AdHurl: June 2006 Archives

« May 2006 | Main | July 2006 »

Jun30	AdHurl... The Official Blog of Official Blogs! George Parker June 30, 2006 Know More: Sponsorship I am always amused when I read that some food/drink/car/acne cream or whatever is now the official food/drink/car/acne cream of some sporting event or sports team. Does this really make fans buy stuff, because it’s official? The reason I ask is because today’s BrandWeek informs us that Chef One Dumplings are now the Official Dumplings of New York’s Brooklyn Cyclones, the farm team of the NY Mets. As part of the deal, Chef One will distribute samples of their dumplings, hold 'dumpling nights' and dumpling eating contests. I mean, how do you eat a dumpling at a ball park…On a stick? Still, not as dumb as Bud paying $50 million to become the Official Beer of the World Cup in Germany, when every German in the country has gone on record as saying it’s undrinkable and only fit for washing cars. But, you might be interested in some dumplings! Posted at 9:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun30	Satin lined "Bijou" home for sale! George Parker June 30, 2006 Another nail in the coffin lid of newspaper ad revenues was announced today with the news that online real estate advertising will total an estimated $1.719 billion this year, about 15% of the projected $11.698 billion total real estate spending,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun29	Shades of William Randolph Hearst! George Parker June 29, 2006 With today’s news out of London that Rupert Murdoch (The Wizened of Oz) has indicated he could switch his support from the Labour Party to the Conservatives at the next general election and has urged Tony Blair to stand down... Continue Reading Posted at 7:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bring on the clowns!!! George Parker June 29, 2006 I know it’s not advertising, but in my never ending search for news, I came across this on a UK Web site (Strange that I haven’t found it on any US news site!) Three anti-nuke activists dressed as clowns broke... Continue Reading Posted at 7:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	One of those Apples may be a bit rotten!!! George Parker June 29, 2006 News today that Apple Computer, after an internal review uncovered "irregularities'' in stock option grants to Chief Executive Steve Jobs and others from 1997 through 2000. Ooops! The disclosure makes Apple -- which ranks as the fourth-biggest high-tech company in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Euro RSCG cleans out JWT's closet! George Parker June 29, 2006 News out of London today that Euro RSCG Worldwide has won the global Reckitt Benckiser ad account, which is really bad news for JWT as this is a major financial body blow. It had been assumed that both agencies would... Continue Reading Posted at 10:49 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun28	What's on TV tonight? Tripe, tripe and more tripe! George Parker June 28, 2006 Wired has an interesting interview with the “Wizened of Oz” about the future of communications. He says that mass media will continue to exist, giving American Idol, with its 35 million viewers as an example. Niches have a future also,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Everything you ever needed to know about beer and hot dogs! George Parker June 28, 2006 Brandweek has the results of two blindingly obvious surveys for your interest and education. The first, a survey of beer drinkers comes up with the amazing revelation that at outdoor barbecues, men like to drink their beer cold and out... Continue Reading Posted at 9:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A "Bold Move" from Ford! George Parker June 28, 2006 I have to say I am mightily impressed with the Ford “Bold Moves” Web site. I assume Global agency JWT was involved, if not totally responsible for the whole thing. How refreshing to be so brutally honest about the obvious... Continue Reading Posted at 8:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun27	How to make money by acting like a doormat! George Parker June 27, 2006 Considering America’s obsession with golf, I wasn’t surprised to read that some bright spark has come up with another alternative to traditional advertising by creating golf practice mats that display the logo of sponsors in golf course practice areas. The... Continue Reading Posted at 10:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Try not to display your display ads! George Parker June 27, 2006 Why am I not surprised to read that an eye-tracking study conducted by the Nielson Norman Group finds that Web users, in what is a manifestation of "banner blindness," tend to ignore bright, flashing banner ads and look at text... Continue Reading Posted at 9:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	We don't need no stinkin' ads!!! George Parker June 27, 2006 You may not be particularly surprised by today’s news that WPP, the Poisoned Dwarf’s Empire, is now becoming more media-centric. At least that's what “His Gnomeship,” Sir Martin Sorrell announced today when discussing the groups financial goings-on for the first... Continue Reading Posted at 5:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Larry... I ain't going anywhere... Ellison! George Parker June 27, 2006 Remember my post of June 22nd about how the “Shogun of Redwood Shores,” Larry Ellison, seemed to have reneged on his promise to donate $115 million to Stanford University? Well, it would seem that Larry is about to cough up... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why most US car advertising stinks! George Parker June 27, 2006 No surprises with the announcement that General Motors Corp. is moving its estimated $225 million national Cadillac account to Modernista, Boston, giving Publicis Groupe's Leo Burnett Detroit, Troy, Mich., a 90-day termination notice. A major factor in the decision had... Continue Reading Posted at 9:40 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A great German TV car spot... No, not for VW! George Parker June 27, 2006 I just love the German TV campaign for Renault cars. Promoting safety, it features staged crash sequences in a laboratory situation. But unlike all the other ads we’ve seen showing cars with test dummies getting mangled as they hit barriers,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:27 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun26	MySpace... Heading for the crapper? George Parker June 26, 2006 There’s a very interesting piece on AdAge’s Media Works about how the “Wizened of Oz” will more than likely screw up MySpace, News Corp.'s $600 million acquisition – And more than likely turn off its 86 million members. Right now... Continue Reading Posted at 11:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun25	Bill Gate's final act in his plan for world domination! George Parker June 25, 2006 Interesting piece in Friday’s Forbes talking about a report from Merrill Lynch suggesting Microsoft should acquire Yahoo! in order to fend off Google and consolidate Microsoft’s Internet business. “The possible acquisition of Yahoo would be a strategic positive in our... Continue Reading Posted at 9:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Win a Win Award... Only Women need apply!!! George Parker June 25, 2006 There’s a new awards show in town… Actually, it’s an old awards show that’s just started an “Advertising” category… THE WIN AWARDS 2006… And they’re looking for entries… But, you have to be either a female advertising creative, copywriter, director... Continue Reading Posted at 9:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun24	The "Wizened of Oz" thinks big! George Parker June 24, 2006 This just out of London… Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has been appointed to the board of directors of News Corporation. Aznar, who became the prime minister of Spain in 1996, (Then got booted out last year) is... Continue