I like to see a client-side press person bite back when their employer is accused of wrongdoing, and today's business news provides that ring-side opportunity. According to The Wall Street Journal, The Center for Science in the Public Interest is bringing a class action lawsuit to a California court, claiming that Coca-Cola makes deceptive claims about its VitaminWater brand. CSPI nutritionists believe the 33 grams …
Obey Capitalism
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. …
Today In Twitterverse: Bold Statements On Sunset
Alison Byrne Fields is SVP/Managing Director, DDB Issues & Advocacy in Washington, DC and a big fan of LA. …
Continue Reading about Today In Twitterverse: Bold Statements On Sunset →
On the Surface It Looks Like Outsourcing
I need to get my head around around this. Ricola and other marketers are poking around inside these tubes looking for people with brand building ideas to compete against one another for $1000 in prize money. That's correct, what we in the business charge many thousands of dollars for is now available on the Internet for almost free. We've been Craigslisted! Uh, no. Not that. Genius Rocket, the service that connects …
Continue Reading about On the Surface It Looks Like Outsourcing →
Agencies In Strange Places: 17th in a Series
Fort Wayne, Indiana. Land of RV (recreational vehicles) manufacturing and basketball rivalries. Oh, there's also an ad agency in Fort Wayne. One with a blog, a Twitter account and a Web site where one can marker on the leaders faces. Pretty sweet. …
Continue Reading about Agencies In Strange Places: 17th in a Series →
The Boutique Is In Again
"Let's ditch these suits and kick it with those former Goodby guys in the old firehouse." Those may or may not have been the thoughts in the minds of Intel's CMO and CEO when they chose to work with Venables Bell & Partners in San Francisco on the technology company's core branding assignments. Here's a little of what's in Venables' head: The recession may accelerate the trend of large marketers looking for "more …
Open Happiness?
According to The Wall Street Journal, Coca-Cola will introduce a new ad campaign for its flagship brand next week. The ads are being created by Wieden + Kennedy, Portland, Ore. The "Open Happiness" campaign grew out of a six-month initiative dubbed "Project Next," which was spearheaded by Coke's new chief executive, Muhtar Kent, and Joe Tripodi, the company's global chief marketing officer. Both executives are …
Question Reality
Jason Baer, writing on Marketing Profs Daily Fix, argues that there's a power struggle over social media and who will "control it"--the ad guys, PR, digital or the client. Baer believes there's "much at stake" and that ad agencies won't miss this ship, like they did with digital. I couldn't disagree more. For one, most "ad agencies" will miss the ship, since they don't see social media and content development as …
Ask AdPulp: [YOUR ANSWER HERE]
Q. Hi, I was wondering if you could help me with my A-level media studies coursework. I am a student at King Edwards VI school in Bury St Edmunds. I have a question that I have to research and was hoping you could give me some information or your opinions on my research question? My question is "with the continuing development of technology in the 21st century is it now more beneficial for companies to advertise on …
Moving Lunches Through Mumbai
Idris Mootee is educating us on India's dabbawalas, or box persons. In Mumbai dabbawalas collect freshly cooked food in lunch boxes and deliver them to the workplace. The Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association is a streamlined 120-year-old organization with 4,500 semi-literate members providing a quality door-to-door service to a large and loyal customer base. It is probably one of the best ran organization in India …