5 Blogs Before Lunch

PETA Goes Wild Posting Against McDonald's Chicken Practices

2009-07-13T15:40:45-07:00

While Domino's Pizza is using GreenGraffiti to promote their brand around New York, PETA has begun "wild posting" hundreds of copies of its new ad featuring a close-up of the eye of a chicken who's been scalded alive in order...

Green Graffiti On The Rise, Thanks To Domino's

2009-07-13T15:24:42-07:00

Remember Wild Postings? They were those ads posted in urban areas without permission of the owners of the walls or buildings where they were placed. Well, 2009 brings a new form of wild postings--called Green Graffiti. The technique uses a...

Official Michael Jackson Concert Memorabilia Lives On

2009-07-13T14:43:23-07:00

Today was to be the premiere of Michael Jackson's “This Is It” concert series at London’s O2 Arena. Michael's gone. The concerts have been canceled, but the merchandising lives on. Official concert merchandise is being sold online and will be...

Northwest Airlines Flight Attendants Want Richard Tyler Designed Uniforms in Plus Sizes

2009-07-13T06:38:09-07:00

Northwest Airlines has branded their signature red dress uniform designed by Richard Tyler. Unfortunately, not all of the NWA flight attendants can fit into the outfit. Since being purchased by Delta Airlines, the NWA red uniform can only be worn...

Dear Burger King: A Hindu Deity and the Texican Whopper Just Don't Mix. But You Already Knew That, Didn't You.

2009-07-11T06:11:11-07:00

Burger King continues on its quest to create controversy through its advertising. The fast food chain has run an ad in Spain, then quickly retracted it once it raised the ire of Hindus across the world, The ad features an...

Evian Uses 96 Roller-Skating Babies in New Ad Campaign

2009-07-09T11:48:16-07:00

Clearly, consumers can not get enough of the "Look Who's Talking" talking-baby phenomenon which started decades ago. Recently, E*Trade has been running some great ads with talking babies, and now Evian has joined the wave with an ad featuring 96...

Controversial Marijuana Ad Running...And Not Running, in California

2009-07-09T09:09:27-07:00

A voter-approved measure made medical marijuana legal in California in 1996. Now, the Marijuana Policy Project is pitching the decriminalization and taxation of marijuana as a way to enhance California state budgets during the fiscal crisis, but NBC, ABC, and...

Crisis Management Ad for Tylenol After FDA Warning

2009-07-09T08:09:22-07:00

Recently, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended limits on the use of acetaminophen, a commonly used painkiller and the generic ingredient in Tylenol, among others. In classic crisis-management mode, Tylenol's maker--Johnson & Johnson ran full-page ads in...

McDonald's Ad Asks, "Are We There Yet?"

2009-07-09T07:46:09-07:00

McDonald's advertising in Sweden has an interesting twist on the brand. DDB Stockholm has created a spot with a decidedly Harry Potter-feel that promotes the idea of stopping at McDonald's on road trips. The ad plays on the common childhood...

Is There Life After Death for the Brands that Picthman Billy Mays Promoted?

2009-07-09T06:58:02-07:00

Direct-marketing pitchman Billy Mays died recently. He was the face of numerous brands such as OxiClean, Kaboom, and Orange-Glo. So what is a brand to do once it's star is gone, and all of its marketing relies on the relationship...

Shape of Mars' Bounty Bar Not All That Unique, Or Worth A Trademark

2009-07-09T06:22:56-07:00

There's been a bit of a chocolate war going on in Europe over the shape of popular chocolate-covered coconut bars. The "Bounty" chocolate-covered coconut bar is one of the most well-known chocolates in Europe (think of the "Mounds" bar in...

Oscar Mayer is Dead

2009-07-08T16:20:46-07:00

Yes, Oscar Mayer is was a real person. In fact he was third in a line of Oscar Mayer's working at the company that bares their name and was founded in 1919. Oscar G. Mayer Jr. was the retired chairman,...

