titles completed by a Blinkist user was 26. That's why intellectuals are turning to Blinkist—because it's a proven way to get through more of the world's leading titles.

At Blinkist, we summarize the key insights from nonfiction books into 15-minute reads and listens. There are over 3,000 titles across 27 unique categories, cementing our app as the go-to destination for big thinkers.

More than 11 million people are expanding their horizons with Blinkist, with thousands of knowledge hunters downloading the app everyday.

'Blinkist encourages you to read more nonfiction books. The app contains cleverly written digests — called blinks — where books are broken down into their main arguments.'

– The New York Times

So, what exactly is it that top thinkers like about Blinkist?

1. It's Backed By Science

At Blinkist, there's a dedicated team of experts who sift through the millions of books published each year to find the best ones out there. We don't just want bestsellers, we want the hidden gems, the timeless classics, books written for intellectuals, by intellectuals — because we have built an app with serious purpose and intention.

'When we started most apps were for social media or gaming. We wanted to do something different and build an app that would add genuine value to someone's life'.

– Holger Seim, Blinkist co-founder

Once the books are selected, our specialist editors identify the key ideas and themes from each book, and turn them into useful summaries of insights. The best part, all of the content is created using neuroscientific principles making all the information easy to understand, but hard to forget.

Actionable examples, case studies, and anecdotes help deliver information that's relevant, useful, and applicable to a person's life. Plus, Blinkist is tailored: as soon as people start reading, the app will start to recommend new titles that they'll love, based on their unique interests and individual preferences.

2. Built By The Smartest People In Europe

We don't rely on algorithms to choose or make our content, we choose people. We read every book ourselves, we edit and record each pack of insights. We're a team of experts, specialists with PhDs and diplomas, people who are hungry, eager, and passionate for understanding and sharing knowledge.

To ensure our app, and our content, is the best it can be — we've built a team of over 200 qualified people who want to make powerful information available to millions.

3. Join The Club Of Global Intellectuals

Millions of tech-savvy intellectuals are using Blinkist to stay ahead of their peers, and on top of their fields. Blinkist encourages readers to explore a range of different areas and genres, discovering new knowledge around exciting subjects. We know intellectuals want to expand their knowledge, which is why we have 27 topic categories, filled with a wide spectrum of titles.

Blinkist allows intellectuals to learn from the best writers and thinkers, in order to become better themselves.

4. Read The World's Most Important Books

The Blinkist library contains over 3,000 titles across 27 different categories such as Self Improvement, Entrepreneurship, Parenting, Sex & Relationships, and Management & Leadership among many others. Whatever it is you're eager to learn about, Blinkist has got you covered.

'As a productivity coach and one of the lifelong learners, I can't tell you how happy I was to find Blinkist. If you enjoy nonfiction reading and are short on time, Blinkist will be your new favorite app.'

– Karen Trepte, Huffington Post

Time-honored favorites sit next to the latest bestsellers and talked-about new titles so that you're getting a complete look across the breadth of nonfiction. There are 10 new titles added to the app every week so even the most voracious reader will never run out of great content.

5. Global Success And The Stamp Of Approval

We're proud of what we do — we believe in our product because it has meaning, purpose, and intention. Our aim is to help people learn, to allow them to grow, and to better themselves in whatever way they would like.

This was recently recognized and praised by the United Nations, who acknowledge Blinkist as a Global Leader in Learning and Education.

'With Blinkist you can boost your knowledge and gain new perspectives so that you can be a better professional, a better partner, or a better you—and finally get through your book list or make sense of the increasingly big and busy world of ideas'.

– United Nations

With a community of 11 million people located across the world — from tech entrepreneurs in New York, to meditation teachers in the Himalayas — we have a band of people spanning the globe who are all thirsty for inspiring knowledge.

Be part of it! Download the Blinkist app now and join the 11 million curious thinkers who also love to learn.

