Business Insider is running an interesting piece on Village Ventures and how they are the one venture capital firm in existence that doesn't run for the hill at the idea of investing in a content company. In fact, content companies form the core of Village Venture's investments. Take a look... According to the article, Village Ventures believes online content can be a great business, as long as content companies are …
Agencies Who Make Magazines (And Other Media) Are Like Painters Who Make Canvas
Content is King. I better you haven't heard that one in a while. It's all Context is King these days. Yet, sometimes content and context meet and form a beautiful union. That could be the case in Delhi. According to Ad Age, Wieden + Kennedy's 3-year-old Delhi office is publishing Motherland, a magazine about India, which sells for $2.20 at newsstands, bookstores, boutiques, art galleries and at the airports of major …
Yes, Money Can Buy Hipster Caché
Several years ago I pitched Camel on the idea of starting a record label. The idea was for the brand to "discover" emerging artists and support them by producing their first album, which would then be distributed via Camel.com and the brand's event series, as well as through traditional merchandising channels. There really ought to be a word for what it feels like to pitch the right idea to the wrong client at the …
Every Company Is A Media Company, Hasbro More Than Others
On Sunday, Discovery Kids will become The Hub, a TV network for kids run by Discovery and toy maker Hasbro Inc. According to The Wall Street Journal, Hasbro and Discovery will be closely monitored by consumer advocacy groups that see the manufacturer's foray into TV as a further blurring of the lines between children's entertainment and advertising. Hasbro says shows will be character driven and tell good stories. …
Continue Reading about Every Company Is A Media Company, Hasbro More Than Others →
An Epic In 30 Seconds
Sprint is extending its "Epic Mini Movies" advertising campaign via a national contest that encourages consumers to submit their own Epic Mini Movies for a chance to win $25,000. Here's one of the brand's spots: Videos up to 30 seconds in length can be uploaded at YouTube. There's also an instructional video for the contest and contestants may want to surf through the brand's channel for some inspiration of "Epic" …
Copywriter Turned Filmmaker Turns His Lens On Detroit
Lemonade, Detroit is copywriter and employment activist Eric Proulx's follow up to Lemonade, a film about advertising professionals who lost their jobs during the economic downturn. "Lemonade, Detroit is a film about the disarming resilience of those who are moving Detroit beyond automobiles into an era of entrepreneurism." Lemonade: Detroit Trailer from Erik Proulx on Vimeo. The director and producer says, "What I …
Continue Reading about Copywriter Turned Filmmaker Turns His Lens On Detroit →
Are We A Danger To Ourselves?
The Wall Street Journal interviewed McCann head man Nick Brien in advance of Advertising Week. I like what he says about being open to change. WSJ: What's the biggest threat to the advertising marketing business today? Mr. Brien: Ourselves. If we don't continue to innovate our business models and become much more obsessed about training, developing and attracting talent, we will have an industry that is not …
Want To Sell $725 Boots In This Economy? You Better Have Some Great Selling Tools
Wolverine has been making footwear in Rockford, Michigan for over 125 years. This year, the brand decided to tap its roots and recreate some old standards for the modern man interested in getting 1000 miles from his boots. "The ideals and practices of Wolverine as a brand remain the same since its inception," said Roger Huard, Vice President of Product Development. "Creating a collection of footwear that pays homage …
