This ad for Saks Fifth Avenue is bound to give the more idealistic Shepard Fairey fans reason to pause. Pimping the new Prez is one thing, but Saks is on another level. It's unadulterated consumerism. Eric Wilson of The New York Times, asked Fairey if his work could be "misunderstood as some sinister form of retail indoctrination." "Some people might think it could be making fun of what's going on right now," Mr. …
Photographic Content Helps Build Top-Shelf Scotch Brand
Masters of Photography from The Macallan is a beautiful series of images by Rankin captured at the distillery. The setting, the model, the famous photog and his 1000 Polaroids all combine to make a strong statement about this Scotch whiskey brand. …
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National Guard Rocks Out
So last night I went to the movies (saw "Slumdog Millionaire" which is excellent) and this played during the previews: A video promo for the National Guard, with a song called "Citizen Soldier" by 3 Doors Down. You can see a better quality version here. On the big screen, it's an amazing piece of video, combining the past and the present in stunning imagery. And a very interesting way to promote the National Guard. …
Lessons From The Big-And-Shrinking Three
When the CEOs of GM, Ford, and Chrysler went to Washington a couple of weeks ago to plead for money, there was one glaring thing that stood out: They each flew on separate private jets to get there. That's the kind of tone-deaf move people remember, and it's exactly what politicians and pundits seized on. Writing on Ad Age's Small Agency Diary, Tom Martin looks back and suggests ways we can all learn to present …
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Wrong. Just Wrong.
It's always a great idea to get the name of the brand in the headline! This ad for Quickie brand Wheelchairs trots out the double entrendre of all time. The 4-page insert is even more bizarre, using the header "Unburdened. Uncomplicated. Uninhibited." above the image and this headline. …
The Skywriting’s The Limit
In Atlanta, when you're stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, getting the hell out of dodge is an appealing notion. And AirTran Airways (which is very popular here) is pushing that idea with skywriting: AirTran Airways is turning to skywriting in the Atlanta area this week to advertise a sale. The Orlando-based airline, which has its main hub in Atlanta, hired a pilot to trace messages in the sky such as “AIRTRAN SALE” …
Long Copy Ads, Courtesy Of The Onion
No it's not an ad, but it sells. From an article called "The Imminent Collapse Of Global Markets Is No Reason To Skimp On Four-Season Gutter Protection": In a lot of ways, our economy is like a gutter. You take care of it, and it takes care of you. But when the people in charge decide to neglect the economy, to not invest properly to protect it from "bad weather," then those bad decisions will end up costing more in …
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Negative Ads Aren’t Limited To Political Campaigns
My new column for Talent Zoo takes a look at negative ads--both in political campaigns and consumer marketing. A psychologist could explore the pathology more in-depth than I could, but the basic fact is that negativity sticks in the brain. It has an immediate, visceral impact. Compliments are fleeting, but insults sting for years. You need not have been a high school outcast to understand the long-lasting effects of …
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