With gas prices headed north on a daily basis, people are rethinking their summer vacation plans, a fact which makes travel and tourism tough categories to promote right now. According to USA Today, many cities and states are responding with vacation ideas close to one's home. …
Sharper Image To Fade Away
I don't remember if I ever bought anything at a Sharper Image, but I won't have much time left to do it. 'Cause they're going out of business: Store closing sales have just begun at all 86 Sharper Image® stores as part of a major transformation of the Sharper Image brand. Over $50 million of inventory is being sold. Discounts of 20% to 40% are now being offered on all merchandise in all stores. Consumers will be able …
It’s Time To Climb
My head is spinning. Yvon Chouinard's memoir/manifesto, Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, is the reason. I don't know that I can successfully convey how important this book is. Yet, it's imperative that I try. First, let me say this book is the best "ad" I've ever seen. I've been a hard core fan of Patagonia for 25 years, but this book/ad has deepened my respect for the company. The …
Wrong Word
Do you crave intimacy with the brands in your life? Please tell me the answer is "no." Writing in BusinessWeek, Sohrab Vossoughi, founder and President of ZIBA Design claims intimacy is desired. Umpqua had to understand its own culture. What did Umpqua believe in? What was it good at? What did it stand for? What could it stand for? After researching these questions thoroughly, Umpqua found its customers were craving …
Rivers Run Through It
Chicago Sun Times advertising writer, Lewis Lazare, likes him some Michigan. "Pure Michigan" is a pure delight. We're talking, of course, about the exquisite ongoing ad campaign developed by McCann Erickson/Detroit to promote tourism in Michigan. What makes this "Pure Michigan" effort stand apart -- way apart -- is the stunning voice-over copy. Listening to the rhythmic waves of writing made us aware just how …
King of Beers Has To Contend With Former King, Among Other Challenges
The Wall Street Journal airs some laundry in their front page piece on the Busch clan of St. Louis. Ostensibly, the article is about Belgian giant InBev's possible bid for Anheuser, but it delves deep into family history and the tensions therein. An offer by InBev would put the 43-year-old August A. Busch IV in a tough spot. If Anheuser is sold to InBev, he could be remembered as the member of the founding Busch …
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Timex Wants Us To “Return to the Outdoors”
Return to the Outdoors is a campaign from Timex, in support of the watchmaker's Expedition brand. I don't know if Patagonia CEO, Yvon Chouinard, wears a Timex or not, but it would be hard to find a better spokesman for the outdoors lifestyle. …
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Nike Goes Home
Ad Age credits George Parker's Adscam with the scoop. One of my many talented spies around the world informs me that the "frat boys" at CP+B just lost their piece of Nike. Seems that the folks at Beaverton were none too happy with the CP+B Boulder outpost. Maybe the dudes spent too much time boarding and biking and not enough time doing Weiden quality work. Or this: Nike's account somewhere other than W+K just …
