Sit down, brace yourself, or do what it is you would otherwise do when you’re about to receive shocking news. Ready? Good. Psssst. The Holidays are upon us. Awww. C’mon. Think that was a letdown? Well, let me make it up to you. This Holiday Greetings video was emailed to me today and it’s too good to be left […]

Issue: Hormel has trouble expanding into upscale food Commentary by: David Today, Steven Gray at the Wall Street Journal details Hormel’s difficulty expanding its brand into fast-growing niches including healthy and ethnic pre-packaged food.  In spite of a solid product and innovative technology, (using high-pressure pasturization instead of preservatives to keep food bacteria free by literally squeezing […]

The fact that the South recorded both the largest numerical population increase and the fastest rate of growth, along with the fact that, for the first time ever, there is a higher percentage of unmarried couples than married couples leading our nation's 111.1 million households [50.3 vs. 49.7], says a lot about the sweeping demographic […]

Normally if I had updated information on a blog post I’d just edit the entry and be done with it. This nut-crushing update is a special case, however, because so many people have been visiting the original entry. (I’m not quite sure how it happened, but the Doritos Japan Nut-crushing Package Design became the most […]

It's pretty sad when we glorify a figure like O.J. Simpson just to boost ratings. Is Fox that devoid of compelling content that they have to stoop to new lows? But what's reassuring is that the free economy worked: advertisers balked and were heard. Published by ScampContinue reading: The O.J. Lesson: Ad Agencies Should Use […]

Back in 2003, when Adverb first hit the blogosphere, I learned a quick lesson: when in need of adverblog content, always look to the East. It’s pure gold. Take this for example: the image you see– and you can click on it for a larger, much less knocked-out view– is a Frito-Lay “Doritos” bag from Japan. […]

We’re in the middle of editing a spot for one of my group’s clients, Chiquita Banana, that was shot in Miami when I was in the middle of my whole I’m-having-a-baby thing. Except for the overages caused by a weather day, and the problems with the production company, and the problem with the director and […]

Brand: Charmin (Procter & Gamble) Execution: Experiential Marketing Target: New York Visitors Rating: ***** Reviewer: David Description: Starting yesterday, Procter & Gamble’s Charmin Toilet Tissue is sponsoring free bathrooms in Times Square. The billboard promoting the sponsored restroom says, “You’re in New York. Go in style.” over the brand logo and an arrow pointing to the restroom entrance. […]

Who says you, as a small agency, can't afford to give your employees access to great training? One of the things we do is read books. "The Tipping Point," by Malcolm Gladwell, Published by ScampContinue reading: How to Improve Small Agency Employee Performance

See Wal-Mart. See Wal-Mart come under fire for keeping downward pressure on employee wages… and health care… and paid leave… and even lunch breaks. See Wal-Mart hire mega-P.R. firm Edelman to handle the problem. See Edelman create “Jim & Laura,” two bloggers who were supposedly traveling across the country and parking their R.V. in Wal-Mart parking lots. See […]

I’ve made my opinions on Consumer Generated Content pretty clear. Specifically, I’ve made my opinions clear on unfiltered consumer generated content and on, well, off-brand consumer generated content. (And even on stupid positions taken to advance the consumer generated warwagon.) And I have to admit that, when I made those posts, I felt somewhat alone […]

Seems the latest fad in our industry is consumer-generated advertising (affectionately known as 'desperately seeking buzz' marketing). Now, I'm all for exploring new media for our clients. But by asking amateurs to do a professional marketers' job, have we gone mad? Or have clients and select agencies lost faith in the creative talent on […]

Issue: Microsoft introduces Zune Commentary by: David Yesterday, Microsoft launched Zune. Zune is a music/video player which Microsoft hopes can gain a foothold against the Apple iPod. We saw the Zune in person early last week. It is a slick, attractive little device. It has an impressive screen and easy-to-use controls. It […]

Brand: Kraft Execution: Print Target: Women 25-54 Rating: **** Reviewer: David Description: For the fourth year, Kraft is sponsoring a special holiday issue of People which is being sent to 1mm of People’s 2.3mm subscriber audience (the mid-life women).  The issue will feature ads for Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Chips Ahoy, Jell-O and cinnamon coffee which are embedded with ‘rub and sniff’ […]

Those who know me well know how much I love lists. And that's why November through January is, perhaps, my Published by ScampContinue reading: Help Us Predict Small Agency Trends of 2007

Brand: Scion (Toyota) Execution: TV, In-Theater, Viral, Web Target: Young, Hip & Driving Rating: ***** Reviewer: David Description: Scion is an automotive brand of Toyota which has used innovative marketing techniques including viral, experiential, event marketing and branded entertainment (Scion has a record label and ‘Scion Release’ - a clothing line’). This week, Gina Chon at The Wall Street Journal […]

A few weeks ago our Ad Fed heard Cabell Harris speak. In the mid '90s Cabell founded WORK, a company he describes as a "Pop Culture Think Tank." Cabell is an über-creative mind who marches to his own drum, Published by ScampContinue reading: Improve Your Agency With Key Freelancers

Ad Age recently reported that Draft/FCB won the Wal-Mart account, largely on the backs of their retail experience. Matter of fact, having relevant experience Published by ScampContinue reading: How Much Should Category Experience Really Matter When Evaluating an Agency?

Look in your wallet. How many loyalty marketing membership cards are in there? Loyalty marketing programs claim over one billion members in the U.S., that's four Published by ScampContinue reading: What If Ad Agencies Offered Frequent Shopper Cards?

I'm tapping out this blog with my knees too close to my chest (didn't get my #*!@ upgrade), and laptop crunched between the seat in front of me (which I pray won't suddenly recline) Published by ScampContinue reading: My Small Agency, 3,000 Miles Wide: Managing a Remote Office