Hasta La Creative!

 

One thing you have to consider in the world of advertising and promotions today, you better be open to the consumer acceptance and reaction of the ads you are going to release. This involved consideration towards the areas of cultural, legal, political and social factors which are normally considered in doing business.

Apparently, releasing an ad is one thing but to be forced to pull it out due to bad corporate image and controversies will entirely hurt the brand image. Apparently, this is the issue that hit the company distillers of Sweden’s Absolut Vodka when they released a controversial ad that drew the ire of many Americans who caught up with the ad shown in Mexico.

The billboard ad has the slogan “In an Absolut World” slapped over a pre-1848 map showing California, Arizona and other U.S. states as Mexican territory. Those states were carved out of what had been Mexican lands until that year. 

Although it was not shown in the United States, U.S. media outlets picked up on the ad, and after a barrage of complaints, Absolut’s maker said on Sunday the ad campaign would cease.

(Source) Yahoo News

(TrendHunter.com) Joining GM, BMW is ready to embrace social media, as demonstrated by The Ramp, their recently launched campaign to promote the new 1-Series.

BMW seems to be testing the powers of viral by leveraging new media marketing tactics. In addition to marketing on Facebook and hosting a “Miss Ramp” contest …

There are a multitude of ways to resist modern corporate culture. One can turn the TV off, walk to work or live off the grid. If one is an artist, there are even more options.

Chris Held is an artist.

Today’s highly refined marketing machine appeals to our personal hopes, wants, needs, and dreams to effectively entice us to the point of purchase. Advertisers have found such success by making many of the same promises offered by religion. Love, happiness, acceptance, and comfort are now offered by corporate America and made available in a pill, wrapped in plastic, or with free shipping. Religious organizations have quickly taken cues from marketers and now spew their everlasting-life-guarantees over airwaves and across billboards.

In the installation, Overstock [jáce gáce, Portland OR, April 2008], Chris Held unites the messages of product marketing and religious practice by creating a monolithic shrine to the modern commodity.

The exhibit runs from Apr 4th – 25th, 2008.

image courtesy of PortlandArt.net

[via Rob Walker’s Murketing]

(TrendHunter.com) This is an update on the original trend from over a year ago which focused on James Clar’s 3-D cubes.

“While Clar’s cubes are simply amazing, they can only display monochrome images,” Technabob says.

Now, a company in China has taken the same concept and created a multi-color version. That com…

(TrendHunter.com) Oooo…There’s something cringe-inducing about having your appendix removed through your vagina. Uh… What happens if your a guy? In a bid to do away with the scarring, pain and the long recoveries surgeons are using a technique called “natural orifice” surgery.

In a surgical first, doctors at th…

“The 2008 Beef Ambassadors are encouraging folks to share their enjoyment of beef by submitting videos that show their families and friends enjoying ‘More Beef in More Places.’ ” Thus begins a press release purportedly from a group called the American National CattleWomen. And I’m thinking: This must be naughty spam. My e-mail filter should have trashed it. And then I’m thinking: If it’s for real, how can I get to be a Beef Ambassador? Those notes I sent the White House keep bouncing back, and the Secret Service has been opening my personal correspondence. Sure, they offered me a posting—but as ambassador to Romania. Does that country even exist anymore? Read more about the More Beef contest over on the Raising the Steaks blog. (Hey, that kid over on the Best Maid site looks like he’s got a shot at the cattle job when he gets older. Man, he likes that hamburger!)

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Omelet has put together some new work for Easton Sports that consists of a series of videos featuring career minor leaguer Ron Stilanovich

(TrendHunter.com) Baselworld 2008 is the place for Breguet to unwrap a modest *cough* example of their exquisite craftsmanship. This is the Les Plumes watch made of 18 carat white gold. There are rubies and 1200 diamonds. 18k gold dial with pearl overlay and the signature Breguet Arabic numerals finish off this dist…

Want to know what other advertisers are paying to advertise on websites? As a publisher, want to know how to competitively price your ads?

(TrendHunter.com) Aunt Bessies, a UK food company, has launched “mash and a banger” in a cone as an all-weather alternative to ice cream.

It may look like a 99 Flake from afar, but it’s just the latest sign of the British adapting eating habits due to increasingly rainy miserable summers. Aunt Bessie’s is breath…