January 2012
1 post
May 2010
2 posts
Who's the "Man" in the Men's body care category?
In a marketplace that is becoming more and more competitive, with hundreds of brands vying for the consumer’s attention, it’s not unusual to see well-known brands taking shots at one another through their messaging. This is the first time, however, that I’m seeing men’s body care brands running attack ads comparable to those seen during political campaigns. Nivea going after AXE, Gillette...
WatchMen’s Body Wash Spots - Dove, Gillette, Nivea and Old Spice
April 2010
3 posts
"A-G-G-R-E-G-A-T-E," now use it in a sentence
Every year, the American Dialect Society chooses their word of the year, the one that’s wiggled its way into everybody’s conversations. “Tweet” was 2009’s word. In many cases, the word of the year and the long list of word “nominees,” are frequently uttered, almost overused, in the advertising industry. As a pop culture influencer, the ad industry projects many...
A little motivation never hurt, especially the...
Do the VO, music, and bold visuals in the ads below (see previous post), seem vaguely familiar? Anthemic ads are back in fashion, as a recession solution to drive sales and reengineer stale brand imagery. Beyond the overall message, which is similar in both ads, it’s the strategy behind the ads that is identical - empowering young consumers, Millennials for the most part, through their first...
WatchAnthemic Ads – Miracle Whip, Mazda 3, and Levis Jeans
All logos and trademarks belong to their respective owners.
March 2010
2 posts
Red Bull, the next Virgin? Unlocking the potential...
I’ve never liked the taste of Red Bull, and many people don’t. Nevertheless since I’ve known about the brand, I’ve enjoyed their guerilla marketing and “über” sponsorships. After a stint in the action sports industry a few years ago, I’ve become more than a brand supporter; I’m a Red Bull loyalist. The brand’s iconic success is evidenced by its many...
Driving into the next decades - More options, less...
Picture the future for a moment - How will the world look in 2050? How will people travel from point A to B? With what energy source? With what vehicles? From what countries? Will people everywhere drive as much as we do in the developed world today? Will the Earth be able to support 2 or 3 billion automobiles? Read on to find the answers to some of these questions. Historically,...
February 2010
3 posts
Status Update "Lazy Teens"
In 2005, USA Today boasted that blogs are: “the new way teens interact.” However, in the meantime teens seem to have lost their enthusiasm for blogging. Recent results from a Pew Research Center study show that the number of 12-17 year olds that blog, has decreased by half since 2006. They’ve traded writing longer, more regular portions of text, for short and quick messaging...
Paying for the Human Experience
Ahh, the joy of pressing buttons on your phone, 1 for English, then 4 for billing, then 3 for billing related to sale items, and so on. Good news, the age of impersonal service will be followed by a more human experience in the coming decade. However, there is one caveat, you’ll have to pay for it. Brands and service providers have finally heard the cry of the consumer: they want to talk...
January 2010
3 posts
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
– Albert Einstein
Business Without Borders
If you know the differences in business systems in the world market, you’ll be more apt to properly assess work situations at home and abroad. With heightened globalization, this becomes increasingly important. The sizable differences in the way business is conducted in the United States and Central Europe affects much of the hiring, employee/company relationship and upper management...
Price IS an option
“Name your own price,” or “pay what you’d like” promotions have become quite fashionable recently. Most die-hard capitalists and business owners balk at the notion of such practices, however, under certain social conditions it’s becoming enormously profitable for those that are implementing it. This trend gained greater traction when rock band Radiohead put...