"It wasn't a wonderful year for Chicago's advertising industry. In fact, it was a pretty lousy 12 months, marked mostly by advertising accounts leaving town, ad agencies shrinking their staffs (yet again), and an overall feeling of lethargy that didn't keep Chicago on the radar screen when many would-be clients went searching for new agencies. It's hard, admittedly, to bring in exciting new clients -- to say nothing …
Run Rabbit Run
from Bloomberg: In what may be another sign of consumer fatigue with political correctness, sales of furs--which plunged by a third in the 10 years ending in 1995 amid animal-rights protests--will climb about 15 percent to a record $2.1 billion this year, according to Fernandina Beach, Florida-based research firm Southwick Associates. "If you are fashion aware, you'd like to have an item with some fur on it this …
Whatever Happened To Concern Over Real Issues, Like Poverty?
from Mich News: In recent years the words …
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One More Reason Bud Needs To Move On
from USA TODAY: The Center for Science in the Public Interest has a problem with Budweiser's anti-Miller advertising. The ads in question feature beer-stealing football referees who lie to and run from police. "One can't help wonder whether the ads also have some other message in mind, namely, that breaking the law and bamboozling law enforcement efforts is a fine way to get a Bud Light," wrote CSPI's George Hacker, …
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Proselytizing Meet Advertising
from The NY Times: The International Bible Society paid to insert a copy of the New Testament in last Sunday's issue of The Colorado Springs Gazette. The volume went into the same pocket of the newspaper's plastic pouch where items like CD's from America Online or soap samples often go. The Bible group paid the standard advertising rate, and its spokeswoman, Judy Billings, said it considered the 91,000 copies of the …
Poaching Hilton’s Signal
This post is brought to you courtesy of Hilton Garden Inn. Allow me to explain. We checked in to Marriott's Fairfield Inn in Lancaster, PA last night, mainly so I could rack up more Marriott Rewards points. But also, because I knew they offered complimentary wireless internet--a blogger's must have. This morning as I powered up my trusty clamshell iBook--hey, I'm old school--imagine my surprise (and delight) at …
It’s Hard To Tell Who’s More Desperate. Wannabe Ad Guys, Or The Marketers They Hope To Impress.
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 …
Santa In Danger From Glass Cookies
from Chicago Tribune: Holiday cookies that may contain pieces of glass have been recalled by Archway Cookies. The company said in a statement that it was voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of its 10-ounce Archway Holiday Cashew Nougat Cookies sold nationwide. The company is investigating how the glass got in the cookies, which are made in Ashland and at another plant in Indiana. The same Cashew Nougat cookies …