Gorbachev's Louis Vuitton Ad A Political Message Delivery Device?

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That Louis Vuitton ad featuring Mikhail Gorbachev sitting in the back of a car next to a Louis Vuitton bag while staring out the window at what's left of the Berlin Wall seems, on closer examination, to contain a political message. New York Magazine features a segment of the ad blow up which appears to be a book or magazine with a title that reads (translated), "Litvinenko's Murder - They Wanted to Give Up a Suspect for $7,000."

Interesting. The person referred to, Litvinenko, was the Russian spy whose death was attributed to Putin's henchman. New York Magazine wonders whether or not ads are the new method of worldwide communication between politicos and spies. We just think it's an art director's or photographer Annie Leibovitz's idea of witty political commentary

by Steve Hall    Nov- 5-07    
Topic: Celebrity, Magazine, Newspaper, Strange



LeBron in Grayscale Reads Like Makings of a Legend

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Alongside agency Wieden + Kennedy, Nike put together this two-part print campaign featuring LeBron James. Part I is at left; Part II is right here.

Ahh. Nike is never too pushy. In this spread you've got all the force and drama of a Jay-Z song, except the neighbors won't complain.

by Angela Natividad    Nov- 2-07    
Topic: Brands, Celebrity, Good, Magazine, Sponsorship



Restaurant Campaign Says Chew 'Chew Chew' Style

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There once was a time restaurants where just a place you went to eat food. The came the chain and all the thematics that came along with it. Now, you can't operate a restaurant without investing heavily in a theme that will set you apart from every other restaurant in your are.

To help set Wisconson's Bridge Street Station apart from the competition, DDB helped tap into the owner's love for burgers and trains and gave the restaurant a railroad theme. Complete with the headline, "Chew, Chew," the campaign consists of ads, posters, branded take out boxes, signage, sound cards that delivered a steam engine's trademark "chew chew" sound, direct and table tents.

It's nicely done. Check out all the creative here.

by Steve Hall    Nov- 1-07    
Topic: Campaigns, Direct, Good, Magazine, Point of Purchase, Poster



Halo is Not Only A Game, It's A Vacuum Cleaner

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When we received this press release about the Halo Vaccuum, we at fist thought it was some twisted new multi-tasking version of the game. Alas, it's just a regular vacuum but a very special one. One that kills germs with ultraviolet light. Created by BooneOakley, the campaign initially had the headline, "It doesn't just suck. It Kills." But, apparently, that was a bit too harsh and the ads ended up carrying a tamer headline like, "Is it a vacuum cleaner that kills germs? Or a germ-killer that vacuums." We think they should have gone with their initial thinking.

The campaign consists of print, TV and a Times Square billboard. We have no idea what Consumer Reports will think when they get their hands on this thing but to us it at least looks pretty cool. And we'd love knowing all those nasty critters living in the bowels of our carpet were meeting their maker rather than disgusting us.

by Steve Hall    Oct-30-07    
Topic: Campaigns, Good, Magazine, Outdoor, Television



Out of Stuff to Rescue? Try Tile

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People like to over-care about stuff. That's why we have the PC police monitoring everything movie stars say, and Arianna Huffington.

But if saving toast seems like too futile a mission for you, try your hand at saving tile.

Save the Tile is a Delta Faucet campaign by Young & Laramore. The idea is to promote quality tile that's aesthetically friendly (so you don't hammer it all away at your first opportunity).

The campaign includes print ads narrated by disgruntled bathroom items. See Scent Stick (who owns these?), Loofah and Toothbrush.

Or, you know, go out and try saving something you actually care about. (Like puppies or hungry kids.) But who actually does that?

by Angela Natividad    Oct-29-07    
Topic: Brands, Magazine, Online, Promotions



Lunch Lady Blogs, Ad Air Explained, Gydget Gadgets

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- You know a magazine is having a tough time when it hosts a promotion allowing potential subscribers to name their own subscription price.

- Here's a video explaining the launch of Ad Air, the company that recently placed a gigantic board on the ground next to the Dubai airport.

- If you're a fan of widgets, you might like Gydget. You can use it in you marketing programs to spread your brand throughout the world of social media.

- Survivor's got a lunch lady but Wieden + Kennedy's got a lunch lady blog!

- To promote its service from Sao Paulo, Emirates Airlines created a commercial the length of the flight, 14 hours and 40 minutes.

- If you like NBC's Bionic Woman - which seems to waffle between decent TV and crap not worthy of air time - you can visit NBCs Bionic site to see how...uh...bionic you are? Huh?

- Teen makes commercial for Apple iPod Touch.

by Steve Hall    Oct-29-07    
Topic: Magazine, Outdoor, Weblogs



Canadian Club Says 'Damn Right Your Dad Drank It!'

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Unlike Oldsmobile which tried to distance itself from its aging audience with the "It's Not Your Father's Oldsmobile" campaign, Beam Global Spirits is embracing the older generation for its Canadian Club whiskey by exclaiming, "Damn Right YOur Dad Drank It." Created by Energy BBDO, the campaign will launch in November with radio, out-of-home, POS and print. Ads will appear in Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated and Sporting News, with additional placements in Playboy, Men's Journal, Esquire, Outside and Men's Fitness in December and into 2008.

Hauling out imagery 60's and 70's imagery from actual Beam Global employees and positioning Dad as a once cool manly man, ads state "Your Mom Wasn't Your Dad's First," "Your Dad Was Not a Metrosexual" and "Your Dad Never Got a Pedicure."

Are we seeing a full-on return to the glory days of the hard liquor cocktail when beer was for factory workers and wine was for sissies? Can we now go back to the three martini lunch, pinch asses in the afternoon and have three more martinis at night while watching Mad Men? We might not get any work done but it sure sounds like fun.



Jeweler Caters to East Side and West Side

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In a new campaign, jeweler Clara Williams thinks it has clarified the difference between New York's East Side and West Side. Euro RSCG crated the campaign to highlight the jeweler's selection of customized jewelery. No doubt Gossip Girl will have something to say about this.

by Steve Hall    Oct-19-07    
Topic: Campaigns, Good, Magazine



Newsweek Redesigns, Obama Girl Successes Shared

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- As Time did earlier this year, Newsweek, today, has unveiled it's redesign which includes (shocker) longer stories with fewer but bigger pictures. A rate base reduction is under consideration as well.

- Saatchi & Saatchi ECDs Jan Jacobs and Leo Premutico, creators of the Wendy's Hot Juicy Burgers campaign have left the agency.

- This is kinda dumb but if you want to see the faces of Alex Bogusky, David Droga, Erik Vervroegen affixed to the bodies of models on the cover of Playboy, you can see it all here.

- Obama Girl creator gives us tips on what makes for a successful viral video. And it's not just big boobs and a nice ass. Although that helps quite a bit.

more »

by Steve Hall    Oct-15-07    
Topic: Agencies, Magazine



Godiva Goes Golden with Haute Couture, Decadent Delights

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Nothing rings in the holidays like the thought of wearing a new Chloe while unwrapping a golden box of truffles. Even if those truffles came from grandma, and even if you gave her the exact box two years ago.

This set of prints by Sugartown Creative is Godiva's attempt to position itself as a luxury item a la 10,000 water bottles or LV bags.

more »

by Angela Natividad    Oct-11-07    
Topic: Brands, Good, Magazine, Poster