Unlike VW, whose Super Bowl pooch went on a diet to give better chase the sexy red Beetle in the neighborhood, Subaru pooh poohed the Super Bowl this year, opting instead for a new dog-centric campaign from Carmichael Lynch instead. According to Auto Blog, Subaru has also launched two social networking app as part of this effort: Dogbook for Facebook and MapMyDOGWALK. Because some 70 percent of Subaru drivers …
UCLA Verus USC Verus Every Other Elite University in The World
Colleges and universities really ought to have incredible advertising to support their brands. UCLA isn't quite to incredible with this new work from Philadelphia-based 160 Over 90, but they're pretty far ahead of the pack, regardless. According to Stuart Elliott of The New York Times, the work underscores the growing presence of universities and colleges as advertisers in the media. Their goals include …
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Are You Ready To “Attack and Disrupt” Your Company And All That Is Sacred?
I have a weakness for certain industries. The hotel industry, for instance. It's the stuff novels are made of. Also media companies, I have a weakness for those too. So, if you'll indulge me, let's take a look at the success story now underway at The Atlantic. Adweek and The New York Times both put reporters on this venerable media brand's turnaround. It is a good story. David G. Bradley, having profited …
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Giving Young Hungry Guys What They Want
It has been said that talented young people have little motivation to join the ad business today. Naturally, that is a steaming pile of horse shit. For one, you could find yourself at 72andSunny working on Hardee's/Carl's Jr. and "giving young hungry guys what they want." Or you could be working at TeamOne, dreaming up an idea for Lexus that focuses on the challenges presented by Tori Praver's curves. …
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One of Adland’s Stranger Marriages
Strawberry Frog has Leaped to What's Next, namely the acquisition of the firm by APCO Worldwide, a stakeholder-engagement firm (whatever that means). The strawberry frogs will no doubt want to know what it's like to work at APCO Worldwide. No worries, the stakeholder-engagement firm (whatever that means) has made a video to answer that. According to Stuart Smith of Politics of Marketing: The spin on …
And The Gravity Shifts Back To Manhattan
Alex bailed (and his name is on the door). Jeff Benjamin, a partner in the agency, bailed. Now, according to Ad Age, two more high profile staffers--Ari Merkin and Dave Rolfe--have bailed on Crispin Porter & Bogusky, which until recently was the hottest agency in all the land. I have no idea what's driving these departures. Maybe people need new challenges. I know I do. But what's ailing Crispin is not my …
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Rombo’s Mud Doesn’t Stick To Santorum
Ad the campaign for the Republican nomination for President of the United States heads toward Super Tuesday, Rick Santorum is rising in the polls. A fact that leads "Rombo" to get his mud-slinging gun, or so says Santorum. According to Christian Science Monitor, the ad is preemptive move. "Santorum is not going to sit on his poll lead in Michigan and wait for Romney to come after him. He’s going to take some …
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Dog Is Leo Burnett’s Copilot
We don't feed our Lucy Purina Pro Plan and I don't know if dogs approve of this brand. What we can discuss here is the quality of the new ad campaign from Leo Burnett and Arc Worldwide. I like ads that evoke an emotional response, and that's easy to do when casting a dog or dogs, but it's not always done well. Here it is: The campaign launched during the 136th Westminster Kennel Club All Breed Dog Show …