Reading Posted at 10:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A Grand result for the Cannes Grand Prix! George Parker June 24, 2006 In my apparent obsession with all things “Beer” it is fitting that with the news of the final awards coming in from Cannes, the Guinness spot 'Noitulove' earned the film Grand Prix, with the Carlton Draught “Big Beer” spot (which... Continue Reading Posted at 9:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A cautionary tale! George Parker June 24, 2006 Mack Simpson, who writes the blog Adverb, has a really interesting, and at the same time disturbing, piece that you should read. It serves as a warning to anyone who works in an advertising agency that literally, anything can and... Continue Reading Posted at 9:31 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun23	I'm suffering from information overload. Do you have a drug for that? George Parker June 23, 2006 I loved the piece in Yesterday’s AdAge about how at a time when people are calling for more risk information in direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads, a new study from AstraZeneca claims that too much information in a TV spot leaves the... Continue Reading Posted at 5:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Arianna... Don't get in a Huff... But... George Parker June 23, 2006 Today’s “Huffington Post” has a piece from Arianna, where she goes on about her experiences at the Cannes Festival and her various chats with Madison Avenues Hoi Polloi. Interesting, but as with 95% of the population’s idea of the ad... Continue Reading Posted at 5:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun22	Is advertsiing a respectable ocupation for adults? George Parker June 22, 2006 Many years ago, when I first got in the business, I used to work on the Old Spice account. In common with all the other after shaves and colognes, the not so subtle message was “Splash this on and get... Continue Reading Posted at 10:45 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	JWT + Huffington Post = Astroturf!!! George Parker June 22, 2006 Loyal readers may remember my post of June 17th about the JWT “Roadblock” buy-up of the Huffington Post, followed by a later post talking about my recognition in a JWT Corporate memo… Well, it’s been pointed out to me, By... Continue Reading Posted at 8:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	With Larry Ellison, philanthropy begins, and stays, at home! George Parker June 22, 2006 Having had the excruciating misfortune to have worked on the Oracle account in the past. I am always interested to read the latest doings of Uber Ego Maniac Larry Ellison, otherwise known as the “Shogun of Redwood Shores” because of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun21	JWT Corporate reads AdHurl!!! George Parker June 21, 2006 One of my JWT spies sent me a copy of a corporate wide memo talking about their tie in with the Huffington Post that I wrote about a couple of days ago… Part of it reads… For starters, AdPulp, Blogs... Continue Reading Posted at 9:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun20	The Chief Marketing Officer is dead. Would somebody tell them? George Parker June 20, 2006 A new study from Spencer Stuart shows that the average tenure of a Chief Marketing Officer has shrunk down from a sobering 23.6 months in 2004 and 23.5 months last year to an even tighter 23.2 months this year. Supposed... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Going for the Gold... Why ad people don't care... Much!!! George Parker June 20, 2006 There’s a pretty amazing article in the current AdAge about creative awards and the perennial question about their effectiveness and meaning. The thing that really sticks out though is the fact that the BDA’s of Madison Avenue will spend an... Continue Reading Posted at 8:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The King of PR foul-ups!!! George Parker June 20, 2006 I know it’s about beer again, but here’s another example of how Budweiser may be shooting itself in the foot. As many as a thousand Netherlands World Cup fans had to take off their pants before entering the stadium in... Continue Reading Posted at 8:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	We don't need no stinkin' advertising! George Parker June 20, 2006 Nice piece in the Wall Street Journal about Craigslist and how it could be making a lot more money than it is currently. In the interview, Jim Buckmaster makes a couple of very sounds arguments for their business model "In... Continue Reading Posted at 7:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun19	So I got this book, but I don't know where the batteries go! George Parker June 19, 2006 Here's some pleasant news for parents (But at the moment, only in Britain) who despair of their sons ever tearing themselves away from TV’s, game consoles and iPods: a book containing vital information on playing outdoor games, constructing paper airplanes... Continue Reading Posted at 9:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Cindy Crawford... Would you please call BBD&O? George Parker June 19, 2006 Today’s online ad column from the New York Times talks about how BBD&O is redoing the classic Alka-Seltzer TV spots of the 60’s, such as “Try it, you’ll like it!” And “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!” Unfortunately,... Continue Reading Posted at 8:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Well Duh!!! George Parker June 19, 2006 I've just realized that the majority of my last few posts have been all about "Beer!" With the remainder about the "World Cup." Mmmm. Well at the moment I can't think of two more interesting things to write about. But... Continue Reading Posted at 5:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Big Beer" for the big Cannes Award! George Parker June 19, 2006 AdWeek is listing the top ten contenders for the “UberTVSpot” in the upcoming Cannes Awards. Without a doubt, the best one is the Australian commercial for Carlton Beer produced by the George Patterson Agency of Melbourne. Titled “Big Beer,” it’s an... Continue Reading Posted at 5:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun18	The "King of Beers" starts a revolution! George Parker June 18, 2006 Still on the subject of the World Cup I’ve written before about the German fans disbelief that Budweiser was selected as the events “Official Beer.” Interesting bit in this weeks Der Spiegel exposing the great Anheuser-Busch beer sham. Apparently in... Continue Reading Posted at 9:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Play Football get rich... That's the Football you play with your feet! George Parker June 18, 2006 A recent study points out that Britain’s Football Association (FA) is the world leader when it comes to attracting sponsorship, having netted more sponsorship income than any other national governing body at this year's World Cup, with annual revenue from... Continue Reading Posted at 9:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun17	When it comes to The Huffington Post... Just the facts Maam!!! George Parker June 17, 2006 My old pal Steve Coulson points out that JWT has bought all the ad space for one week on the The Huffington Post, which will showcase nine of the agency's best television ads including Levi's and HSBC. Funny they should... Continue Reading Posted at 9:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Washed up Jocks who drink watered down beer needed! George Parker June 17, 2006 It would seem that the appallingly bad Miller Lite TV campaign featuring “Man Laws” and the Men of the Square Table is now searching for the next member of the “Council” via a video contest. Full details are at ManLaws.com,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun16	A snowballs chance in Hell! George Parker June 16, 2006 It would seem that the Hippocratic Hypocrites of the American Medical Association are calling for a temporary moratorium on direct-to-consumer prescription drug and implantable medical device advertising. 