Looks as though we may have another Viral hit on our hands from
Deutsch LA, with help from their seed company, the Feed
Company. This time, the campaign is for Cici’s pizza, named “Ultimate
Boomerang.’

As the founder of Feed Co. Josh Warner said in an email, “The
campaign features an energetic shaker boarder named Roto filmed outside
a CiCi’s Pizza doing break-dance moves and throwing his shaker board
like a boomerang and - amazingly - catching it. However what’s amazing
is how a campaign that seems so out-of-character for a family-style
restaurant started with basic, yet insightful, research at the
store-level. When CiCi’s Pizza managers used shaker boarders outside
their stores, sales jumped. So corporate and their agency went looking
for a brand ambassador who could shake-a-board with the best of ‘em and
found Roto. They’ve posted videos on YouTube and MySpace, created a
microsite at
www.yoroto.com,
and will soon have Roto appearing at special events. It’s tactics for
the new age but put under $5 and Endless Buffet on any sign and spin
it, you’re bound to get customers - and that’s smart marketing in any
era. Just ask the store managers.”

This one might be a little trickier than their RayBan effort. This
one has a more obvious brand message, which obviously can work against
them. But with 50k views on YouTube so far, they’re well on the way…

Today, Adrants groused about the pretentiousness of the new Pearl Izumi "We Are Not Joggers" campaign, a clear counterpoint to Reebok’s "Run Easy" efforts.

While I can’t say that I dislike the campaign as much as Angela over at AdRants, I do hate Pearl’s sucky-sucky Flash work on their home page.  The "We Are Not Joggers" box is actually set up to be a little interactive booklet, with pages that turn with a mouse-over (or a click-n-drag?).
Yea, no… unless I am horribly spastic and have lost all control of my motor skills (which, granted, is totally possible), the Flash blows.  Go check it out and let me know if I’m destined for a life of eating crayons, or if it’s actually impossible to use.

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, advertising, pearl izumi, reebok, adrants, we are not joggers

Yesterday, a comment popped up here at BMA that likely would have gone unnoticed given that the post it is directed toward is a year old.  However, it’s a good, and in many ways entertaining, read, so I wanted to share it here.  The post in question is from last July and talks about a group of Cooper-Hewitt design winners who turned down an invitation to the White House based on their political beliefs.  

Anonymous, currently a graphic design student, posted the following yesterday:

I’m late to the game and I doubt anybody will see this, but what the heck! I am a graphic design student, and I am so tired of the graphic design profession and their ridiculous rhetoric about how they feel they have some mission to "save the world" and do all of these "socially responsible" pieces. What a load of crap. I am not taking design classes to be a political activist. I am not taking design classes to save the world. I am taking design classes because it is something that greatly interests me in many different ways. Everybody has their political points of view, and that’s great. But I am so tired of the "graphic arts community" trying to shove their politics and agendas down my throat. I fully understand now why it’s called a "liberal arts" program…

I have my own thoughts on these statements, and I’ll be happy to share them.  I’d like to see a few others respond first, though, before I color those responses with my opinions.  So please, comment away… 

Do you think that graphic artists have a responsibility to society?  If so, what form does it take…political?  Environmental?  Is this something that’s being taught in school, or is it something that happens afterwards?  Can you be a successful graphic designer without taking a stand?

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, design school, graphic design, cooper-hewitt, national design awards, white house, politics, social responsibility

The Advertising Standards Bureau has their panties in a bunch over this Australian ad; incidentally, the mommy in this ad doesn’t really like wearing panties.

Let’s give Nando’s a big hand for combining unclear messaging, lame copy, and boobs in an ad for a family-centric chicken restaurant.

[via adpulp.] 

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, advertising, nando’s chicken

Great advice from TZ’s Advisor column:

Dear Advisor:
My husband and I are in the upper levels of the creative industry. We have both been in the market for 8 months now. We get interviews for the top spots; then, when it comes to discussion of salary, we get the request of everything for nothing. I’m amazed. Or after an outstanding interview, they’ll say things like, "Oh, they were so impressed with you…", "Your book is outstanding…", "Please don’t consider anyone else until we call you…", "Just sit tight—you’re our pick…" Then, after all that, we don’t even get the courtesy of a phone call. Sometimes we don’t even get a final call back. Nothing. I remember following the "standard" interview routine and being respectful, but now, employers aren’t like this. They seem to be missing integrity. Can you at least let employers know that we are noticing this, and it is corrupting this industry?

