There is a good piece of drama on TV disguised as an advertising commercial.  Open in shop, son working with calipers on block of wood.  No help from Dad, only encouragement.  Son ends up with blocky looking soapbox derby car vs. other cars that look like Mattel engineered.  Son with clunky looking car wins soapbox [...]

I tried a new toothpaste at the Hyatt in Kansas City.  Acquafresh Extreme Clean, with micro-foaming action.
This formula comes out of the tube in a red and white swirl and turns pink while using.
AM I THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO DOES NOT WANT A TOOTHPASTE THAT REMINDS ME OF GUMS BLEEDING?

Okay friends.  I have now seen the new Gatorade packaging in the stores.  By every principle I know, this new brand architecture, line and packaging should cost Gatorade real volume.

You do not confuse the consumer.
This means don’t make revolutionary changes in your packaging all at once unless it is to fix a terrible problem, which [...]

There is a TV campaign on at the moment for either Direct TV or for Cable TV.   Takes place around a conference table.  Ed Bagley Jr. plays the chairman of the company.   One guy takes the lead telling about what the competition is doing.  Then they joke into “Let’s Raise Our Prices” in some spots, [...]

I have been trying not to write about the change in Gatorade’s brand architecture and package design, because I try to limit the number of my posts that are deeply critical.
But tonight an associate called me to tell me that she went to the store to buy Gatorade AND WALKED RIGHT BY IT AND COULD [...]

I am so disappointed by the emerging snapshot of ethics in America.  When I first entered this business, stuff like the peanut/salmonella situation did not happen.  Period.  Enron?  Nada.  In fact during my career, I have experienced or known about very few violations of ethics by business, but it does happen, and unfortunately we have [...]

Happens all the time in publishing.  The most recent is Tami Hoag who over the last 15 years has become a New York Times best selling mystery writer.  I can pick up a book by Tami Hoag without knowing who wrote it, and can identify the writer within a chapter at the most.
However Bantam, the [...]

First, i hardly get the chance to discuss bad advertising or marketing because I can’t remember it long enough to get to my computer.  I am trying, but some stuff is so awful I can remember nothing about it just minutes afterwards.
Sharp has a new campaign on printers that breaks every rule.  No focus.  Multiple [...]

We have had numerous questions about our opinion on the new Microsoft advertising featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld.  Since we tend to strong opinions, I have always tried to remember the dictum that nothing is ever as good as it seems and nothing is ever as bad as it seems.
Well readers, this advertising breaks [...]

WORDS ARE SO IMPORTANT.  Never forget that the difference in one word in a headline or in copy can sometimes spell the difference in success or failure.
My wife and I received a direct mail piece last week that just left us stunned and cold-feeling.  It was from a group of financial advisors.  The headline was, [...]