Fashion specialists, YARD in New York City, unveiled a new spot for Timberland. http://youtu.be/pAwvpBid8X0 Holy juxtapositions. Hipsters enjoy time spent in the woods and messing around in the city? This is big. And the great thing is said hipsters do not need two uniforms of nonconformity; one will do. "I'm made for this moment. I'm built to last," intones the voice over artist. I wonder, is he …
When Content Scores Points For Brands, It Doesn’t Need Much Defense
People like my friend Bob Hoffman, a.k.a. The Ad Contrarian, at times grow fatigued by all the hubbub around social media and content marketing. Bob says, "Content is a meaningless term -- a media contrivance -- invented by bullshit artists to add gravitas and mystery to mundane marketing activities." Yes, Hoffman is a humorist at heart, but I appreciate the pokes he provides, as it helps keep me on my game. …
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September Surprise: Republican Dr. Monica Wehby Supports Gay Marriage
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is running anti-Koch brothers ads that say, "Monica Wehby may be a good investment for the Koch brothers. But she’s the wrong choice for Oregon." It's a good line and one I am apt to agree with. http://youtu.be/CtK5mr63PaE Now, let's look at the challenger for a minute. Her views on certain things appear to be unorthodox. http://youtu.be/qAQ6fH1CFwg Yes, you just saw former …
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Columbia Sportswear Films Brand Advocates On Field Trip In Jordan
Columbia Sportswear has been "trying stuff since 1938." Now, with the help of CMD in Portland the recreational clothing maker is trying on the content producer's role with the release of a new brand-sponsored documentary, I Am #OMNITEN. Each year Columbia selects ten more people to join its #omniten program. The #omniten are not full time editors or paid professional athletes. They are college students, they are …
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Put Your #PinkiesDown And Your Cans In The Air
Union Wine Co. of Tualatin, Oregon is making waves in the wine world—which like the ad industry, is ripe for reinvention. From the start, Union’s primary goal has always been to reduce the pretension associated with wine drinking by making great wine without all the fuss. In an effort to bring this “pinkies down” philosophy to life, Union Wine Co. teamed up with Portlandia producer, David Cress, Eric Edwards …
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Salute Garage Rock With A Captain & Coke
Given that many lifestyle brands are also publishers today, brands have an opportunity to bring beauty and intelligence into the world, not just more "Look at Me!" adverts. For instance, King Tuff's new single, "Danger in the Dark," was created for the Captain Morgan brand's new global advertising campaign, The Tavern Series, which premiered in Mexico last week. "Danger in the Dark" will also appear on …
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Daily Candy No Longer Sweet
You can't read a media brand by its cover. For instance, Daily Candy looks like an incredibly healthy site. But its owner, NBC Universal, is not pleased with the numbers. So displeased are the suits that they decided to pull the plug on Daily Candy and Television Without Pity. http://youtu.be/uayO9HmfFbI According to Variety, Comcast bought DailyCandy in 2008 for $125 million from investment firm Pilot …
The Scoundrel’s Dilemma: When and How to Evoke Patriotism in Advertising
The great English writer Samuel Johnson once declared that, “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” Johnson’s beef wasn’t with patriotism per se, rather the issue of it being coopted for the purposes self-interest. In the preceding several hundred years since he uttered the phrase, proof of Johnson’s quote is still readily seen in many pockets of society. Politicians often appropriate the love of country …
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