Sci-Fi Channel Changes Its Name To "Syfy." The early reviews: "Perhaps the most ill-advised branding move since New Coke,"

2009-07-08T06:09:37-07:00

The folks at the Sci-Fi Channel wante to expand, and "own" their audience through their brand. They wanted a brand name to be usable all over the world in Internet URLs, brand extensions and merchandising. They wanted a brand name...

McDonald's To Include Electronic Vehicle Re-charging stations...and "Happy Watts Meals?"

2009-07-07T06:18:27-07:00

It is being reported that a new North Carolina McDonald's will include electric vehicle (EV) recharging stations, part of the ChargePoint network. The automobile re-charge--which may take 2-hours to conduct (pun intended), leaves a lot of time to enjoy that...

China's Spring Airlines To Offer "Standing Room Only" Fares?

2009-07-05T07:18:58-07:00

How low can airlines go before passengers just give up? It must be quite a challenge for marketers to have to advertise a constant DECREASE in service to customers while airline ticket costs continue to rise. It seems relatively easy...

Aston Martin Develops Sub-Compact Car For "Zipping Around Town"

2009-07-04T06:46:56-07:00

Aston Martin is a car company known for its uncompromising luxury, power, and design. It now wants to build a new compact car based on that brand DNA. Partnering with Toyota, Aston Martin has announced its new "Cygnet" which the...

Thieves Steal Christian Audigier's new Champagne From Launch Party

2009-07-04T06:24:26-07:00

Christian Audigier has been associated with the success of iconic fashion brands such as Diesel, Von Dutch and Ed Hardy (among others). He was said to be collaborating on a new line of clothing with music legend Michael Jackson before...

Crispin, Porter + Bogusky Creates "Giant Digital Fishing Net"

2009-07-03T13:13:54-07:00

Ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky has created a promotional gathering place on the web. The site contains news and promotional items about the agency, their clients--and as a video from agency prinicpal Alex Bogusky states: "the good, the bad--the...

Levi's: Go Forth

2009-07-03T07:48:11-07:00

Levi's has, over the years, commissioned some of the most innovative, entertaining and strategically brilliant advertising campaigns in the industry. Thanks (primarily) to agency Foote Cone + Belding (San Francisco) and later BBH, we've been treated to some great advertising--with...

Microsoft Pulls Vomit Ad--Deemed Distasteful

2009-07-03T07:26:26-07:00

Microsoft has pulled an online ad for its browser Internet Explorer 8, which featured a woman vomiting several times. The ad was deemed...distasteful, by consumers. (apologies for the pun). The ad features actor Dean Cain who explains how IE8 can...

Gap Hires Crispin Porter + Bogusky To Run Its Holiday Campaign

2009-07-03T07:06:47-07:00

Last year, Gap brand Old Navy hired Crispin Porter + Bogusky to revamp its brand to focus on Moms (from its previous teen/twenty-something target). By most accounts, the campaign has seemed successful. Now CP+B gets a chance at marketing the...

Subway Ad Featuring Michael Phelps To Debut

2009-07-03T06:42:56-07:00

A few months back, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was caught up in controversy following the publication of an embarrassing photo of the star taking a bong hit at a party. Phelps lost his Kellogg's endorsement deal as a result. But...

This 4th of July, Sales of Hot Dogs Are Up, Fancy Sausage Sales Down

2009-07-03T06:32:00-07:00

Maybe it is due to economic factors, maybe it is a return to traditional, patriotic themes, but sales of hot dogs have been going up in recent months while sales for the more expensive bratwurst and knockwurst sausages have been...

25 Years On, Twiggy Returns To Olay Ads To Show She's Still "Got It"

2009-07-03T06:20:56-07:00

Here's a little bit of marketing genius. In 1985, P&G hired 1960's supermodel Twiggy to be the face of its Oil of Olay anti-aging cream. Now, 25 years later, proviing that she's still "got it" the company has hired her...

Very-American Themed Brand Polo Ralph Lauren To Continue Working With U.S. Olympic Association

2009-07-02T08:52:55-07:00

Polo Ralph Lauren was the official outfitter for the U.S. team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. And, it looks like the association was a good fit. The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) has announced that Polo Ralph Lauren will...