The Blinkist writer's first mistake--I guess she can be forgiven because the app originated from Germany and is not attuned to American sensibilities--is that an "intellectual" is automatically viewed favorably by an American audience. Another turnoff is the presumption that people who read 4 books a year are certainly not intellectuals but essentially stupid and inferior. Then she tries to seal the deal by appealing to our putative aspirations to be a global thinker; the app has been "recognized and praised" by the United Nations, the apparent arbiter of intellect and probity.

The haughtiness oozes from each page, but they don't have a lot to be haughty about.

Green for Show, Analytics for Dough

Being green: I re-use them at home.

Starbucks is often mocked for its responsiveness to the directional changes in progressive winds, but we need to give credit where it's due. We like the redesign of its cold drink lids, all to eliminate the plastic straws that comprise 0.03% of plastic waste.

[Digression: the straw-waste percentage is about the same as the percentage of carbon dioxide (.039%) in the atmosphere. One of the wonders of our time is the belief that the future of life on earth rests on eliminating the last speck of these "dangerous" substances. For perspective, getting rid of plastic straws would be like ordering a 200-pound person to lose 1/16th of a pound.]

(From imgflip)

Anyway, credit to Starbucks for finding a new use for sippy cups.

Mock them all you want, but Starbucks stock is on fire:

The world’s largest coffee chain posted adjusted earnings of 78 cents a share for its fiscal third quarter, a 26% increase compared with a year earlier. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected earnings of 72 cents a share, excluding certain items.

Starbucks’s sales of $6.8 billion were up 8%, also beating expectations. Global same-store sales growth of 6% was the strongest in three years. U.S. same-store sales rose 7%. Cold beverages helped drive growth in the afternoon, the company said, a time when Starbucks has struggled to boost sales...

Starbucks also remains focused on expanding its business in China. Net store growth there was 16% during the quarter, bringing the chain’s total to more than 30,000 locations world-wide.

FWIW, I think much of Starbucks' growth is due to collecting and analyzing data on its customers. The iPhone app knows my food and drink favorites, the stores I go to most frequently, and the promotions that I respond to. Starbucks also knows how often I do a grab-and-go and how long I linger when I use its WiFi.

With privacy all the rage, Starbucks has to downplay the role of data analysis:

Data collected by Starbucks’s digital programs is helping the company better understand what beverages customers want, said Chief Operating Officer Roz Brewer. “We know a lot more about our customers now,” she said.

I agree. I don't think the sippy cups are why the stock has a 30 PE.

SBUX has nearly doubled the past year.

Slip Me a Slug of the Wonderful Mug

Perhaps you missed the latest tempest-in-a-latte-cup when Sunday's episode of Game of Thrones showed what appeared to be a Starbucks drink next to one of the leading characters. (Starbucks, not to mention electricity and paper cups, does not exist in the Game of Thrones fantasy universe.)

The accidental product placement has garnered free social-media publicity for the Seattle-based coffee company:

Plenty of brands would like to find a way into an ad-free smash TV show like HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” On Sunday night, Starbucks Corp. seemed to have lucked its way there...the apparent anachronism handed Starbucks a big share of the voluminous “Game of Thrones” social-media conversation that follows every episode.

In the middle of its final season, over 17 million viewers (across all platforms) have been watching Game of Thrones. That's a lot of eyeballs.

Note: in an alternative universe it's possible that the Starbucks cup could have existed, for example:

After a day of slaughter, Daenerys really needed to stop at a bathroom. Her code of ethics forbade her from using the Starbucks facilities without buying anything--though she didn't have to (cut to image of the Philadelphia 911 incident)--so she ordered the venti, triple-shot non-fat latte, no sugar. When the barista asks if she needed a cardboard sleeve, the camera pans to her calloused hands, toughened by the fire of dragons that she rides all day. Daenerys smiles faintly and takes the cup without the sleeve and pops in the green swizzle stick that seals the top for transport. She enters the gender-neutral bathroom. Fade to black...

Note: at last night's Warriors-Rockets game actress Emilia Clarke, the subject of all the social-media fun, was spotted by the mascot. You cannot escape, Daenerys!