10 years after the government began allowing companies to pitch their products on... Continue Reading Posted at 9:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Best Buy... Or best spoof? George Parker June 16, 2006 You have to take a look at the latest stunt of “Improv Everywhere.” Remarkably brilliant… You know how everyone that works at a Best buy store wears khakis and bright blue polo shirts, right? So thirty or so “Improve Everywhere”... Continue Reading Posted at 9:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun15	Poochums only drinks Bollinger 85 water! George Parker June 15, 2006 BrandWeek points out that the latest thing in the bottled water craze (which is now a $9 billion a year business,) is, bottled, flavored, nutritionally enhanced water for PETS. Courtesy of a company called Mollibrands this latest way to liposuction... Continue Reading Posted at 9:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	You're not watching TV... Google's watching you! George Parker June 15, 2006 One of the things agencies have been able to get away with over the years is their lack of accountability for the billions they’ve persuaded clients to spend on useless TV campaigns. Well, maybe those days are coming to an... Continue Reading Posted at 8:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Should Nike Nix Ronaldo? George Parker June 15, 2006 Interesting that the final ad in Nike's World Cup campaign pays tribute to the skills of Ronaldo, just as the star has been barraged by criticism that he is no longer worth his place in the Brazil team. It was... Continue Reading Posted at 8:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun14	You are now leaving a smoke free zone... Welcome to Germany! George Parker June 14, 2006 Der Spiegel reports that a European court ruled on Tuesday Germany should step into line with EU law and ban tobacco ads in print and on TV. Germany is one of the last countries in Europe that has virtually no... Continue Reading Posted at 11:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Breakthrough news you already knew! George Parker June 14, 2006 The incredibly unsurprising results of a survey based on responses from 85 major advertisers, was released today at the ANA's conference on integrated marketing in New York. And guess what? An increasing number of marketers believe that general advertising is... Continue Reading Posted at 10:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"I need more data, Data!" George Parker June 14, 2006 Anyone read that piece in today’s New York Times about the monster complex Google is building in Northern Oregon as part of their plane to take over the Universe? Just think about the dimensions of "Project 02," as the new... Continue Reading Posted at 10:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	I can't believe this isn't bologne! George Parker June 14, 2006 At the same time Unilever is looking for a “I can’t believe it’s not butter!” replacement for aging lothario “Fabio.” A national TV campaign is breaking for Nationwide Insurance starring Fabio! In the ad, Fabio, looking fabulous… What else… Is... Continue Reading Posted at 10:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun13	Wanted lunatic to invest in Ad Agency! George Parker June 13, 2006 Further proof today that advertising agencies have to be the most screwed up business model in the world. How so? “InBev,” one of the world’s largest beverage companies is reviewing the global ad business for its Beck's lager brand with... Continue Reading Posted at 9:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	I have $50 million in a safe deposit box... Honestly! George Parker June 13, 2006 In my never ending fascination with the 419 guys from Nigeria – See yesterdays post on the new Russian variation – Bill Green of one of my favorite sites “Makethelogobigger” has a great link to another site with "How to... Continue Reading Posted at 8:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	If you want it done well... Do it yourself! George Parker June 13, 2006 Maybe I’m missing the point here, but in today’s New York Times Ad Column, Stuart Elliott is talking about how General Mills has decided to let its two ad agencies, Campbell Mithun and Saatchi & Saatchi determine the media in... Continue Reading Posted at 8:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun12	Mmmmm... Twinkies!!! George Parker June 12, 2006 Reading in today’s BrandWeek about the possibility of immortality for “Twinkie the Kid” (Who?) from your favorite food… Twinkies! He needs your vote if he is going to earn his rightful place on the “Madison Avenue Walk of Fame.” If... Continue Reading Posted at 8:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Holy Moley... It's a shrine to football! George Parker June 12, 2006 I know this has already been posted on a couple of ad blogs, but I think this is wonderful. And if you are a football (not soccer!) fan you will know why, as the rest of the world outside of... Continue Reading Posted at 8:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Here today... Sayonara tomorrow! George Parker June 12, 2006 Advertising is probably the most cyclical business in the world. One year you’re a hero, the next you’re dog meet. Today’s news that Hewlett-Packard has fired Stone Yamashita of San Francisco as its Brand Identity and Strategy consultant shouldn’t come... Continue Reading Posted at 8:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Don't be Square in Tiananmen! George Parker June 12, 2006 It would seem that “The Poisoned Dwarf” (Sir Martin Sorrell) is making a rather poor impression on Yan Gang, Head Mandarin at the Citic Guoan Group in China. Apparently, all because the Chinese pulled out of a joint arrangement with... Continue Reading Posted at 7:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Moscow is now spelled L.A.G.O.S. George Parker June 12, 2006 Having posted on the 419ers (The spam kings from Nigeria) before, I have to admit, they don’t give up easily. Now I’m getting them as Skype Chat messages. Today’s was from Larisa Sosnitskaya, personal treasurer to Mr. Boris Mikhail Khodorkovsky,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun10	But what will you wrap the fish in? George Parker June 10, 2006 Thirty minutes after my last post concerning Corporate Blogging I was reading on The Guardians Web site about how the editor of the Guardian, Alan Rusbridger, has mounted a defense of journalism and of printed newspapers, dismissing reports that the... Continue Reading Posted at 10:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The state of corporate blogging is in a bit of a state! George Parker June 10, 2006 Why am I not surprised to read that a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive, the "2006 State of Corporate Blogging" survey, found that Fortune 1000 business executives are reacting slowly to the idea of corporate blogs as a communications... Continue Reading Posted at 9:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A pint and a packet of rubarb and mustard crisps... Ta! George Parker June 10, 2006 As I write this post it is about twelve hours since England won it’s first match in the World Cup. This means that every pub in England will be running out of beer and crisps. This is about advertising, so... Continue Reading Posted at 9:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 9	You can trust me... I'm a TV ad! George Parker June 9, 2006 A recent article in “The Guardian” shows that even though British advertisers spend £3.4bn (about $6bn dollars) every year plugging their products on TV but most viewers don't believe anything in a commercial. Research by ITV reveals that just one... Continue Reading Posted at 6:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	How long before Murdoch owns everything? George Parker June 9, 2006 