FINN, or Freedom is Natural Nirvana, is one of my favorite clothing brands.  Despite the fact that I haven’t actually shelled out for one of their (sort of expensive) tee’s yet, I really love their designs and the use of sewn thread in place of printing on many of their shirts.  I’ve written about them elsewhere and have probably mentioned them here as well.  Unfortunately, they left me disappointed recently.

My roommate and I were out-and-about a couple of weeks ago and decided to stop by and check out their stuff.  I had picked up an address off their site and just assumed that they’d have some sort of retail outlet there.  Unfortunately, that proved to be incorrect when we arrived. 

The voice that answered when we rang the buzzer seemed somewhat questioning…"who the heck is ringing our bell at 6pm on a Friday" was quite evident in her tone.  We explained that we wanted to take a look at the clothes.  And were met with an incredulous "we don’t show the clothes here. Who are you?"

We further explained that we were a couple of art directors/designerly type people and just wanted to check it out.  And this, in my opinion, is where FINN went wrong. This would have been the perfect opportunity to say "welll, we don’t actually have a retail store here, but come up and we’ll show you around for a minute." That answer would have been a gesture of openness and surely would have cemented the company among our ranks of "cool". 

Instead we were sent away feeling embarrassed for going out of our way to check out their clothes. And I probably would have bought a shirt.

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, finn, freedom is natural nirvana, customer service

As most agencies are attempting to prove their new media chops by building offices and avatars in Second Life, DraftFCB decided to take the opposite approach. They’re bringing Second Life back into the first one. Watch out, it’s a giggle.

via AdFreak.

I logged onto bud.tv for the first time this morning, just before writing this.  I didn’t make it past the first page.  I wasn’t interested.  Yet all I keep seeing on adweek and similar sites lately is "bud.tv blah blah blah, bud.tv might close, bud.tv back up and running, bud.tv trying to save its own ass…"

Does anyone actually watch bud.tv?  I think I’ve seen a clip or two that have been passed to me via youtube, but frankly they couldn’t have been very memorable…because I don’t remember them.  Do we really care what happens to bud.tv?  Am I missing the boat here? 

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, bud.tv

GSD&M in Austin, Texas just released their new viral effort for BMW with RelearntoDrive.com. It’s good to see how much work they’ve done in developing content for online video from bmw films to sponsoring ted talks, along with creating websites like this one. I would’ve liked to see them give me something to actually do, but at least they’ve got some funny stuff to watch.

What do you guys think? Will this get noticed?

Posted yesterday, these ads have already garnered 276 308 comments over at Shakesville.

The Brazilian campaign for Fit Light Yogurt replaces thin women with fat women in well-known film scenes. The campaign boasts the tagline "Forget about it. Men’s preference will never change. Fit Light Yogurt."

Go read Melissa’s post, check out the rest of the ads, browse the encyclopedia of comments, and then come back here and toss me your thoughts.  I’d be interested to hear how the industry reacts to these ads in comparison to the reactions on a Feminist site.

*Updated 6/20: AdAge has picked up the topic as well.

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, shakesville, melissa mcewan, brazil, fit light yogurt, advertising

BBH (and more importantly, our man Scamp) just released the new campaign for Vodaphone, airing the 90 second spot across 200 UK stations at 9:20pm last Sunday. You can catch the spot, complete with raining time (watches, etc.) included below.

Or you can go over to Scamp’s place, and as he says "slag off" the new ads. I’m not sure what that means, but it sure does make me wish I were British so I could say things like that without getting slapped.

It took me a while to figure out that it was Ford behind this campaign.

Interesting use of the blog format as I ended up joining the story halfway through.  I found it funny, interesting and the characters well done.  But just a little short of captivating.

My only question is:  will it payoff for Ford??

Check it out.  http://wherearethejoneses.com/

I’ve just discovered the quintessential example of writing for a niche audience.

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, conjoined twins, joined at birth

So I’m putzing around on the internet this morning, drinking coffee, eating breakfast, and so on… and I notice a little promo tear-off sticker dealie on my cereal box.  I tear it off and open it:

Win $10,000 in the Health Valley Treasure Hunt.

"Excellent," I think.  "$10,000 is more than a nickel… I will log on and see if I can defeat the pirates and alligators and various barnacle munchers to claim my prize."

