Four finalists have emerged in software company Intuit's "Small Business Big Game" contest, which will give one lucky small business a commercial in the 2014 Super Bowl.
All four companies will have commercials produced by ad agency RPA, and the winner of an online vote will see its ad air Feb. 2 on Fox's Super Bowl telecast, where the average price for a 30-second spot will exceed $4 million. The finalists were culled from 15,000 entries, and you can vote through Dec. 1. This is not a contest to select the best commercial, like Dorito's "Crash the Super Bowl" competition, but rather a referendum on the merits of the businesses themselves, which have provided informational videos and case histories for voters to study.
GoldieBlox produces toys designed to teach girls about science and engineering. Locally Laid Egg Company markets eggs laid by free-range hens. Dairy Poop sells fertilizer. Those three seem like fine operations, but I'm pulling for Barley Labs, which makes dog treats from barley left over from brewing beer. I'm basing my decision solely on the company's ultra-cute, lab-coat-wearing, Lab-mix mascot, Barley. Show that mutt frolicking with some cute kids, and we're talking Ad Meter dynamite! And might I suggest a synthesized spokes-doggie voice for a touch of class?
Meantime, which one gets your vote?