Today's New York Times "Sunday Styles" section explores the rise of high end bakeries in Los Angeles. To understand how a culture moves full speed from fear of carbs and sugar to the need for indulgence, the Times reporter turns to cultural anthropologist, Grant McCracken and food critic Jonathan Gold for answers. Blame it on a culture where the BlackBerry-obsessed run around like overcaffeinated track stars, but …
“Transparency Is Not A Strategy”
In her latest Hog Blog post Sally Hogshead explains the value of anarchy and reminds us the "The Declaration of Independence" was once considered an anarchist document. As much as I love where she's going with her "Anarchy Now!" call to action, what I really like is her paragraph on transparency. Companies are coming to terms with the need to be “transparent” with consumers, realizing that poor service, shoddy …
A Little Venting
I guess that when you read a blog called Why Advertising Sucks you know what you're in for, but still it's some good reading. There's a perfectly well-timed and well-crafted rant entry: You won’t matter for however much people insist that you do because no matter what, someone else will do your job and since your full potential shall never be utilized, then no worries, because someone half as good as you can provide …
Picturesque Americana In Focus
I saw a TV spot last night that led me to Google and then to Nikon's wonderful "Picturetown" microsite, created to promote their D40 camera. Nikon, with the help of McCann Erickson/New York, has put together a remarkable campaign. Remarkable because it's a consumer generated content initiative that looks and feels extremely high-quality. Consumers will no doubt attribute this to the D40's ease-of use, which from my …
eHarmony’s Sour Note
This Hanft Raboy and Partners ad for Chemistry.com is timely. Reuters is reporting that dating site eHarmony is facing legal action in California for denying lesbians and gays the right to use its service. Lawyers bringing the action on behalf of Linda Carlson are seeking to make their case into a class action lawsuit. eHarmony was founded in 2000 by evangelical Christian Dr. Neil Clark Warren and had strong early …
The Courage To Act
The Wall Street Journal wants to sell its Weekend Edition. Their creative leaders campaign is intended to do just that. Here's their pitch: Even in an industry full of radical thinking there are standouts—individuals whose ideas consistently break new ground, no matter how quickly circumstances shift. These pioneeers realize that even as the work week ends, the next big thing is about to begin. Weekend Edition is …
Kraft Drops Axe. Heads Roll.
Ad Age and the Chicago Sun Times are both writing about JWT's Chicago office today. Lewis Lazare leads with: It didn't take long for the other shoe to drop at JWT/Chicago. Just weeks after a quarter of the agency's staff was axed, JWT/Chicago also is jettisoning its top managers -- President Ros King and executive creative director Graham Woodall. This latest management upheaval comes in the wake of Kraft's recent …
Red, White + Blue vs. Red, White + Blue
WakeUpWalMart.com has launched an advertising campaign aiming to dissuade what it calls Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s core customers -- Southerners and conservative Republicans -- from shopping at the retailer. WakeUpWalMart.com, which was formed two years ago by the United Food and Commercial Workers union. The UFCW's tagline is "A Voice for Working America." The first ad to air criticizes Wal-Mart's ties to China. The ad …
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