10. Hamburger Stadtpark-Revival 2011

Just a few snapshots from the 10. Hamburger Stadtpark-Revival. For more photos follow this link. 

Again and again it is astonishining, how much Motorkultur is around Hamburg. And how much people are taking care of it. Impressive.

Mercedes-Benz & Friends, Berlin Tempelhof

Prior to their huge "Mercedes-Benz & Friends" event in Berlin Tempelhof we had the privilege of discussing with Mercedes-Benz what it takes to be a "cool" (Young Classics) brand. The meeting took place in a small circle in their stunning Berlin Gallery. As we usually travel long distancies in our 1970 Mercedes-Benz W 109 we might be a little prejudiced regarding that question ...

Just hit one of the images above to visit our "Mercedes-Benz & Friends" gallery.

Decim8

I think I've fallen in love. With Decim8. As everybody is applying retro or vintage effects to images, this handy little app decimates them. Yeop—it destroys them. It makes your images look like a "corrupt JPEG on a dying hard drive". 

If you are a fan of streamlined pop music, get a Hipstamatic. If you get inspired from Throbbing Gristle (video above), Frontline Assembly or Trent Reznor, get Decim8.

Mercedes-Benz Brand Workshop

A couple of days ago, we were invited by Mercedes-Benz for a "brand workshop". We had a fabulous guided tour through the stunning Mercedes-Benz Museum, visited the design department and test drove a lot of cars. Just follow this link for more pictures.

The first car we tested — voluntarily — was the Smart Electric Drive. We had a lot of discussions regarding this car recently, so it was a good opportunity to form our own opinion. Um ... well ... interesting. But to be honest: most fun we had with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. I think we can't hide our origin. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a wonderful beast.

Gotta Go

A couple of days ago I had the pleasure to meet Roger Miret. He gave a concert in Hamburg with his band Agnostic Front and visited his Rumblers C.C. Chapter Hamburg.

For a full story (written in German) just follow this link. 

Need for Speed Euro Spokesmodel Search

I am proud to announce Electronic Arts (EA) teamed up with Chromjuwelen.com in search of the "2012 Need for Speed Spokesmodel". Our job is to help EA/NFS finding the right two ladies for the "German language sprachraum" (D-A-CH). Tuff!

What a NFS girl should be like? Well – this is how our colleagues from Speedhunters.com summarize it best: "boundless energy, an outgoing personality, a sexy, edgy style fused with a passion for cars and gaming."

A little more (borrowed from Speedhunters as well):

The winners will act as Need for Speed ambassadors at events throughout 2012 including representing Need for Speed products at high profile gaming events across Europe and our Team Need for Speed racing team in the prestigious FIA GT3 European Championship and Drift program.

Model searches and competitions are being conducted in five territories: France, Germany, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom. Two finalists will be selected from each territory with the final two winners from the European Spokesmodel Search Competition being announced in November in conjunction with the release of Need for Speed The Run. All contestants must be 18+.

Two winners will be announced in November and awarded a contract worth EUR 10.000,- each.

As UK, France, Norway and Russia have very charming ladies as well, it won't be a piece of cake. So help us and spread the word!

Google+

A few days ago Google rolled out "Google+" and we are honored to be part of it. At the moment it is still a kind of closed beta. "Kind of" because sometimes it seems to be possible to invite other people, but most of the time it fails. 

Due to our concerns for Facebook we are thrilled what this will do to the whole "Social Media" circus. Will it be a game changer? Or a geeky non-starter? It seems Ford (FoMoCo, Ford Europe) tries to find an answer as well.

Be that as it may — our first steps on Google+ feel very good. The whole interface (web/mobile) is excellent designed and fun to use. If you are on Google+ — let's get in touch! 

Rain ... er ... Race 61

Although we got warned in the forefront that it would pouring rain, we hit the road to Finowfurt in our 1972 General Tire International Harvester Scout II. Usually we came back with heavy sunburns from the Roadrunner's Race 61 – not so this year. What a bummer.

We snapped some photos with our cellphones. For some more photos just click on one of the images – or follow this link.

Oh. It's me.

Tobi Faust and Arthur Heisler (Faust & Heisler) just released a video portrait of me. And my work. And Chromjuwelen.com. Which makes me self-conscious. To be honest.

The video was shot during the "Street Mag Show Hamburg" and presents some people of our Chromjuwelen Family. Including Helge Thomsen (Motoraver, 1973 "Mad Max" Ford Falcon XB GT), Kris "Kick 'n' Rush" Karathomas (1958 Chevy), Niels-Peter Jensen (Cheezy Rider), Oliver Kaps (Style Deluxe). And — of course — our 1972 "General Tire" International Harvester Scout II.

Enjoy.

Social media is not "cool." MAKING MONEY IS COOL.

If you are making your money in the publishing-/marketing- or agency business, you've got to have an idea regarding "Social Media". There's no getting round it, Social Media is the big hype these days. And as there are no instruction manuals how to use Social Media, it is just a big trial and error. So do we, by the way. I post regularly about our defeats and successes.

Today I came across an article from Peter Shankman (Business Insider), which is perfect for all of those, who are just thinking about hiring a so called "Social Media Expert". Read it. And think again.

My favorite quotes (except the borrowed statement which I used as headline):

[...] Being an expert in social media is like being an expert at taking the bread out of the refrigerator. [...]

[...] Social media is just another facet of marketing and customer service. Say it with me. Repeat it until you know it by heart. Bind it as a sign upon your hands and upon thy gates. Social media, by itself, will not help you. [...]

[...] "It’s not about building a website anymore! It’s so much cooler! It’s about Facebook, and fans, and followers, and engagement, and influence, and…" Will you please shut up before you make me vomit on your shoes? [...]

Sure, some statements in Peter Shankman's article may sound radical. But there's some truth in it.