The Times of London has turned on its new online TV and video service backed by a "six-figure" (In pounds, don’t forget) deal with exclusive sponsor Cisco. A string of video clips including world news, business, sport and entertainment are... Continue Reading Posted at 5:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	How to win friends and influence journalists! George Parker June 9, 2006 What’s a company to do when it’s being hammered in the press for its recent poor performance? Why, throw a birthday party for a prominent journalist, of course. That’s what Dell and its public relations agency did this week for... Continue Reading Posted at 5:42 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why most people think advertising is dumb. George Parker June 9, 2006 AdAge reports that Proshade, a consumer-eyewear company headquartered in Florida, offered to pay $4 million to adorn the presidential faces on the Mount Rushmore National Monument with larger-than-life Proshade visors. Not surprisingly, the offer was declined. Funnily enough, it hasn’t... Continue Reading Posted at 11:27 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 7	Masochists wanted. Only ad agencies need apply! George Parker June 7, 2006 It would seem that less than a month after winning the business in a review, independent The Richards Group and 21st Century Insurance are parting ways. Stan Richards, principal and creative director at the Dallas agency put it rather succinctly... Continue Reading Posted at 10:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Control yourself... The Gap is selling tee shirts! George Parker June 7, 2006 So Gap is getting back into advertising after a six month hiatus. From what I’ve read in the trades, I wonder why they’re bothering. The merchandise is going back to basics… Denim and tee shirts, the ads will feature minor... Continue Reading Posted at 10:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 6	All the news that's fit NOT to print! George Parker June 6, 2006 Did you ever wonder why so many people who write for the business press seem to be either lazy or stupid? I wrote a few years ago about a New York Times reporter going on about how Microsoft had destroyed... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 5	Hey, FCB, that's not a draft you can feel... It's a hurricane! George Parker June 5, 2006 More news on the merger of Draft and FCB with the analysts starting to throw in their ten cents worth… "Although we see the strategic rationale of approaching clients with a more complete, data-driven offering, there have been more failed... Continue Reading Posted at 9:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Will water make the grade in school? George Parker June 5, 2006 Now that soda is being expelled from schools, guess what the drinks companies are throwing a ton of money behind in order to create the “Next Drink?” Believe it or not… Water. Nestlé Waters, is putting its first national marketing... Continue Reading Posted at 9:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Coming soon... Toilet TV! George Parker June 5, 2006 Remember in the movie “Blade Runner,” there were TV images everywhere. On buildings, balloons. cars etc? Well an outfit in Dallas, called “Gas Station TV,” is going to provide digital broadcasts on LCD-equipped fuel pumps and has just signed a... Continue Reading Posted at 8:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 4	Perhaps "Interpublic" should be renamed "InterTrouble!" George Parker June 4, 2006 One of the things I find intriguing about the merger of Draft and FCB is how naive the so called “Financial community” can be about the whole thing. According to analyst Debra Schwartz, she applauds the merger. "We believe the... Continue Reading Posted at 9:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 3	You have relatives in Manchester? George Parker June 3, 2006 Unlike in Europe we have not yet been buried in an avalanche of advertising surrounding the upcoming World Cup. But, just in case you were worried, there's good news from my home town of Manchester, England. Football fans jetting to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Faster than a speeding lawsuit... It's Captain Copyright! George Parker June 3, 2006 I’ve heard of some really dumb ideas in my time, but here’s one that really takes the biscuit. A Web site has just gone up in Canada aimed at children who are desperate to find out everything there is to... Continue Reading Posted at 6:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Lego my Lego! George Parker June 3, 2006 Reading in BrandWeek about some guy by the name of Jason Poland of Houston who just won the elite position of Model Builder at Legoland California, after besting a number of other wannabes in the ultimate build-off at the family... Continue Reading Posted at 5:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Virgin Mobile says... I can't text Ya right now, I'm reading an ad! George Parker June 3, 2006 Why am I convinced that this isn’t going to work? News that in an attempt to capture the attention of America’s text-message-crazed youth, three advertisers have joined forces with Virgin Mobile to offer kids a deal: watch our ads and... Continue Reading Posted at 5:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 2	This is the BBC... The Queen would like you to pay attention! George Parker June 2, 2006 Having moved from New York to Boise nine years ago, what I find funny is news items like the one today about the BBC World News service doing its U.S. launch with an interactive outdoor campaign inviting passersby on the... Continue Reading Posted at 7:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oh to be a media mogul... Yahooooo!!! George Parker June 2, 2006 Pardon me for saying the obvious here, but if I have to read about one more case of a multi-zillionaire CEO deciding to take a salary of ONE DOLLAR per year… I’ll throw up. Today’s news that Yahoo’s board of... Continue Reading Posted at 5:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 1	GoogleMania... Beware! George Parker June 1, 2006 I know many people are convinced there is an obvious conspiracy for Google to take over the entire known universe… Well, I can tell you... there is! And here’s living proof. Obviously shot by the AGITA (Against Google In The... Continue Reading Posted at 8:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The First Bank of AdHurl... Free checking! George Parker June 1, 2006 Hey, just a thought as I was reading the business section in today’s New York Times… Yes, we get it here in Boise… But not until well towards the cocktail hour. Which gives me an excuse to suck up some... Continue Reading Posted at 6:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why most business books, with the exception of mine... Suck!!! George Parker June 1, 2006 In today’s BrandWeek there’s a bit on a new business book by “Entrepreneur and author Tim O'Leary announcing the launch of his new book, “Warriors, Workers, Whiners, & Weasels: Understanding and Using the Four Personality Traits to Your Advantage.” Apparently... Continue Reading Posted at 5:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Pimp my stuff... Only if you make it worth my while! George Parker June 1, 2006 Why am I somewhat under whelmed by today’s news that if you want to attract customers from the wealthiest sections of society, don’t hire a celebrity endorser? Well, that’s what a survey released Thursday from the American Affluence Research Center,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Big news from Interpublic... Yawn!!! George Parker June 1, 2006 The saga of Interpublic continues to unfold with the news today they have finalized plans to merge marketing-services agency Draft and ad agency FCB. The combined unit will be called Draft FCB Group, and Howard Draft, founder and CEO... Continue Reading Posted at 10:38 AM \| Permalink \| Comments

