from NY Times: Not long after the chief executive at Coca-Cola, E. Neville Isdell, began saying that the company needed to improve its marketing, a group of experienced hands in the ad industry decided they might be able to help.
Soon a collective of creative types from many industries delivered their response, including a new campaign, brand promise and commercial for Coca-Cola using the theme, “A Cool American.”
Another lame spec ad makes the news.
The group that sent Coca-Cola its unsolicited campaign has kept at it, posting suggestions for companies including Mitsubishi Motors North American and Alltel on MadisonAveNew.com, a Web site operated by Harry Webber, the founder of Smart Communications in Los Angeles.
“If Madison Avenue is no longer the evangelist for creative thinking in America, then somebody has to take up that cause,” Mr. Webber said. “That is the calling of all creative people, not just people who work for ad agencies.” Mr. Webber has another motive for wanting to see Coke sales rise: he owns stock in the company.
James B. Twitchell, professor of English and advertising at the University of Florida in Gainesville, agreed that the cultural power of advertising made it hard for creative people to ignore. “If I want to be creative, that’s the place I’m going to go,” he said. “It’s not so much that I want to sell the product, or even care about the product, but it’s where our shared storehouse of stories is.”
Wannabe Ad Guys?
Hey Dave. I’m in the Clio Hall of Fame for “I’m Stuck On Band-Aid and on the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame,
for “A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste.” Besides being quoted in the New York Times last week, what else is there, exactly that you think I “Wannabe?”
Harry Webber
MadisonAveNew.com
Hey Dave. I’m in the Clio Hall of Fame for “I’m Stuck On Band-Aid and on the Madison Avenue Advertising Walk of Fame
for “A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste.” Besides being quoted in the New York Times last week, what else is there that you
think I “Wannabe?” You?
Harry Webber
MadisonAveNew.com
Sorry for the double-post. I’m just so desperate to
impress.
Not sure who you wanna be, since I don’t know you, Harry Weber (despite your awfully impressive decorations). But it looks like you might wanna be Coca-Cola’s ad agency.
Understand, I do not fault you for that desire. I’ve always liked ambition. All I’m saying is make your approach better than good. Make it exceptional.
I see nothing good, nor exceptional, in the work above.
If you’re going to trash somebody’s work at least spell their name right. It’s Webber with 2 b’s.
Now, for the record. I have no interest in being Coke’s ad agency or anybody else’s ad agency. My clients hire me to determine when it’s time to fire their ad agencies. As for going out on a limb, as a stockholder in TCCC I have a vested interest in Mr. Ivester and Mr. Fruit doing better than their predecessors in coming up with a more compelling means by which to stem the brand’s plummeting sales. People either love or hate the “Cool American” campaign, but one thing is for sure. It has recieved more global press than anything the brand has done on its own, during the past year, and that’s what makes it exceptional. That and the strategy to position Coke as an endorser of those Americans who do not fit the stereotype held by so many around the world. But then, you didn’t get that I guess. To each his own.
Harry Webber
MadisonAvenew.com
Given your long and glorious history in the ad biz, I would have thought you’d have thicker skin by now. Guess not.
And I just love the sophmoric trick you employ. “If they don’t like the work, they must not grasp its inner meaning.” What a bucket load of crap.