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Smart Marketers Advertise During A Recession. You Should Too

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You know that tired old mantra as to why it's smart to advertise during a recession? Ever wonder why it's regurgitated ad naseum every time the economy tanks? Because it's true! Yes, advertising during a recession is the right thing to and there's research top back that up.

A McGraw-Hill study of 600 businesses found businesses that maintained or increased their ad spend saw higher sales growth during a recession and in the years following. In fact, the study found those who maintained or increased their ad budgets experienced a 256 percent increase in sales compared to those who cut their budgets.

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by Steve Hall    Mar- 6-09    
Topic: Announcements



The Pam Gods Gift Dining Hostess With a Second Chance

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Not quite sure what to think of this new Pam spot, which plays on the slogan "Pam Helps You Pull It Off." Teflon makes accidents like this one a non-issue.

Points for being odd without being off-putting, though.

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by Angela Natividad    Mar- 6-09    
Topic: Brands, Commercials, Television



JWT's Anxiety Blog, Ogilvy's Recession Salve, Revisiting 'Like a Prayer'

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- Flashback to Madonna's banned Like a Prayer ad for Pepsi.

- Wolff Olins brings minimalist flickr magic -- and a forum for inquiry -- to "scientific" cosmetic brand Living Proof.

- Tracking (corporate accounts on) Twitter.

- The Guardian makes good observations about Twitter (scroll down to the bulletpoints).

- Ogilvy-branded solutions to a recession. Take that hype with a few spoonfuls of salt. Hat tip to our favourite mad man.

- JWT launches a blog called Anxiety Index.

- ScapeNation: another tween-targeting web destination, brought to you by Red Tettemer.



Cannibal Pigs Plug Boost Mobile Over Dinner

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Boost Mobile's "UNwrong'D" campaign continues with two fine-dining pigs that like ham. (Think of it as enjoying the flavours of a fallen friend. Don't act like you're too good to tear into the carcasses of the downtrodden, literally or otherwise.)

The talkier pig puts their behaviour in perspective by telling users the real wrong in life lies in mobile carriers charging hidden fees. In contrast, Boost Mobile charges a flat fee for dependable, unlimited nationwide service.

Hear-to-the-fucking-hear, then, and pass that human flank real quick.

At a loss for words? Doff your hats to 180LA.

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Zippo Pulls the Eco-Guilt Card

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Zippo wises up to its cachet as a potentially "green" product with a brusque new slogan: "Disposable. Just another word for garbage."

On print and banner ads alike, this profundity is flanked by images of dirty disposable lighters, piled up in junkyards. See trash cube, earthbound briquets and three-part display ad.

Creatively, the latter is a disappointing downgrade from this naughty beast. But it gets the point across, and display's cheap these days anyway, so we can't hate with much conviction.

Expect to see the prints in trade pubs, at convenient stores and your local tobacconist. By Brunner/Pittsburgh.

by Angela Natividad    Mar- 6-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Magazine, Online, Poster



Emerald Nuts: The Snack of Choice for Discriminating French ... Nuts.

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"French squirrel goes nuts" -- one more reason to avoid bringing housewarming gifts to your vinyl-spinning French neighbour,* squirrel or not.

"Thank you, Larry, for picking these sad little acorns out of the dirt and putting them in this box. I feel so warm and tingly inside; now we will be friends forever."

Cold, man, cold.

Disseminated for Emerald Nuts, the brand of choice for nut elitists (and kryptonite to the mischievous Robert Goulet!), by Feed Company.

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by Angela Natividad    Mar- 6-09    
Topic: Brands, Campaigns, Online, Video



Spoofs for a Cause, Courtesy of AIA

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To promote the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, Agencies in Action and Bill Oberlander at Cossette produced a triage of cynical spoofs on well-known ad campaigns. (See iPod and HSBC variants.)

The goal: to get Manhattan's agency creatives to volunteer at soup kitchens and food pantries at least once monthly. So far, six agencies have committed: Arnold Worldwide, Cossette, DiMassimo Goldstein, Gotham, Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners and TBWA\Chiat\Day.

In the event that you need more convincing, or just feel compelled to show your face at another social gathering, hit up the AIA kickoff reception on Thursday, March 12 at 7pm. It all happens at the Cossette office on 415 Mad Ave, 3rd floor.

More intelligence at the website.

by Angela Natividad    Mar- 6-09    
Topic: Agencies, Campaigns, Cause, Events, Poster



Ford to Give Away 100 Fiestas Social Media Style

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The ever photogenic Julia Roy and her agency, Undercurrent, are working with Ford on a program called Fiesta Movement. The automaker plans to give away 100 Ford Fiestas for six months complete with free gas, insurance, parking and a concierge service. The lucky 100 will be sent on "cool monthly missions" not unlike AT&T's Lost in America.

And oh yes, they must document their travels for public consumption. After all, it's the social media thing to do, right? And, yes, there will be tweets.

by Steve Hall    Mar- 5-09    
Topic: Agencies, Brands, Promotions, Social



Never Let A Good Idea End Up on the Floor

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Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. It's almost time, people. Almost time for you to get a glimpse of the first Killed Ideas. In a couple of days, we'll begin sharing with you some of the better submissions we've received. We'll offer up some initial commentary which, hopefully, will motivate you to submit your own Killed Idea.

Some time ago, I was in a presentation and my creative director was unveiling a new campaign to a client high atop One Penn Plaza in New York. The meeting with this client was, as always, jovial and upbeat. Until one particular piece of creative was presented. There was something about it he client didn't quite like.

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by Steve Hall    Mar- 5-09    
Topic: Announcements, Promotions



Drink Brawndo, Make War!

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There are a lot of ways to promote an energy drink but comparing the drink's "power" to weaponry is a new one on us. German agency Serciveplan created a print campaign featuring a gun, a plane, a tank and a piece of heavy artillery. Each, we assume, is supposed to look like it's made out of bullets...or bullet casings but they all just looks like a bunch of copper piping glued together to as if they were toy models.

With the tagline "fully loaded with caffeine," we het where the agency was going with this and perhaps because the campiagn isn't running in oh so politically correct America, it might actually be well received.

See all the ads here.

by Steve Hall    Mar- 5-09    
Topic: Campaigns



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