Randall Rothenberg's book, Where the Suckers Moon was instrumental for me at the beginning of my ad career, probably because the book's release (October 25, 1994) and my interest in the business coincided. Today, Rothenberg is President of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). As such, he's concerned with the lack of creativity in Interactive media. The four enemies of online branding: A direct-marketing culture …
My Self-Selection: Writer, Editor and Entrepreneur
The other day, I read a meditation on what it means to be an entrepreneur. Here are some highlights: What makes an entrepreneur different is that he assumes risk. He puts his money, his time, his success, and himself on the line for what he's doing. I was an entrepreneur in the past. Being a young entrepreneur didn't just change my life; it literally paved my way. I believe that entrepreneurs, and even …
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Oregon’s Culture Shapers Win Again
Phil Knight's Laika is big news in Portland these days. The animation studio's new film Coraline is doing well at the box office and people are also loving the marketing for the film created by Knight's old buddies at Wieden + Kennedy. In an Ad Age interview, Knight says W+K identified some 15 niche demographic "spokes," then set about courting the knitting aficionados, comic-book geeks, collectibles mavens, emo …
Simplifiers Want Instant Coffee, Starbucks Will Provide
Starbucks is about to introduce instant coffee. Is this a way for the Seattle-based conglomerate to grow income, destroy a brand, or both? After all, would a premium coffee company ever touch the instant category? It's like Odwalla offering its customers a Tang-like substance. In a Huffington Post advertorial, Howard Shultz of Starbucks quotes John Quelch, the Harvard Business School professor and marketing guru: In …
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Since Brands Belong To You, Go Ahead And Pull Some Cash Out
There's more at Calros Mandelbuam's blog and YouTube page. What there's very little of, is biographical information. Come on people, feed The Google. …
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Smoke On Greenville’s Water
When your brain is on fire, there's no time for time sheets. …
Digital Is
Other than anything written by Brian Morrissey, Adweek's best offerings of late are guest editorials from people working in the salt mines. Today Spyro Kourtis, president and CEO of the Hacker Group, says he doesn't see the need to name a Digital Agency of the Year (R/GA again). "Digital" is not a discipline or a profession the way brand marketing or direct marketing or public relations are. Those professions have …
Douchenozzles And Dumbasses Impaled Upon Parker’s Pike
"Dumb it down, Burn!" I haven't heard these words in a while, but I used to hear them regularly. Chances are you've heard them to, in all the various forms such defeatism takes. In the foreword to George Parker's new book, The Ubiquitous Persuaders, Jeff Goodby shares his thoughts on the practice. Dumbing down is treating people like less intelligent sheep to be manipulated. It presumes they won't notice ham-fisted …
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