« May 2006 | Main | July 2006 »

Jun30	AdHurl... The Official Blog of Official Blogs! George Parker June 30, 2006 Know More: Sponsorship I am always amused when I read that some food/drink/car/acne cream or whatever is now the official food/drink/car/acne cream of some sporting event or sports team. Does this really make fans buy stuff, because it’s official? The reason I ask is because today’s BrandWeek informs us that Chef One Dumplings are now the Official Dumplings of New York’s Brooklyn Cyclones, the farm team of the NY Mets. As part of the deal, Chef One will distribute samples of their dumplings, hold 'dumpling nights' and dumpling eating contests. I mean, how do you eat a dumpling at a ball park…On a stick? Still, not as dumb as Bud paying $50 million to become the Official Beer of the World Cup in Germany, when every German in the country has gone on record as saying it’s undrinkable and only fit for washing cars. But, you might be interested in some dumplings! Posted at 9:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun30	Satin lined "Bijou" home for sale! George Parker June 30, 2006 Another nail in the coffin lid of newspaper ad revenues was announced today with the news that online real estate advertising will total an estimated $1.719 billion this year, about 15% of the projected $11.698 billion total real estate spending,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun29	Shades of William Randolph Hearst! George Parker June 29, 2006 With today’s news out of London that Rupert Murdoch (The Wizened of Oz) has indicated he could switch his support from the Labour Party to the Conservatives at the next general election and has urged Tony Blair to stand down... Continue Reading Posted at 7:58 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Bring on the clowns!!! George Parker June 29, 2006 I know it’s not advertising, but in my never ending search for news, I came across this on a UK Web site (Strange that I haven’t found it on any US news site!) Three anti-nuke activists dressed as clowns broke... Continue Reading Posted at 7:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	One of those Apples may be a bit rotten!!! George Parker June 29, 2006 News today that Apple Computer, after an internal review uncovered "irregularities'' in stock option grants to Chief Executive Steve Jobs and others from 1997 through 2000. Ooops! The disclosure makes Apple -- which ranks as the fourth-biggest high-tech company in... Continue Reading Posted at 4:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Euro RSCG cleans out JWT's closet! George Parker June 29, 2006 News out of London today that Euro RSCG Worldwide has won the global Reckitt Benckiser ad account, which is really bad news for JWT as this is a major financial body blow. It had been assumed that both agencies would... Continue Reading Posted at 10:49 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun28	What's on TV tonight? Tripe, tripe and more tripe! George Parker June 28, 2006 Wired has an interesting interview with the “Wizened of Oz” about the future of communications. He says that mass media will continue to exist, giving American Idol, with its 35 million viewers as an example. Niches have a future also,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Everything you ever needed to know about beer and hot dogs! George Parker June 28, 2006 Brandweek has the results of two blindingly obvious surveys for your interest and education. The first, a survey of beer drinkers comes up with the amazing revelation that at outdoor barbecues, men like to drink their beer cold and out... Continue Reading Posted at 9:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A "Bold Move" from Ford! George Parker June 28, 2006 I have to say I am mightily impressed with the Ford “Bold Moves” Web site. I assume Global agency JWT was involved, if not totally responsible for the whole thing. How refreshing to be so brutally honest about the obvious... Continue Reading Posted at 8:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun27	How to make money by acting like a doormat! George Parker June 27, 2006 Considering America’s obsession with golf, I wasn’t surprised to read that some bright spark has come up with another alternative to traditional advertising by creating golf practice mats that display the logo of sponsors in golf course practice areas. The... Continue Reading Posted at 10:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Try not to display your display ads! George Parker June 27, 2006 Why am I not surprised to read that an eye-tracking study conducted by the Nielson Norman Group finds that Web users, in what is a manifestation of "banner blindness," tend to ignore bright, flashing banner ads and look at text... Continue Reading Posted at 9:52 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	We don't need no stinkin' ads!!! George Parker June 27, 2006 You may not be particularly surprised by today’s news that WPP, the Poisoned Dwarf’s Empire, is now becoming more media-centric. At least that's what “His Gnomeship,” Sir Martin Sorrell announced today when discussing the groups financial goings-on for the first... Continue Reading Posted at 5:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Larry... I ain't going anywhere... Ellison! George Parker June 27, 2006 Remember my post of June 22nd about how the “Shogun of Redwood Shores,” Larry Ellison, seemed to have reneged on his promise to donate $115 million to Stanford University? Well, it would seem that Larry is about to cough up... Continue Reading Posted at 5:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why most US car advertising stinks! George Parker June 27, 2006 No surprises with the announcement that General Motors Corp. is moving its estimated $225 million national Cadillac account to Modernista, Boston, giving Publicis Groupe's Leo Burnett Detroit, Troy, Mich., a 90-day termination notice. A major factor in the decision had... Continue Reading Posted at 9:40 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A great German TV car spot... No, not for VW! George Parker June 27, 2006 I just love the German TV campaign for Renault cars. Promoting safety, it features staged crash sequences in a laboratory situation. But unlike all the other ads we’ve seen showing cars with test dummies getting mangled as they hit barriers,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:27 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun26	MySpace... Heading for the crapper? George Parker June 26, 2006 There’s a very interesting piece on AdAge’s Media Works about how the “Wizened of Oz” will more than likely screw up MySpace, News Corp.'s $600 million acquisition – And more than likely turn off its 86 million members. Right now... Continue Reading Posted at 11:20 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun25	Bill Gate's final act in his plan for world domination! George Parker June 25, 2006 Interesting piece in Friday’s Forbes talking about a report from Merrill Lynch suggesting Microsoft should acquire Yahoo! in order to fend off Google and consolidate Microsoft’s Internet business. “The possible acquisition of Yahoo would be a strategic positive in our... Continue Reading Posted at 9:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Win a Win Award... Only Women need apply!!! George Parker June 25, 2006 There’s a new awards show in town… Actually, it’s an old awards show that’s just started an “Advertising” category… THE WIN AWARDS 2006… And they’re looking for entries… But, you have to be either a female advertising creative, copywriter, director... Continue Reading Posted at 9:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun24	The "Wizened of Oz" thinks big! George Parker June 24, 2006 This just out of London… Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has been appointed to the board of directors of News Corporation. Aznar, who became the prime minister of Spain in 1996, (Then got booted out last year) is... Continue Reading Posted at 10:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A Grand result for the Cannes Grand Prix! George Parker June 24, 2006 