The business press loves to frame things, because frames make a nice presentation, even if they're not always factual. At the same time, it can be a mistake to take a corporate titan at his word. Let's have a look at Eric Schmidt's word, delivered in Davos, Switzerland, home of the World Economic Forum. "We have a competitor called Microsoft," he said. "Microsoft has more cash, more engineers, more global reach. We …
Ted Williams Gets Big — And Crispin Gets Fast for Kraft
For homeless-turned-hot sensation Ted Williams, it's been a whirlwind. His Kraft voiceover is already in the can. Or rather, the box. Seriously, I love that an agency can act so fast to capitalize on something like this. But why is it that the only other thing I noticed about this spot is that when the kid says of his dad, "he just showed up with his client unannounced," it looks like he's not really pointing …
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GUESS by Marciano Is Not Just A Clothing Line, It’s An Aphrodisiac
Brands Too Can Be Repurposed
An auction of office equipment and movie memorabilia was held earlier this year at the Movie Gallery/Hollywood Entertainment headquarters in Wilsonville. Now the bankrupt company is preparing to auction off its brand names, digital assets and customer information. According to The Oregonian, the Nov. 9 auction will be handled by the valuation firm Streambank of Needham, Mass. "The company has been operating for more …
Have Narrative, Move Product
Abe's Market, an e-commerce hub that opened in October 2009 sells natural, organic and eco-friendly products from more than 180 small businesses around the country. The Web site's founders -- Jon Polin, 40, and Richard Demb, 33, say Abe's offer customers something that eBay and Amazon cannot. Namely, stories about decent, hardworking people who make the products Abe's sells. These brand narratives are delivered on …
People Who Live And Breathe The Client’s Brand, Often Fail To Service Their Own
Matthew Creamer of Ad Age sees lessons in agency branding in the 4th season of Mad Men, which wrapped up on AMC last night. He also sees a growing need for such branding from an industry that truly has no excuse. These days, an agency is both blessed and cursed by what feels like an endless array of communications channels into which it can insert its brand. There's all that older stuff, plus corporate websites, …
It Says You Like Cool-jams
Cool-jams wicking sleepwear outperforms all other leading wicking brands when it comes to night sweats, hot flashes, menopause, etc. Of course, this has not a thing to do with AT&T mobility, but the copywriter working on the following AT&T commercial thought it would be funny to add two lines of dialogue that gives the sleepwear provider some free prime time advertising. Since the spot started airing earlier this …
Vocal Voices Amplified By The Web Force GAP To Reconsider The Evolution Of Its Identity
GAP Inc scrapped a new logo on Monday just a week after launching it following an "outpouring of comments" online and from customers in support of the original blue box design it's had for more than 20 years. "We've been listening to and watching all of the comments this past week. We heard them say over and over again they are passionate about our blue box logo, and they want it back," said Marka Hansen, president …
