Stellar and Advertising (This week's Photo Hunt themes)

You know what the proverbial "they" say about no news being good news?  Well, Hello Kitty proves that no advertising is stellar advertising.  "What do you mean no advertising?"  I hear some of you ask.  After all, she seems to be everywhere -- even at this year's Thanksgiving Parade in New York.  And helping to advertise a whole bunch of commercial products -- and even help lure visitors to Japan (and when they are there, help them to find their way around).

But here's the thing: there actually is zero -- or, at the very least, very little -- explicit advertising of Kitty Chan (as she tends to be called in Japan) herself! Instead, other companies -- some of which, like McDonald's, are pretty mega well known themselves -- pay her company, Sanrio, to have Hello Kitty help advertise their products!!

And the thing is... this tie-in works to bring in more customers -- and also generate extra advertising free of charge. Because... well look at what's happened by way of my entry this week for Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunt: i.e., people like me cannot help but be wowed by the images of the cute cat, snap photos of them and then put them up on my blog to share with others -- and in the process, call (more) attention not only to the stellar pop cultural icon that is Hello Kitty but, also, the (other) brands featured in the pictures! ;O