Hasta La Creative!

Today several parties confirmed that San Francisco-based wearable tech company Fitbit is close to resolving its latest creative agency review.

The company concluded its last review in November, choosing UM as its media agency of record for an account valued at an estimated $100 million (though no one could confirm that number at the time).

Fitbit has encountered some recent setbacks in its plans to become the go-to producer of clothing-like tech items designed to measure everything from the pace and distance of a run to the proximity of the nearest burger chain. Analysts have called for investors to lower expectations regarding both the Fitbit and the Apple Watch.

Yet, despite acknowledging “softer-than-expected” holiday sales last year, the company plans to continue ramping up its marketing efforts (hence the review). In a January AdAge profile, a company spokesperson noted its plans to enter the smartwatch market and launch campaigns to match. The key segment from that story:

The company has been ramping up its marketing efforts, and analysts expect robust campaigns to center around new devices—typically in the spring and fall. Last year, Senior VP-CMO Tim Rosa said the company is also focusing on younger consumers, which will be reflected in its marketing. Fitbit spent $78.6 million on measured media in the U.S. last year, a 228% increase over 2014, according to Ad Age’s Datacenter. Though it has also worked with San Francisco-based Argonaut, Fitbit also has its own internal team, Fitbit Creative Lab.

A representative for Fitbit has not responded to queries regarding this review; the company has, in the past, clarified that it prefers not to discuss its agency roster.

Fitbit has worked with Project-owned agency Argonaut since 2014, when it launched its first global campaign. A spokesperson for the agency also declined to comment, but according to our sources Argonaut did not participate in this review and will continue working with the client.

[Image via Fitbit]

Wingstop appears to be looking for a new creative agency, Ad Age has learned.

The apparent search for a creative agency comes months after the chicken wing chain picked Starcom USA as its first national media agency of record.

“While I can’t speak specifically to the rumors, I will tell you that we’re constantly evaluating our agency partners to make sure they are positioned to support our rapidly growing business,” Chief Marketing Officer Flynn Dekker said in an email, adding that sometimes the chain looks for agencies for projects and other times “for longer-term strategic initiatives.”

Continue reading at AdAge.com

In “Black Privilege,” the radio and TV host recommends honesty as a form of self-empowerment.

(TrendHunter.com) These premium alcohol innovations range from aromatherapy cocktail blends to academic whiskey tastings. The latter, Jameson’s Academy Experience, consists of both an exclusive whiskey tasting…

Every weekday, we bring you the Ad Age/iSpot Hot Spots, new and trending TV commercials tracked by iSpot.tv, the real-time TV ad measurement company with attention analytics from 10 million smart TVs. The New Releases here ran on TV for the first time over the weekend. The Most Engaging ads are ranked by digital activity (including online views and social shares) over the past week.

Among the new releases, Walmart calls attention to its charitable efforts by showing cheerful volunteers working at food banks followed by an on-screen message that reads “When you buy select items at Walmart, you help secure a meal for someone in need.” Lincoln introduces “complimentary pickup and delivery servicing — because the most important luxury of all is time.” And VW shows a couple sneaking onto a racehorse at a race track to convey the charms of turbo mode on the Passat: “That feeling. Only better.” (We didn’t notice the usual on-screen, small-type “Do not attempt” disclaimer, so now we want to attempt to commandeer a racehorse.)

Continue reading at AdAge.com

Inspirado nas provas de resistência do Big Brother?

> LEIA MAIS: Concurso dá carro 0 km pra quem conseguir beijá-lo por mais tempo

“The Moderators” acompanha o treinamento de pessoas que passam o dia expostas a cenas de violência e pornografia nas redes sociais

> LEIA MAIS: Documentário exibe a rotina de quem trabalha como moderador da internet

Rubbing toothpaste on car headlights can help make them cleaner and lead to a brighter, safer drive. That’s a useful DIY tip, delivered amusingly in a new Autotuned ad starring HGTV’s Property Brothers, from eSurance and Leo Burnett Chicago. Drew and Jonathan Scott–the twin brothers who fix up homes for buyers on the reality series–are…