Mindshare Moves, Nokia Vends
April 17, 2008
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WPP’s MindShare has launched a wholesale restructuring of its business — effectively splitting the agency into four distinct units — designed to move the shop beyond planning and buying,
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Nokia wanted young people to get excited about its N81 model, so it tapped into a pop-culture phenomenon in Hong Kong: gashapons, or small toys sold in vending-machine capsules.
I experienced a mix of emotions when I read the headline “Automakers Underspend on Media that Influence Buyers”. I think it was maybe a feeling of frustration that this seems to have been reported several times before, and yet nothing seems to change … relief that it is once in again in the spotlight … and then possibly the wry reflection that probably still nothing will change!
It appears that “top automotive advertisers” spent by far the greatest percentage of their media dollars on TV in 2006 (surprise) which is an incredibly unbalanced media spend compared with influence on purchase (approximately 40% of spend vs. 17-18% of influence). The analysis comes amid reports of automakers’ reallocation of more dollars to digital advertising, but those moves “may not be going far enough…”
I have a few issues with the research … for example, what of the myriad other “connections” (if I can use the word without being sued) and influences outside advertising, that affect people’s decisions?
I was initially dubious of the AOC’s title this year “Why Don’t People Get It” … reading the above research I am starting to come round to the idea!
Uncoolhunter, Karim’s Veuve, Fairey’s Penguin, Cigarette Phone, Early Adopters, Starbucks + iTunes, FOR YOU, WineSide, Energy Maps
April 16, 2008
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theuncoolhunter.com is a “website/magazine designed for a reader who wants to enrich him or herself with information related to the new trends”. Marvelous!
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The latest collaboration between Karim Rashid and Veuve Clicquot is this reinvention of a chandelier in the form of a glowing pink champagne holder that doubles as a cooling tote. It is juxtaposed here with his original designer-napkin scribble …
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Fairly quickly after the release of his iconic poster of Barack Obama, Shepard Fairey follows up with some more political-themed work for Penguin that borrows cleverly from his Obey work.
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The manufacturer who came up with the idea of a Cigarette phone must be commended for its ingenuity. The handset is the exact shape and size of a cigarette box. You can even keep a few ciggies in it. Reviewers talk about poor build quality and lack of functions … but, c’mon!
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New research reveals that early adopters are implementing social media in their organizations at a rate 500% faster than wait-and-see marketers.
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Each Tuesday, more than 7,000 Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. will stock a new Pick of the Week download card redeemable on the iTunes Store at itunes.com.
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This site is (apparently) not a bad joke or poorly conceived scam. Like a personal assistant offering fantasy chores, artist David Horvitz has created a unique list of things he’ll do for you and mail to you if you pay him…
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WineSide is taking a novel approach by offering wines packaged in sample-sized tubes. The company offers both sweet and classic wines in patented, flat-base glass tubes.
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I was happy to spot a new automated selling device in London: Onitsuka Tiger, the Japanese sports brand, launched a sneaker vending machine on Carnaby Street today.
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The quest for alternative energy is the gold rush of our era. FirstLook sells detailed reports to new-energy entrepreneurs that show how much wind or sunshine an area is likely to receive.
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Walmart missed a few turns along the Internet superhighway, and now plans to catch up by tapping its 130 million weekly store customers by creating places for them to talk about products online.
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On the heels of rival Starbucks’ free coffee offer, Dunkin’ Donuts will offer a free donut with any coffee purchase on Tuesday as a way to lessen the burden of Tax Day.
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Through a partnership with Microsoft’s MSN and Ogilvy, the new interactive, multimedia channel launches first in the U.S. and will be rolled out to the UK and Canada in the next three months.
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Radiohead is continuing to find innovative ways to allow fans to own the brand in a personalized way. The latest idea is a contest in partnership with Apple and their Garageband product.
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ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” plans to air live commercials integrated into show. This aims to “help break through the clutter” but “won’t necessarily be suitable for every brand” a spokesman says.
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A typically well crafted and opinionated piece from Joseph Jaffe … I personally think its fine to have “creatives” as long as that function doesn’t have the monopoly on creativity …
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Wow. These guys make me want to move to Asia … “AWE50ME is a creative community and space where unique individuals share their vision with each other.
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Andy McNab is backing the launch of GoSpoken, a new service that allows UK customers to preview, purchase and download audiobooks via their mobile phones for the first time.
Virgin America and the Blogosphere
April 15, 2008
I thought it was a very smart move by Virgin America when I heard that they would be including blogs and podcasts in their InFlight entertainment system. In a Social Media masterstroke, they even let Boing Boing name one of their planes … they picked “Unicorn Chaser”.