Luxury Marketers Are Embracing Social Responsibility and Eco-Friendly Brand Values

2009-07-02T07:14:28-07:00

A growing number of luxury goods companies are touting their social responsibility strategies and weaving environmental themes into their advertising and marketing. Lexus has a $100,000+ Hybrid vehicle. LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton recently took a stake in Edun, an...

Brinks Home Security To Abandon Well-Established Brand Name

2009-07-02T06:51:54-07:00

Perry Brink started a cartage business in Chicago in 1859, evolving it into one of the most well-known brands in history. When you see a "Brinks" truck delivering or picking up money at a business, you think security, confidence and...

The Aflac Duck and Risk Management: 'no guts, no glory,'

2009-07-02T06:29:07-07:00

In a recent Q&A with The New York Times, Aflac CEO Daniel P. Amos discussed how risk management can be as much about identifying a good gamble as it is about avoiding bad ones--like adopting the company's famous duck mascot....

Will The Wall Street Journal Charge For Its Mobile App?

2009-07-02T06:18:15-07:00

The folks at The Wall Street Journal just can't seem to agree on a pricing strategy. Ever since News Corporation purchased the venerable newspaper, pricing announcements have had the paper going free to online viewers, then back to paid. Rupert...

Karl Malden Passes Away at 97. Here's Hoping He Didn't Leave Home Without It

2009-07-01T13:29:34-07:00

Karl Malden, accomplished stage and screen actor, died at the age of 97 today. He won an Academy Award, and was known to many for his work on "The Streets of San Francisco." But I'll remember him as the spokesperson...

Air New Zealand Video Teaches The Naked Truth About Airline Safety

2009-07-01T07:15:25-07:00

In-flight safety videos typically leave a lot to be desired. Air New Zealand’s new video leaves only a little to the imagination. Launched this week, the video (and accompanying ad) feature flight attendants, pilots, and baggage handlers clad only in...

Starbucks Unveils New Food Menu

2009-07-01T07:00:42-07:00

Starbucks has made major changes to its food offerings over the last several months, and today they're ready to finalize the big push to healthier food offerings with a raft of new items. The company has been overhauling its menu...

Has OK Magazine Crossed The Line of Bad Taste With Deadthbed Photo of Michael Jackson

2009-07-01T06:30:51-07:00

OK Magazine reportedly paid $500,000 for exclusive U.S. and U.K rights to a photo of Michael Jackson taken as he lay dying while paramedics attempt to resuscitate him using CPR. After buying the photo, they decided to put it on...

One Sexy Calvin Klein Billboard Replaces Another in NYC's SOHO District

2009-07-01T06:14:06-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the Calvin Klein Jeans ad in New York's SOHO that some called pornographic. Well, it seems the ad has been replaced. Were the Calvin Klein folks shamed into replacing the ad? Did...

The Shuttering of Vibe

2009-07-01T06:06:36-07:00

Quincy Jones founded Vibe magazine in 1992 (in partnership with Time Warner). It was an urban-music magazine that enjoyed significant success through the 90's. The Wicks Group (a private equity firm) bought the magazine in 2006, and has now decided...

Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon Used Madison Avenue To Build Their Iconic Status

2009-06-26T08:03:44-07:00

We lost three superstars in the last couple of days. Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon were all cultural icons. Helping to create this iconic status was, of course, the entertainment industry. However, the advertising industry had a big...

Kit Kat Produces Edible Postcards, and Wins A Cannes Lion

2009-06-25T06:03:02-07:00

This week, they're handing out honors at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. It is one of the most prestigious awards in the advertising industry. One of the Lions went to Nestlé's Kit Kat and its agency JWT Japan who...

L'Oreal Guilty of Racism

2009-06-25T05:55:19-07:00

L'Oreal, the global cosmetics giant, has been found guilty by a French court of racial hiring discrimination. The court found that in 2000, L'Oreal's Garnier division recruited sales people for the Fructis Style haircare line based on skin color and...

Barclays Buys Naming Rights To Brooklyn Subway Stops

2009-06-23T20:20:09-07:00

New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority is set to sell the naming rights to subway stops in Brooklyn. For $4 million, the names of subway stops at Atlantic Avenue, Pacific Street and Flatbush Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn will be purchased by...

