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, [...]

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.  [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Every time I stay in a hotel and find Neutrogena French-Milled soap, I cringe. When I was at Neutrogena we tightened our strategy, and built the market value of the brand from $15 Million to $88 Million in three years. Eight years later on the same strategy, Neutrogena sold out to Johnson & Johnson for [...]

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about Wilson’s, the Leather People, beginning to show non-leather goods in their stores.  A reader has informed me that Wilson’s is changing all of their stores over to Studio branded stores and will carry a range of non-leather products. Regardless of the business need to move away [...]

On Ventura Blvd in the LA area, one can experience two different burger concepts in a few blocks that are worth examining. One is Fat Burger. The other is Habit. The Fat Burger unit is minimal and dated. The food is good. Once you stop in, the marketing is clear, the concept makes sense. They [...]

I passed by an auto body shop today called Pro Collision. It had a sign with a very clever line, “We meet by accident.” I am sure that the agency and the client really were excited about this line. Admit it. It’s cute. But does it set up any expectation, compelling or differentiating about Pro [...]

Noticed in Atlanta.  Wilson’s The Leather Company featuring canvas and hard-case, non leather baggage and cases. Just feels completely wrong when you walk by stores that have been filled with various items, all in leather for so many years.  It is a pity.