Music blog/label RCRD LBL has a music channel, and Virgin America also has video podcasts from Boing Boing, Digg and TED which are updated monthly. The new airline also apparently hopes to have more daily blog content to sit alongside traditional media in the future. Thanks to Piers.
WeWereGigantic, Storefront Pop Up
April 11, 2008
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Storefront are launching a pop-up outpost in an abandoned printing house in L.A. For five weeks, the new spot will host “CCCP”, a show of Soviet-era architectural photography…
Over two years ago, Bernard Urban rebranded his URBAN advertising company to become GIGANTIC. Last April, agency WeAreGigantic was born out of an MDC consolidation of its MFP and Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners agencies. (MFP was closed down).
WeAreGigantic was headed by ex MFPers Neil Powell, his “creative partner” Josh Rogers and New Biz Director Jenna Moran. (Jenna left soon after for Greatworks). Anyway, Urban sued MDC for trademark infringement and recently won, effectively ending the existence of WeAreGigantic … which has evidently now been renamed “Tremendous”. No modesty issues chez Powell, clearly! The WAG site is now a full-on 403 “Forbidden”…
WeAreGigantic was headed by ex MFPers Neil Powell, his “creative partner” Josh Rogers and New Biz Director Jenna Moran. (Jenna left soon after for Greatworks). Anyway, Urban sued MDC for trademark infringement and recently won, effectively ending the existence of WeAreGigantic … which has evidently now been renamed “Tremendous”. No modesty issues chez Powell, clearly! The WAG site is now a full-on 403 “Forbidden”…
Maurice’s Creativity, Coke’s Plastic, Bush’s War
April 10, 2008
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“The business model in which the agency’s sole function is to create advertising and buy media is no longer viable,” he said. “We need a new model”. Well said, monsieur!
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Saddled with complaints from environmentalists that its plastic bottles are clogging up landfills, the cola giant has come up with a unique solution: turning recycled bottles into “Drink 2 Wear” apparel.
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If you watch one documentary on the Iraq conflict it should be this one.
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For 30 years, Wal-Mart employed a video company to film its top executives, often in unguarded moments. Two years ago, WM stopped using the company, and now you can buy videos for $250…
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McDonald’s is dialing up (geddit?) mobile coupons for a test at 113 locations in the South West. Consumers can receive an iced coffee for free when they use a Cellfire mobile coupon between April 7-27. A somewhat inauspicious beginning, but I remain convinced of the future power of mobile couponing…
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So BMW will evidently be exclusive sponsor of AMC’s “Mad Men” premiere. BMW will get a “custom-branded vignette” focusing on the company heritage and history of the BMW brand, attached to regular BMW ads. This sounds like a fairly standard “Added Value” deal (with “adjacency”) … but I remain mystified as to why they would celebrate their braces-twanging, power-lunching, ad-wankerish image (per this offering from BBH).
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Recommendations from family and friends trump all other consumer touchpoints when it comes to influencing purchases, according to new data from Publicis media network. I think I probably knew this, but its always nice to have some stats …
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Rob Campbell’s view on proprietary agency processes (and how they aren’t , err, that proprietary). I bridled a bit about the “engagement plan” and “media plan” being the same … but …
Yowch. A Mexican ad showed to Americans on a blog resulted in “racist” attacks on the blogger … (Charles Frith has an interesting take on this). Incidentally, if you are interested in learning more about the Mexican War I can recommend Jeff Shaara’s book “Gone For Soldiers”.
With the biggest traffic jams in the world, new social movements aimed at finding alternatives to cars are sprouting in São Paulo. One such movement is the “bicicletada” - similar to US “Critical Mass”.
This chart of the American subprime mortgage crisis is a fantastic use of data. It’s very similar to the Global Cities art installation in the Tate Modern. You can view the huge version of it here.
Created by former Vimeo/IAC developer Justin Ouellete, Muxtape allows users to create their own mixes — typically 12 songs — upload the files, sequence the songs and post.
The “simultaneous, coast-to-coast coffee tasting” will take place between 9 and 9:30 a.m. PST. Starbucks is giving away 8-ounce cups of the new Pike Place Roast.
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A survey of iPhone users details the impact it has had on their usage. It shows some unexpected patterns that could change your perceptions of this revolutionary mobile device.
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Havas Media has bought Cake, the branded entertainment agency, for an undisclosed sum. The agency will join other similar Havas-owned specialist agencies under the Havas Entertainment brand.
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Integrated marketing communications was ranked as senior marketers’ top priority - for the second year in a row - according to an annual survey by the Association of National Advertisers.