In my apparent obsession with all things “Beer” it is fitting that with the news of the final awards coming in from Cannes, the Guinness spot 'Noitulove' earned the film Grand Prix, with the Carlton Draught “Big Beer” spot (which... Continue Reading Posted at 9:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A cautionary tale! George Parker June 24, 2006 Mack Simpson, who writes the blog Adverb, has a really interesting, and at the same time disturbing, piece that you should read. It serves as a warning to anyone who works in an advertising agency that literally, anything can and... Continue Reading Posted at 9:31 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun23	I'm suffering from information overload. Do you have a drug for that? George Parker June 23, 2006 I loved the piece in Yesterday’s AdAge about how at a time when people are calling for more risk information in direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads, a new study from AstraZeneca claims that too much information in a TV spot leaves the... Continue Reading Posted at 5:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Arianna... Don't get in a Huff... But... George Parker June 23, 2006 Today’s “Huffington Post” has a piece from Arianna, where she goes on about her experiences at the Cannes Festival and her various chats with Madison Avenues Hoi Polloi. Interesting, but as with 95% of the population’s idea of the ad... Continue Reading Posted at 5:18 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun22	Is advertsiing a respectable ocupation for adults? George Parker June 22, 2006 Many years ago, when I first got in the business, I used to work on the Old Spice account. In common with all the other after shaves and colognes, the not so subtle message was “Splash this on and get... Continue Reading Posted at 10:45 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	JWT + Huffington Post = Astroturf!!! George Parker June 22, 2006 Loyal readers may remember my post of June 17th about the JWT “Roadblock” buy-up of the Huffington Post, followed by a later post talking about my recognition in a JWT Corporate memo… Well, it’s been pointed out to me, By... Continue Reading Posted at 8:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	With Larry Ellison, philanthropy begins, and stays, at home! George Parker June 22, 2006 Having had the excruciating misfortune to have worked on the Oracle account in the past. I am always interested to read the latest doings of Uber Ego Maniac Larry Ellison, otherwise known as the “Shogun of Redwood Shores” because of... Continue Reading Posted at 7:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun21	JWT Corporate reads AdHurl!!! George Parker June 21, 2006 One of my JWT spies sent me a copy of a corporate wide memo talking about their tie in with the Huffington Post that I wrote about a couple of days ago… Part of it reads… For starters, AdPulp, Blogs... Continue Reading Posted at 9:55 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun20	The Chief Marketing Officer is dead. Would somebody tell them? George Parker June 20, 2006 A new study from Spencer Stuart shows that the average tenure of a Chief Marketing Officer has shrunk down from a sobering 23.6 months in 2004 and 23.5 months last year to an even tighter 23.2 months this year. Supposed... Continue Reading Posted at 10:00 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Going for the Gold... Why ad people don't care... Much!!! George Parker June 20, 2006 There’s a pretty amazing article in the current AdAge about creative awards and the perennial question about their effectiveness and meaning. The thing that really sticks out though is the fact that the BDA’s of Madison Avenue will spend an... Continue Reading Posted at 8:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The King of PR foul-ups!!! George Parker June 20, 2006 I know it’s about beer again, but here’s another example of how Budweiser may be shooting itself in the foot. As many as a thousand Netherlands World Cup fans had to take off their pants before entering the stadium in... Continue Reading Posted at 8:02 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	We don't need no stinkin' advertising! George Parker June 20, 2006 Nice piece in the Wall Street Journal about Craigslist and how it could be making a lot more money than it is currently. In the interview, Jim Buckmaster makes a couple of very sounds arguments for their business model "In... Continue Reading Posted at 7:36 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun19	So I got this book, but I don't know where the batteries go! George Parker June 19, 2006 Here's some pleasant news for parents (But at the moment, only in Britain) who despair of their sons ever tearing themselves away from TV’s, game consoles and iPods: a book containing vital information on playing outdoor games, constructing paper airplanes... Continue Reading Posted at 9:21 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Cindy Crawford... Would you please call BBD&O? George Parker June 19, 2006 Today’s online ad column from the New York Times talks about how BBD&O is redoing the classic Alka-Seltzer TV spots of the 60’s, such as “Try it, you’ll like it!” And “I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!” Unfortunately,... Continue Reading Posted at 8:53 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Well Duh!!! George Parker June 19, 2006 I've just realized that the majority of my last few posts have been all about "Beer!" With the remainder about the "World Cup." Mmmm. Well at the moment I can't think of two more interesting things to write about. But... Continue Reading Posted at 5:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"Big Beer" for the big Cannes Award! George Parker June 19, 2006 AdWeek is listing the top ten contenders for the “UberTVSpot” in the upcoming Cannes Awards. Without a doubt, the best one is the Australian commercial for Carlton Beer produced by the George Patterson Agency of Melbourne. Titled “Big Beer,” it’s an... Continue Reading Posted at 5:39 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun18	The "King of Beers" starts a revolution! George Parker June 18, 2006 Still on the subject of the World Cup I’ve written before about the German fans disbelief that Budweiser was selected as the events “Official Beer.” Interesting bit in this weeks Der Spiegel exposing the great Anheuser-Busch beer sham. Apparently in... Continue Reading Posted at 9:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Play Football get rich... That's the Football you play with your feet! George Parker June 18, 2006 A recent study points out that Britain’s Football Association (FA) is the world leader when it comes to attracting sponsorship, having netted more sponsorship income than any other national governing body at this year's World Cup, with annual revenue from... Continue Reading Posted at 9:03 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun17	When it comes to The Huffington Post... Just the facts Maam!!! George Parker June 17, 2006 My old pal Steve Coulson points out that JWT has bought all the ad space for one week on the The Huffington Post, which will showcase nine of the agency's best television ads including Levi's and HSBC. Funny they should... Continue Reading Posted at 9:41 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Washed up Jocks who drink watered down beer needed! George Parker June 17, 2006 It would seem that the appallingly bad Miller Lite TV campaign featuring “Man Laws” and the Men of the Square Table is now searching for the next member of the “Council” via a video contest. Full details are at ManLaws.com,... Continue Reading Posted at 9:34 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun16	A snowballs chance in Hell! George Parker June 16, 2006 It would seem that the Hippocratic Hypocrites of the American Medical Association are calling for a temporary moratorium on direct-to-consumer prescription drug and implantable medical device advertising. 