I love a good analogy. And in describing the current desire of marketers to precisely target messages at specific consumers, Teressa Iezzi, writing in Ad Age, comes up with a good one: I heard a media expert say this on a panel a while back: "If I'm a dog-food maker I am now able to send my commercial messages only to dog owners." In the mainstream media, it's the Fox News effect -- with more media outlets trying to …
Poor People In Latin America: The Perfect Demographic
I simply have no idea what to make of this. From The Wall Street Journal: While many advertisers lavish dollars targeting well-off consumers, in Latin America the vast majority of people have far less money. According to the World Bank, 25% live on less than $2 a day, and many millions of others earn only a few hundred dollars a month. Increasingly, big brands are deciding that people once thought too poor to buy …
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The Gap Falls Into A Hole
Is it just my clouded memory, or does this seem to happen every few years? The Gap goes along strong, then they try selling trendy clothes and sales drop, then they go back to basics, then they get stronger, then they screw up again, then they go back to basics? I swear I've heard this 3 or 4 times in the last 20 years or so. From …
Of So-Called Rock Stars and Stage-Hogging Poseurs
I just *love* how Ad Age declared the Death of the Rock Star CMO. Well, who do you think anoints them as rock stars in the first place? I decided to explore this asinine trend: Now, there’s nothing wrong with saying someone has extraordinary skill or talent. Heck, even an extra helping of charm and good looks can help you succeed in the ad biz. But to elevate someone to “rock star” status is sheer lunacy. In a …
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This Is Our Country. But Here Comes Their Truck.
No matter what you think of the ad's imagery and message, the Chevy Silverado spots featuring John Mellencamp are a huge deal. Really. Advertising professionals aren't the target audience for pickup trucks, but trucks like the Silverado and the Ford F-150 are what's been keeping GM and Ford in business. American-built trucks enjoy a brand loyalty that the regular cars don't have anymore. That loyalty will be put to …
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HDTV Presents Unique Challenges For The Porn Industry
Hey, it's in the New York Times business section, so it must be newsworthy: The high-definition format is accentuating imperfections in the actors — from a little extra cellulite on a leg to wrinkles around the eyes. Hollywood is dealing with similar problems, but they are more pronounced for pornographers, who rely on close-ups and who, because of their quick adoption of the new format, are facing the issue more …
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Crispin Porter & Backlash
People just really hate this ad. UPDATE: Here's a shocker: Bob Garfield doesn't like it, either. …
Identity Theft Goes Maxx
This seems to be becoming a weekly occurrence. From The New York Times: The TJX Companies, the retailer that operates the T. J. Maxx and Marshalls discount clothing chains, has joined the ignominious list of companies that have had sensitive customer financial data pilfered by identity thieves. Yesterday the company, based in Framingham, Mass., said that as early as 2003 and during most of last year, an intruder had …
