Writing in Ad Age, Claudia Caplan, CMO of RP3, takes a look at the documentary "Bully" and asks whether our industry has some culpability in shaping a culture where bullying is promiment. "Bully" made me feel both responsible and ashamed. It got me thinking about the role advertising has in shaping what's cool and what's uncool, what's normal and what's weird. It reminded me of the many casting sessions I've sat …
Advertising’s Top Creatives For A More Creative Economy
Why do I feel like Dan Wieden and crew have a not-so-secret deal with the White House to promote American values in this time of trouble? Probably because it shows in the agency's reel. Clearly, bailing out Wall Street and Detroit's automakers was a political act; therefore, reshaping those brands is an also a political act, to some degree. Here's the original ad from Hal Riney that this new Clint …
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Pols Reverse Their Position on Piracy, But Big Content Slaps Back
According to Mashable and Forbes, yesterday's blackout by Wikipedia, and other sites (including this one) caused some pols to rethink their position. PIPA co-sponsor Florida Sen. Marco Rubio pulled his name from the bill Wednesday, and SOPA co-sponsor Arizona Rep. Ben Quayle pulled his name Tuesday. But the war ain't over. An entertainment industry lobbying group by the name of Creative America (a dubious …
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KFC Tries To Be Finger Lickin’ Good Again
KFC is out to win hearts and minds with its latest family-based public relations campaign. The fast feeder gave one military family an emotional and unexpected reunion this week. The 17-year-old twin daughters of Capt. Cherissa Jackson arrived at a Baltimore-area restaurant to help KFC employees assemble gift packages, but the gift turned out to be all theirs. And check it out, the brand needn't bother making …
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LeBron Puts Finger In Educational Dike
In the United States of America, 7,000 high school students drop out every school day, which translates to one every 26 seconds. That's a crime and our future is the victim. To raise awareness about the dropout prevention issue and connect people to actions they can take to make a difference, the U.S. Army and the Ad Council today unveiled a new a new television public service announcement featuring NBA All-Star …
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BOBS Gives Bobs Everywhere A Bad Name
AdPulp is late to this particular party, so please excuse us, but what the hell is BOBS from Sketchers? Did Sketchers just buy TOMS? Either that, or this one of the most blatant brand rip offs ever. According to TOMS blog, "TOMS is in NO WAY associated with Skechers, and will never be." So that supports the blatant rip off angle. When BOBS first appeared last year, Simon Mainwaring argued in Fast …
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Ugly Is In The Eye of the Beholder
Switch, an independently-held, experiential marketing agency in St. Louis created is sending out ugly holiday sweater tees to supporters of Animal Protective Association of Missouri (APA). The APA is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing people and pets together, advancing humane education and creating programs beneficial to the human/animal bond. For a $20 donation to the APA, Switch will …
Dr. Pepper Dangles Tuition Money In Front of College Students
"Dr. Pepper is changing lives" is not the kind of promotional come on we're used to hearing from a large packaged goods brand. Which makes this "marketing as a service" campaign from the beverage brand sort of interesting. But does it sell more soda? You be the judge... Here's a new entry in the brand's 2011 $1,000,000 Tuition Giveaway consumer generated media contest, which is presently the …
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