10 years after the government began allowing companies to pitch their products on... Continue Reading Posted at 9:50 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Best Buy... Or best spoof? George Parker June 16, 2006 You have to take a look at the latest stunt of “Improv Everywhere.” Remarkably brilliant… You know how everyone that works at a Best buy store wears khakis and bright blue polo shirts, right? So thirty or so “Improve Everywhere”... Continue Reading Posted at 9:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun15	Poochums only drinks Bollinger 85 water! George Parker June 15, 2006 BrandWeek points out that the latest thing in the bottled water craze (which is now a $9 billion a year business,) is, bottled, flavored, nutritionally enhanced water for PETS. Courtesy of a company called Mollibrands this latest way to liposuction... Continue Reading Posted at 9:13 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	You're not watching TV... Google's watching you! George Parker June 15, 2006 One of the things agencies have been able to get away with over the years is their lack of accountability for the billions they’ve persuaded clients to spend on useless TV campaigns. Well, maybe those days are coming to an... Continue Reading Posted at 8:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Should Nike Nix Ronaldo? George Parker June 15, 2006 Interesting that the final ad in Nike's World Cup campaign pays tribute to the skills of Ronaldo, just as the star has been barraged by criticism that he is no longer worth his place in the Brazil team. It was... Continue Reading Posted at 8:43 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun14	You are now leaving a smoke free zone... Welcome to Germany! George Parker June 14, 2006 Der Spiegel reports that a European court ruled on Tuesday Germany should step into line with EU law and ban tobacco ads in print and on TV. Germany is one of the last countries in Europe that has virtually no... Continue Reading Posted at 11:23 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Breakthrough news you already knew! George Parker June 14, 2006 The incredibly unsurprising results of a survey based on responses from 85 major advertisers, was released today at the ANA's conference on integrated marketing in New York. And guess what? An increasing number of marketers believe that general advertising is... Continue Reading Posted at 10:49 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	"I need more data, Data!" George Parker June 14, 2006 Anyone read that piece in today’s New York Times about the monster complex Google is building in Northern Oregon as part of their plane to take over the Universe? Just think about the dimensions of "Project 02," as the new... Continue Reading Posted at 10:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	I can't believe this isn't bologne! George Parker June 14, 2006 At the same time Unilever is looking for a “I can’t believe it’s not butter!” replacement for aging lothario “Fabio.” A national TV campaign is breaking for Nationwide Insurance starring Fabio! In the ad, Fabio, looking fabulous… What else… Is... Continue Reading Posted at 10:29 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun13	Wanted lunatic to invest in Ad Agency! George Parker June 13, 2006 Further proof today that advertising agencies have to be the most screwed up business model in the world. How so? “InBev,” one of the world’s largest beverage companies is reviewing the global ad business for its Beck's lager brand with... Continue Reading Posted at 9:26 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	I have $50 million in a safe deposit box... Honestly! George Parker June 13, 2006 In my never ending fascination with the 419 guys from Nigeria – See yesterdays post on the new Russian variation – Bill Green of one of my favorite sites “Makethelogobigger” has a great link to another site with "How to... Continue Reading Posted at 8:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	If you want it done well... Do it yourself! George Parker June 13, 2006 Maybe I’m missing the point here, but in today’s New York Times Ad Column, Stuart Elliott is talking about how General Mills has decided to let its two ad agencies, Campbell Mithun and Saatchi & Saatchi determine the media in... Continue Reading Posted at 8:38 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun12	Mmmmm... Twinkies!!! George Parker June 12, 2006 Reading in today’s BrandWeek about the possibility of immortality for “Twinkie the Kid” (Who?) from your favorite food… Twinkies! He needs your vote if he is going to earn his rightful place on the “Madison Avenue Walk of Fame.” If... Continue Reading Posted at 8:44 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Holy Moley... It's a shrine to football! George Parker June 12, 2006 I know this has already been posted on a couple of ad blogs, but I think this is wonderful. And if you are a football (not soccer!) fan you will know why, as the rest of the world outside of... Continue Reading Posted at 8:40 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Here today... Sayonara tomorrow! George Parker June 12, 2006 Advertising is probably the most cyclical business in the world. One year you’re a hero, the next you’re dog meet. Today’s news that Hewlett-Packard has fired Stone Yamashita of San Francisco as its Brand Identity and Strategy consultant shouldn’t come... Continue Reading Posted at 8:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Don't be Square in Tiananmen! George Parker June 12, 2006 It would seem that “The Poisoned Dwarf” (Sir Martin Sorrell) is making a rather poor impression on Yan Gang, Head Mandarin at the Citic Guoan Group in China. Apparently, all because the Chinese pulled out of a joint arrangement with... Continue Reading Posted at 7:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Moscow is now spelled L.A.G.O.S. George Parker June 12, 2006 Having posted on the 419ers (The spam kings from Nigeria) before, I have to admit, they don’t give up easily. Now I’m getting them as Skype Chat messages. Today’s was from Larisa Sosnitskaya, personal treasurer to Mr. Boris Mikhail Khodorkovsky,... Continue Reading Posted at 7:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun10	But what will you wrap the fish in? George Parker June 10, 2006 Thirty minutes after my last post concerning Corporate Blogging I was reading on The Guardians Web site about how the editor of the Guardian, Alan Rusbridger, has mounted a defense of journalism and of printed newspapers, dismissing reports that the... Continue Reading Posted at 10:05 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The state of corporate blogging is in a bit of a state! George Parker June 10, 2006 Why am I not surprised to read that a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive, the "2006 State of Corporate Blogging" survey, found that Fortune 1000 business executives are reacting slowly to the idea of corporate blogs as a communications... Continue Reading Posted at 9:27 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	A pint and a packet of rubarb and mustard crisps... Ta! George Parker June 10, 2006 As I write this post it is about twelve hours since England won it’s first match in the World Cup. This means that every pub in England will be running out of beer and crisps. This is about advertising, so... Continue Reading Posted at 9:11 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 9	You can trust me... I'm a TV ad! George Parker June 9, 2006 A recent article in “The Guardian” shows that even though British advertisers spend £3.4bn (about $6bn dollars) every year plugging their products on TV but most viewers don't believe anything in a commercial. Research by ITV reveals that just one... Continue Reading Posted at 6:59 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	How long before Murdoch owns everything? George Parker June 9, 2006 The Times of London has turned on its new online TV and video service backed by a "six-figure" (In pounds, don’t forget) deal with exclusive sponsor Cisco. A string of video clips including world news, business, sport and entertainment are... Continue Reading Posted at 5:47 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	How