Joe at American Copywriter put up an excellent post today on focus groups and why they ought to be outlawed. Mention the words "focus group", and every creative can feel the bile rising in the throat. We know what's coming. We'll be sitting behind a two-way mirror for a couple of hours, eating bad snacks, and watching a group of people casually trample the work that we've poured our very souls into. Once those …
The Anti-Hugh
Tom Asacker writing on 800-CEO-READ this morning shares this pearl: For the record I don't believe in the death of ordinary, or anything else for that matter. Take advertising. If I hear someone predict the death of advertising one more time, I'm going to throw up. Advertising is a huge brand enhancer. Sure, it needs to evolve to keep up with today's skeptical and sophisticated audience. But it is certainly not …
For Vanity’s Sake
The Guardian: Fancy having your name on a gravestone in Neil Gaiman's next novel? Or meeting your end at the hands of a zombie in Stephen King's latest? Or being immortalised as one of Sunny Baudelaire's "utterances"? Here's your chance. As part of a charity venture, 16 authors, from John Grisham to Dave Eggers, are offering readers the opportunity to have their name appear in their forthcoming books. Fans will be …
So Much For Having A Nice, Lazy Summer
From The New York Times : In the last several days, accounts with spending estimated at more than $200 million have changed agencies, affecting brands in competitive categories like restaurants, automotive services and household products. And there will be more changes as reviews proceed for other accounts, with combined spending estimated at more than $1 billion. …
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Kodak’s Paperless Reinvention
USA Today: It won't be a snap to sharpen its image, but tonight Kodak begins a blitz of new ads and products designed to make consumers see it as a world-class digital-imaging company. The opening shot will be hard to miss: Ads will air simultaneously at 9 p.m. ET on the major broadcast networks and selected cable channels and Internet sites. The effort comes at a critical time. Kodak has been restructuring for a …
Low Priced iBooks Cause Melee
AP: A rush to purchase $50 used laptops turned into a violent stampede Tuesday, with people getting thrown to the pavement, beaten with a folding chair and nearly driven over. One woman went so far as to wet herself rather than surrender her place in line. An estimated 5,500 people turned out at the Richmond International Raceway in hopes of getting their hands on one of the 4-year-old Apple iBooks. The Henrico …
Details, Lewis. We Want Details.
Gotta love Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lewis Lazare's candor in today's column, regarding Sears recent shift of its entire account to Y&R/Chicago: "Y & R sources said there were plenty of heated debates about Sears advertising between Y & R creatives and Sears' recently departed marketing honcho Janine Bousquette. To many in the ad world, this columnist included, she seemed a shockingly ditzy executive who was in way …
Design Matters
I recently came across Debbie Millman's radio talk show, Design Matters, on Voice America. Millman is a Managing Partner and President of the Design division at Sterling Group, one of the country's leading brand identity firms. …