Bob Hoffman, CEO of Hoffman/Lewis and otherwise known as The Ad Contrarian, is taking a deeper look at the factors hampering the ad industry in a series of posts titled The Crisis of Advertising: Advertising pundits are right about one thing. The ad industry is a fucking disaster. They are wrong, however, about what is causing the problems. The crisis is not being caused by the internet. The internet should be a boon …
Chipotle Lets An Agency Relationship Go Sour
Ad Age reveals a choice nugget regarding the parting of Chipotle and its' short-lived ad agency, Devito/Verdi: Chipotle is looking for a new agency, the company announced this morning. Its $15 million to $20 million business moved to DeVito/Verdi, New York, in January, following a review. It does not appear to be the most amicable of partings. "All of the agencies in the review may want to call us or the previous …
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Hyundai Leaves Goodby In the Dust
Ad Age has the story: Hyundai dealers were unhappy with Goodby's cerebral "Think About It" campaign, the executives said. Also, Hyundai's president-CEO, Jong Eun Kim, who arrived in January, was losing patience that the agency's work for the $80 million launch of the new upmarket Genesis sports sedan wasn't working, one of the executives said. Hyundai introduced the Genesis to the U.S. market during this year's Super …
Microsoft Cancels Seinfeld
Apparently, the Crispin spots featuring Jerry Seinfeld are getting the hook, and being replaced with other spots, including John "I'm a PC" Hodgman look-a-like embracing the character in the Apple ads. From The New York Times: What follows is an audacious embrace of the disdainful label that Apple, Microsoft’s rival, has gleefully — and successfully — affixed onto users of Microsoft products: “I’m a PC.” One new …
Your PR Spin Quote Of The Day
From an Indoor Tanning Association press release regarding Sarah Palin's installation of a tanning bed in the Alaska Governor's Mansion: “Kudos to Governor Palin for standing up to dermatologists and other members of the sun scare industry who are trying to frighten Americans away from UV light.” - Dan Humiston, President of the Indoor Tanning Association The "sun scare industry"? Now, I go to a tanning salon every …
AIG Ugh
Frankly, if I was the kid in this spot I'd be a little panicked after the parents said they were with AIG. But I guess government bailouts can make you sleep better at night. Reminds me of those "Ask Why" Enron spots. The ad agency did what it was asked to do. It's the client that spun out of control. …
Does Barack Really Want My Opinion?
I've written before about the sophisticated marketing techniques the Obama campaign has employed. Today, I got an email suggesting they're looking for more feedback. I got invited to take a survey that says in part, "your feedback will inform the planning and will help us adjust for the next phase." I haven't done the survey yet, but I will. Are they going to change their message in the next 50 days based on what …
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F!@#in’ A, Bud Light Wins An Emmy
Congrats to the DDB team in Chicago, whose "Swear Jar" ad for Bud Light has just won an Emmy. We tried this at our office for a little while. I kicked in $10 a week to proactively cover my foul mouth. …
