With the launch of former PUMA International Marketing Manager Peter Kim’s weblog today, we can finally, almost three years later, close the book on those famous PUMA ads. Once thought to be some sort of clandestine marketing effort knowingly created by PUMA so the company could then deny their existence and benefit from the publicity, Kim confirms suspicion and tells us “a small Eastern European agency affiliated with Saatchi & Saatchi created the ads on spec, trying to win business with a PUMA subsidiary.” The agency failed to win any business, and it sent them out to their friends causing worldwide proliferation, un-informed speculation (including here on Adrants, hopped up controversy and cease and desist letters sent to bloggers.
Though we’ve heard all manner of speculation and rumination regarding these ads over the years, including versions of Kim’s explanation, it’s nice to finally see, in written form, the truth, directly from the man who was at the center of this whirling dervish-like marketing misunderstanding. Welcome, Peter and thank you.