to win friends and influence journalists! George Parker June 9, 2006 What’s a company to do when it’s being hammered in the press for its recent poor performance? Why, throw a birthday party for a prominent journalist, of course. That’s what Dell and its public relations agency did this week for... Continue Reading Posted at 5:42 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why most people think advertising is dumb. George Parker June 9, 2006 AdAge reports that Proshade, a consumer-eyewear company headquartered in Florida, offered to pay $4 million to adorn the presidential faces on the Mount Rushmore National Monument with larger-than-life Proshade visors. Not surprisingly, the offer was declined. Funnily enough, it hasn’t... Continue Reading Posted at 11:27 AM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 7	Masochists wanted. Only ad agencies need apply! George Parker June 7, 2006 It would seem that less than a month after winning the business in a review, independent The Richards Group and 21st Century Insurance are parting ways. Stan Richards, principal and creative director at the Dallas agency put it rather succinctly... Continue Reading Posted at 10:15 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Control yourself... The Gap is selling tee shirts! George Parker June 7, 2006 So Gap is getting back into advertising after a six month hiatus. From what I’ve read in the trades, I wonder why they’re bothering. The merchandise is going back to basics… Denim and tee shirts, the ads will feature minor... Continue Reading Posted at 10:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 6	All the news that's fit NOT to print! George Parker June 6, 2006 Did you ever wonder why so many people who write for the business press seem to be either lazy or stupid? I wrote a few years ago about a New York Times reporter going on about how Microsoft had destroyed... Continue Reading Posted at 9:25 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 5	Hey, FCB, that's not a draft you can feel... It's a hurricane! George Parker June 5, 2006 More news on the merger of Draft and FCB with the analysts starting to throw in their ten cents worth… "Although we see the strategic rationale of approaching clients with a more complete, data-driven offering, there have been more failed... Continue Reading Posted at 9:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Will water make the grade in school? George Parker June 5, 2006 Now that soda is being expelled from schools, guess what the drinks companies are throwing a ton of money behind in order to create the “Next Drink?” Believe it or not… Water. Nestlé Waters, is putting its first national marketing... Continue Reading Posted at 9:09 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Coming soon... Toilet TV! George Parker June 5, 2006 Remember in the movie “Blade Runner,” there were TV images everywhere. On buildings, balloons. cars etc? Well an outfit in Dallas, called “Gas Station TV,” is going to provide digital broadcasts on LCD-equipped fuel pumps and has just signed a... Continue Reading Posted at 8:57 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 4	Perhaps "Interpublic" should be renamed "InterTrouble!" George Parker June 4, 2006 One of the things I find intriguing about the merger of Draft and FCB is how naive the so called “Financial community” can be about the whole thing. According to analyst Debra Schwartz, she applauds the merger. "We believe the... Continue Reading Posted at 9:08 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 3	You have relatives in Manchester? George Parker June 3, 2006 Unlike in Europe we have not yet been buried in an avalanche of advertising surrounding the upcoming World Cup. But, just in case you were worried, there's good news from my home town of Manchester, England. Football fans jetting to... Continue Reading Posted at 7:46 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Faster than a speeding lawsuit... It's Captain Copyright! George Parker June 3, 2006 I’ve heard of some really dumb ideas in my time, but here’s one that really takes the biscuit. A Web site has just gone up in Canada aimed at children who are desperate to find out everything there is to... Continue Reading Posted at 6:14 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Lego my Lego! George Parker June 3, 2006 Reading in BrandWeek about some guy by the name of Jason Poland of Houston who just won the elite position of Model Builder at Legoland California, after besting a number of other wannabes in the ultimate build-off at the family... Continue Reading Posted at 5:56 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Virgin Mobile says... I can't text Ya right now, I'm reading an ad! George Parker June 3, 2006 Why am I convinced that this isn’t going to work? News that in an attempt to capture the attention of America’s text-message-crazed youth, three advertisers have joined forces with Virgin Mobile to offer kids a deal: watch our ads and... Continue Reading Posted at 5:32 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 2	This is the BBC... The Queen would like you to pay attention! George Parker June 2, 2006 Having moved from New York to Boise nine years ago, what I find funny is news items like the one today about the BBC World News service doing its U.S. launch with an interactive outdoor campaign inviting passersby on the... Continue Reading Posted at 7:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Oh to be a media mogul... Yahooooo!!! George Parker June 2, 2006 Pardon me for saying the obvious here, but if I have to read about one more case of a multi-zillionaire CEO deciding to take a salary of ONE DOLLAR per year… I’ll throw up. Today’s news that Yahoo’s board of... Continue Reading Posted at 5:51 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
Jun 1	GoogleMania... Beware! George Parker June 1, 2006 I know many people are convinced there is an obvious conspiracy for Google to take over the entire known universe… Well, I can tell you... there is! And here’s living proof. Obviously shot by the AGITA (Against Google In The... Continue Reading Posted at 8:33 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	The First Bank of AdHurl... Free checking! George Parker June 1, 2006 Hey, just a thought as I was reading the business section in today’s New York Times… Yes, we get it here in Boise… But not until well towards the cocktail hour. Which gives me an excuse to suck up some... Continue Reading Posted at 6:07 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Why most business books, with the exception of mine... Suck!!! George Parker June 1, 2006 In today’s BrandWeek there’s a bit on a new business book by “Entrepreneur and author Tim O'Leary announcing the launch of his new book, “Warriors, Workers, Whiners, & Weasels: Understanding and Using the Four Personality Traits to Your Advantage.” Apparently... Continue Reading Posted at 5:17 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Pimp my stuff... Only if you make it worth my while! George Parker June 1, 2006 Why am I somewhat under whelmed by today’s news that if you want to attract customers from the wealthiest sections of society, don’t hire a celebrity endorser? Well, that’s what a survey released Thursday from the American Affluence Research Center,... Continue Reading Posted at 1:28 PM \| Permalink \| Comments
	Big news from Interpublic... Yawn!!! George Parker June 1, 2006 The saga of Interpublic continues to unfold with the news today they have finalized plans to merge marketing-services agency Draft and ad agency FCB. The combined unit will be called Draft FCB Group, and Howard Draft, founder and CEO... Continue Reading Posted at 10:38 AM \| Permalink \| Comments

Advertising, ad campaigns, ad agencies, and the people that make it happen

Advertise

Related Resources

recent comments

sponsored ads

topics

subscribe

Current News

resources

Support This Blog

archives

blogroll

Advertising / Branding

know more media network

we support unitus

PRWeb

Influencer

ProductivityGoal

CallCenterScript

AdHurl

TheBizofKnowledge

HealthCareVox

BrainBasedBusiness