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Three Ways to Minimize Your Risk of Identity Theft

The best thing you can do to minimize your risk of identity theft is ensure that your personal information is secure. It is very often small acts of criminal mischief that result in years of hardship for individual consumers. Applying common sense can provide a measure of identity theft protection.

1. Don't leave your financial paperwork lying around your house. Store paperwork with personally identifying information in a filing cabinet that is secured with a tamper-proof lock.

2. Never reveal any personal information to anyone who has called or e-mailed you. Ask them to send their request to you in writing through the mail.

3. Sign up for a credit monitoring service. It is a great way to track your credit improvement and stop identity theft.

Additional Resources
Proactive identity theft protection with Lifelock
Monitor your credit score to track improvement and spot identity theft red flags

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NYC Ad Agency Opens Doors To The Unemployed of Madison Avenue

2009-06-23T06:09:48-07:00

The Emmy-award winning owner of a small New York City ad agency has opened his doors to unemployed advertising and marketing professionals. It's not a soup kitchen, but a place that gives those seeking work a base for their activities...

Van Halen Sues Nike over Dunk Lows Shoe Design

2009-06-22T18:12:22-07:00

Eddie Van Halen is suing Nike, saying that the trademarked red, white and black stripe design found on his guitars since 1978 is also used on Nike's new line of "Dunk Lows" sneakers. The Van Halen camp say that Nike...

Can New Balance Get Away With a "Made in the U.S.A." Campaign When 75% of Its Shoes Are Made Outside the U.S.?

2009-06-17T05:59:04-07:00

Over the years, brands have used a "Made in America" messaging strategy to tug at the nationality heartstrings of consumers. The concept works well when there is a collective concern over the loss of American jobs to oversees manufacturers. Shoe...

Guest Blogging at Cisco WebEx's "Ideas in Motion"

2009-06-16T10:37:11-07:00

I'm guest blogging today over at Cisco WebEx's "Ideas in Motion" blog. My topic: How to improve communication: Shower people with humanity.

Calvin Jeans Ad in NYC's Soho: Pornography; Fashion Ad; or a little bit of both?

2009-06-15T18:08:39-07:00

You may have heard that a recent Calvin Klein Jeans television ad was banned in the United States. (psst, see it here). So how did a similar-themed outdoor ad make it to filling-up the skyline around Lafayette and Houston streets...

Green Washing? Kmart Slapped by FTC Over Biodegradability Claims

2009-06-14T12:00:04-07:00

The company famous for its Blue Light Specials got a Red Light from the FTC on its Green advertising and products. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has charged Kmart, along with Tender Corporation, and Dyna-E International with making false and...

The Fight Over A Reebok-sponsored NBA Player's Nike Tattoo

2009-06-14T07:14:42-07:00

Marcin Gortat of the NBA's Orlando Magic has a shoe contract with Reebok. So, the shoe company was non-too-thrilled to discover that Gortat had a tattoo on his lower right leg...a Nike tattoo (Reeboks chief competitor). Representatives of the company...

Febreze, Dasani, Scion: The Man Who Made it All Up (Lexicon Branding)

2009-06-12T14:48:28-07:00

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video.

GM to Sell Saab To Swedish Sportscar Company Koenigsegg

2009-06-12T14:06:42-07:00

Saab, the iconic Swedish car company that has been under the hand of General Motors for the last XX years, has reportedly been sold to Swedish luxury sports carmaker Koenigsegg and a group of Norwegian investors. General Motors has been...

"Leading Your Way Out Of The Recession": David Allen Ibsen on the Big Think

2009-06-11T12:44:22-07:00

Big Think, a global forum "connecting people and ideas" recently posted an article I penned on how to succeed during the recession. The headline: Leading your way out of the recession." The big idea: This is no time to be...

Missouri Family's Christmas Card Photo Ends Up in an Ad--In Prague.

2009-06-11T12:16:18-07:00

When an image of Woody Allen was used on an American Apparel billboard without his permission, he sued and eventually was awarded $5 million. When a model for a Taster's Choice found out his image was being used on the...