As the former owner of two VW camper vans and one Jetta Sportwagon TDi (which was part of the diesel emissions scandal), the offer made in this new VW did grab my attention. https://youtu.be/342QpEFmRpU The new six-year/72,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty is twice the length of what is typically offered by competitors. The new ad from Deutsch LA is the beginning of a sustained marketing push for the …
Runway? Hallway? Does It Really Matter When You’re Saving Hundreds of Dollars?
At Wal-Mart, you save money and live better. At Stein Mart, saving is a beautiful thing. You can sense the difference well before the sliding doors open. To compliment the brand's new TV spot, Stein Mart launched a four-city mobile fitting tour in Charlotte, NC on Oct. 7 featuring a custom-wrapped Airstream trailer equipped for onsite fashion makeovers. Assisted by professional stylists, makeover participants …
Add Value Or Be Labeled An Advertiser (Not In A Good Way)
TV is done. Radio is toast. Print is dead. Everything is always coming to an end. Unless it isn't. Maybe life is circular, not linear. One thing that does not appear to be coming to an end is the endless onslaught of bad advertising. Many companies can't waste their time and money fast enough on tired cliches and other advertising mishaps. We only need to turn on the TV to see the shocking lack of …
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From Ireland to South Carolina in 1817: Eight Hogsheads of Porter
I love to see brand marketers look inside their own company for inspiration. And when you happen to be an iconic brewer like Guinness, the riches to be found there are endless. https://youtu.be/o0xcLRv2mbA Let's learn more about malted barley from the masters of the art... https://youtu.be/cMq-NA3-YWo “Two things have always been at the heart of the Guinness brand since our founding in 1759: brewing great …
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Agencies Helping Agencies
Why doesn't Wieden + Kennedy/Portland spawn more startup agencies—something that Goodby Silverstein & Partners in San Francisco has successfully done for years? As someone who knows the Portland market, lack of client opportunities is the most obvious answer. FYI, there are just two big fish in the Portland market—Intel and Nike. Adidas America is also a cherry account. Former W+K creative director, Mark …
Will The Quants’ Conquest of Adland Be Short Lived?
In marketing circles, propeller heads rule the day, or so some say. They rule because they can quantify their work, parse the data, draw charts, and speak MBA-to-MBA. On the other side of the conference table, you have the creative firm and their bold ideas. The problem is bold ideas from the agency don't exactly instill confidence, in fact, they often do the opposite. Bold ideas are seen as risky, whereas …
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It’s Beautiful, Something of the Moon Is In the Glass
Customer testimony is crucial for brand managers to get a better understanding of their real audience. Likewise, word of mouth is the bread of life for a brand like Laphroaig. It's not a lager, it's Scotch whisky. Watch as these friends try Laphroaig for the first time. https://youtu.be/2qlAQg4aY3c If Laphroaig was a scared and sterile little brand, instead of a bold whisky from the early 19th century, …
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Behind Every Southwest Seat Is A Person With A Story
When dealing with airlines, customers too often feel like numbers, not people. Southwest and their time trusted partner, Austin agency GSD&M, take that idea and turn it on its head in this commercial, where the customers are the stars of the show. https://youtu.be/ahaOB_HFEO0 The spot also makes an incredible point—we connect with people's stories, and by extension brand stories. It's not their name or …
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