Because of course there will be pirates and alligators, right?  Right?  I mean, it’s a treasure hunt.  Maybe Keira Knightley will be there! YAY!

I log on.  I look at the homepage.  I see "$10,000 Treasure Hunt," in a fitting ye olde adventurer font.  Then I notice the yellow "Start Now" button.  I click on it: "BRING ME FUN AND BOUNDLESS ADVENTURE!!" I proclaim.

No. No YAY.

No pirates.

No Keira.

No game.

No, uh, you know… treasure.  Or, um, hunt.

I get a "Sorry, you are not a winner" message in lame old Trebuchet.

HUH? That is not cool. 

Uh, Health Valley Guys, your cereal is awesome and all, but that promo totally bites. And, to boot, you didn’t even bother to capture my email addy.

I just logged on again now and got yet another wicked fun message: "All of the instant win prizes have been awarded.  Enter for the chance to win $10,000."  Hey, at least now (for their sake, at least) I’m being prodded to enter my contact info.

You Health Valley folks are lucky that I really like Oat Bran Flakes.

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, marketing, advertising, promotional contests, Health Valley Treasure Hunt

Though this video has been around for a couple of weeks on numerous advertising blogs and already gotten its fair share of undeserved attention I just want to point something out. There is absolutely no connection to the product, Sprite Zero. My search for the connection is like a blind man’s search for his cane, in a 12,000 square foot house. The video is cool but when it comes to connecting in a product, it sucks. Saatchi and Saatchi Copenhagen, you’ve done bad.

Technorati Tags: Beyond Madison Avenue, Kite Surfing, Sprite Zero, Saatchi and Saatchi, Viral

Yesterday, I read this write-up on Apple, and why they’ve experienced such a positive surge in places where other companies are failing miserably. Ever been to a quiet Apple store? Me either. Can you find your local Gateway store? Me either.

Then, this morning, at an agency-wide meeting, our higher-ups announced that they were revealing a new identity including logo, website, letterhead, etc. The first thing that jumped to mind was a point from yesterday’s Apple article:

"How many other companies do you know of that introduce a product line personally? Rather than a press release… Apple personally introduces their products to their loyal fans. Often times, it seems like magically, their web presence is simultaneously updated - sometimes allowing for purchase of just-introduced products."

What a great process…if you can pull it off.  Come to work one day and the entire agency has taken a fresh new step.  New business cards are waiting on your desk, the new website launched last night, and it all works.  We got the personal introduction.  Unfortunately, the integrated roll-out ended there.  My question is why?  It shouldn’t be difficult.  And it creates such a seamless, organized feeling. 

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, apple, identity design, integration

Sometimes I just see something that makes me stand a little taller. I grin a little bigger and talk a little louder as I beam with pride. It’s the pride of a man in the advertising industry. It just feels good to hear something done right.

I wish I could just get the mp3, but I don’t know how. So, go to this website for Absolute Hyundai, click on “If You So Hyundai Click Here to Hear Our Famous Jingle.” Seriously, it’ll change your life, and probably the world.

It’s strangely reassuring to know that someone out there is still thinking about how to design a better pencil.

The entire world is talking about it.  Commercials have hit the television.  Fanboys are already discussing which store they’ll line up at for the 6pm release and which cardboard box has the best rain-repellent features for a two night campout.  AdWeek even has a poll about it this week.  

It’s the iPhone.  The 2nd (12th?) coming.  And tech blog techcrunch has just what we need to lighten the mood and laugh in the face of the impending life-changing iPhone release:
 

Technorati Tags: beyond madison avenue, iphone, apple, techcrunch

I find this fascinating.  

The abbreviations, the misspellings, the slang terms, the product nicknames, the cryptic scrawls, the branded items, the items definitively marked as "store brand!", the combination of products, the vagueness ("crap for supper"), the unbelievable specificity (fat free cool whip, medium tub, 1.29)…

Not to mention the handwriting, the note paper, and the text placement.

Sure, it’s a different way of examining consumer behavior, but heck if it ain’t supremely entertaining to browse.  It’s like a sociocultural treasure map!

Not sure if I’ll jump in head first and buy the book, but I plan on poking around the site fairly regularly. 

And, speaking of, someone remind me to buy ketchup. 

[Thanks to AdAge for tipping me off.  An analysis worth reading.]

Technorati Tags: Beyond Madison Avenue, advertising, GroceryLists.org, Milk Eggs Vodka, consumer behavior, behavioral analysis