Ad Age: The Kroger Co. has signed a deal with In-Store Broadcasting Network (IBN) to launch a TV network in 2,500 Kroger stores, according to the company. Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is the nation's No. 2 grocery chain behind Wal-Mart; IBN, of Salt Lake City, Utah, provides in-store music and TV advertising services to supermarket and drug store chains. Kroger says the new in-store TV messaging system …
Slipknot Hires Lawyers To Coq Bloq Burger King & Crispin
From The Smoking Gun: Claiming that its image and persona have been hijacked as part of a marketing campaign for Burger King's new chicken fries, the costumed heavy metal band Slipknot is threatening the fast food giant with legal action. In the below August 4 letter, the band's lawyers charge that Coq Roq--a mock metal band featured in new Burger King commercials--was created as a "look-alike, sound alike 'band' in …
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Warning: Sideways Glances May Occur
Clark Sorensen makes awesome urinals. And he's happy to discuss commissions and requests of any kind. This seems like an opportunity to raise the level of bathroom advertising by a magnitude heretofore unseen. I imagine Clark could fashion a urinal into a product-like shape. Better yet, a hotel or restaurant could simply commission the artist and become known for having the most inventive bathroom space in their …
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In Search Of Quantifiable Data
Joe at American Copywriter put up an excellent post today on focus groups and why they ought to be outlawed. Mention the words "focus group", and every creative can feel the bile rising in the throat. We know what's coming. We'll be sitting behind a two-way mirror for a couple of hours, eating bad snacks, and watching a group of people casually trample the work that we've poured our very souls into. Once those …
The Anti-Hugh
Tom Asacker writing on 800-CEO-READ this morning shares this pearl: For the record I don't believe in the death of ordinary, or anything else for that matter. Take advertising. If I hear someone predict the death of advertising one more time, I'm going to throw up. Advertising is a huge brand enhancer. Sure, it needs to evolve to keep up with today's skeptical and sophisticated audience. But it is certainly not …
For Vanity’s Sake
The Guardian: Fancy having your name on a gravestone in Neil Gaiman's next novel? Or meeting your end at the hands of a zombie in Stephen King's latest? Or being immortalised as one of Sunny Baudelaire's "utterances"? Here's your chance. As part of a charity venture, 16 authors, from John Grisham to Dave Eggers, are offering readers the opportunity to have their name appear in their forthcoming books. Fans will be …
So Much For Having A Nice, Lazy Summer
From The New York Times : In the last several days, accounts with spending estimated at more than $200 million have changed agencies, affecting brands in competitive categories like restaurants, automotive services and household products. And there will be more changes as reviews proceed for other accounts, with combined spending estimated at more than $1 billion. …
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Kodak’s Paperless Reinvention
USA Today: It won't be a snap to sharpen its image, but tonight Kodak begins a blitz of new ads and products designed to make consumers see it as a world-class digital-imaging company. The opening shot will be hard to miss: Ads will air simultaneously at 9 p.m. ET on the major broadcast networks and selected cable channels and Internet sites. The effort comes at a critical time. Kodak has been restructuring for a …