Univ. of Dayton fans following the team's Sweet 16 berth are "buying out gear faster than the stores can keep them in stock, resulting in a significant boost to local businesses," according to Olivia Barrow of the DAYTON BUSINESS JOURNAL. Dayton-based Korporate Kasuals Owner John Kelly said that the store "already has officially licensed NCAA Sweet 16 T-shirts in stock." Kelly: "It's been a bump in business, no doubt about it." Kelly said that he has "had an additional 600 retail items in stock to meet demand since the tournament began, and he is ordering several more shirt designs commemorating" UD's second-round win over Ohio State, and one with a quote from coach Archie Miller. Flyer Spirit store manager Laura Tighe said, "We're waiting to get in our Sweet 16 shirts" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/25).
PR SAVVY: USA TODAY's Bruce Horovitz noted Warren Buffett's Quicken Loans Billion Dollar Bracket Challenge with Yahoo Sports "put Quicken in rare PR air." Horovitz: "How rare? Try 1 billion social media and PR impressions since the contest began." Quicken President & CMO Jay Farner said that brand awareness "shot up a whopping 300% since the contest began vs. prior to February." The "stunt already is being recognized by some as 2014's best PR move." So "successful has the ongoing contest been, that executives already are discussing next year's version." Buffett, too, has "publicly stated interest." But Farner said Quicken has not "had a specific conversation with him" (USA TODAY, 3/26).
MYSTIC PIZZA: AD AGE's Michael McCarthy noted CBS' Jim Nantz "hawks Papa John's pizza in a TV commercial that debuted nationally Monday," while ESPN's Scott Van Pelt has been "pitching rival Pizza Hut in TV ads airing during March Madness." The Papa John's spot, created by Zimmerman Advertising, Ft. Lauderdale, "follows the company's typically humorous, but hokey, ad formula." Founder John Schnatter in the spot is seen "personally delivering pizza to some celebrity endorser," and "this time he shows up at the man-cave" of Nantz. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut "goes for a more irreverent approach" with Van Pelt in ads created by mcgarrybowen, Chicago. Van Pelt in one spot is "chowing down on Pizza Hut's 'WingStreet' chicken wings with something of an expert: the Kansas Jayhawks mascot." The mascot "writhes silently" as he watches Van Pelt "savor the wings of fellow fowl." Pizza Hut is "planning two new TV spots" with Van Pelt during the tournament (ADAGE.com, 3/25).
