Here's an issue that branding gurus don't address all that often: Brand names, ones with long histories, that simply get bought or licensed and used by unrelated companies. The AP reports on a new iteration of the Montgomery Ward brand: Five years after Montgomery Ward went out of business, its brand name has been revived on the Internet and there's even a 21st-century version of the Wards holiday catalog that was …
Have New Money? Buy Old Advertising
Bally, 1968 35.5" x 50" $680 …
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The Edible Business Plan
BusinessWeek asked Roxanne Quimby, who founded Durham, NC-based Burt's Bees about innovation. The innovation came in the way that I marketed Burt's Bees rather than the way it was manufactured. The products were good enough to eat. The skin is the largest organ of the body and anything you put on it ends up in your bloodstream. If people are conscious about what they eat, then they ought to care what goes on their …
Green Onions Get The Nix
Taco Bell ordered the removal of green onions from its 5,800 restaurants nationwide after tests suggested they might be responsible for the E. coli outbreak that sickened at least three dozen people in three states. The fast-food chain said preliminary testing by an independent lab found three samples of green onions appeared to have a harsh strain of the bacteria. "In an abundance of caution, we've decided to pull …
Carey Vs. Carey
According to China View, pop star Mariah Carey is worried fans could confuse her with American porn star Mary Carey. Mariah Carey filed suit Friday in Los Angeles to prevent the star of movies such as "Double Air Bags 11" and "Boobsville Sorority Girls" from trademarking her similar-sounding stage name. The adult film actress, whose real name is Mary Cook, said Friday she would not be intimidated by the …
If You Want More On Roehm And Wal-Mart
Each article takes its own tack on the news: Ad Age: "Unruly Julie and the Scandal That Rocked the Ad World" The New York Times: "Rocky Return to the Roots at Wal-Mart" The New York Post: "Draft Exec Out in Cold After Wal-Mart Move" (the new biz head of DraftFCB is leaving for Digitas) …
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Seminole Tribe Kicking Ass And Taking Names
Some Hard Rockin' Indians Los Angeles Times and USA Today both have the story... The Seminole Tribe of Florida is buying the famed Hard Rock business, including its casinos, restaurants, hotels and huge collection of rock 'n' roll memorabilia, in a groundbreaking $965-million deal. The Seminoles were the first U.S. tribe to get into the gambling business in 1979. More recently, they had partnered with Hard Rock in …
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Boring Corporate Sites Attract More Eyeballs Than “Wife Swap”
Big, boring corporate websites, such as Unilever and P&G, attract a bigger audience than prime time TV shows, according to Ad Age: Such package-goods marketers as Procter & Gamble Co. and Unilever don't sell many products directly online. Their low-cost, low-involvement brands tend not to generate much search. Yet the websites of P&G and Unilever now reach nearly 6 million and 3 million unique visitors, respectively, …
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Another Powerful Woman In The News
According to The New York Times, Yahoo is looking to a strong woman to resurrect the company in its time of need. On Tuesday, in an attempt to compete better with faster-moving rivals, the company announced a restructuring of its operations into three business units. As part of the reshuffling, Terry S. Semel, the company’s chairman and chief executive, tapped Susan L. Decker, 44, to run the unit that arguably faces …
A Ten Pack From Danny G
Danny G just ripped off ten blog posts in a row. Dude, I've only been traveling for two days! Once again, it's nice to have colleagues you can count on in this, or any, endeavor. …