(TrendHunter.com) In other controversial news, the world’s first cocaine bar called Route 36 (yes, that cocaine) has opened in La Paz, Bolivia.
As you might expect, Route 36 often changes addresses because of the controversial…
(TrendHunter.com) While there are some people who like to have classy weddings, here is a couple who would rather be unique and embrace their geeky side. The wedding that this couple had was Star Wars themed; most of the…
MINNEAPOLIS (AdAge.com) — Bravo and Lifetime's catwalk catfight over which network would get the rights to run "Project Runway" delayed the debut of season six until last night, when the victor, Lifetime, premiered the program. Like all reality TV, the conflict seemed to only increase audience interest, as "Runway" ran away with the top rating in cable and beat all but two network shows as well.
(TrendHunter.com) Bokja designers Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibr have created these ten hippie style furniture pieces for The Quirico Company.
Created out of vintage furniture covered in antique fabrics, the furniture by…
(TrendHunter.com) Martin Rondeau is a talented photographer who likes to put a spin on the classic Barbie look. Working out of Montreal, his work can be seen on the street and in magazines, as he works both in art and fashion.…
Fiat is building a consumer-generated car in Brazil, using input gathered through all manner of social media to inform everything from the automobile's design through to its marketing communications.
The outpouring of memorials and remembrances following the death of TV pitchman Billy Mays was a testament to the career he had built, while also speaking to the true reach of direct-response TV. He had achieved a kind of cult status that made him interesting to almost everyone, and contradicted the common misconception that only a select demographic watches DRTV.
INTERVIEW: Domino’s marketing director Robin Auld on why the pizza delivery chain’s sales are up, the joy of cheaper media and the techno-marketing developments in the Domino’s pipeline. YouTube video, anyone?
LONDON – News Corporation is in talks with rival publishers about forming a consortium to charge for online news, according to reports.
(TrendHunter.com) Diesel is well-known for their head-scratching ads, and their new Fall/Winter campaign continues that legacy.
We’ve had a sneak peek at the concept with a curious Twink vs. Bear billboard earlier, and…
For the past few weeks, there has been a lot of of talk about the Palm Pre spots by Modernista! – ranging from creepy, annoying, and bizarre to genius. Face it, you’re still talking about these otherworldly spots. However, some critics have brought to mind the possibility that the commercials aren’t effective, especially since there is hardly any mention of the phone’s functions. Despite the campaign’s shortcomings, the stunning visual effects are not to be missed. The key is getting past Canadian actress Tamara Hope’s nonsenciscal ramblings about deja vu, clowns, and juggling.
I really want to like this campaign, if nothing other than for the originality of it, but it doesn’t tell a story and it doesn’t really sell the phone, either. It just makes me feel weirded out. For example, in one of the spots, Hope tells viewers that she feels her phone can read her mind and recalls how a man once asked her, “Does it know you’re crazy?” “Well of course it does, sir,” she says, “It’s mine.”
Does crazy sell? I don’t remember learning that in my advertising classes in college, but I did go to a liberal arts, theater-focused school where crazy is embraced. But I digress…
What concerns me about this campaign is the soft focus on a product that is the first viable competitor of the iPhone. There are no mentions of the Pre’s operating system, which is a major advantage, nor will you see the spots as often as you do the ones from Apple (this may be by design). Despite cyber-blabber and blog entries about how people think the commercials are creepy and annoying, studies show that many viewers find the spots soothing and inspiring. In fact, the company is on track to sell 400,000+ units per quarter.
Huh… maybe crazy does sell.
Sara Barton is a copywriter, social media strategist, and avid blogger who is in search of her next opportunity. Contact her via Twitter, LinkedIn, or her blog.
(TrendHunter.com) I’m loving the crazy photo manipulation work of HumanDescent, who cleverly morphs different species of animals together to create these humorous hybrids.
My favorites from HumanDescent’s designs include…
(TrendHunter.com) Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf celebrates being 50 years old with self portraits that show how he currently looks like, how he wishes he looked like, and how he will look like as he gets older.
His new…
LONDON – BSkyB is to close seven of Sky.com’s portals due to their inability to contribute significant profit, with up to 10 jobs going as a result.
LONDON – Channel 4 is broadcasting a week of 3D programming to celebrate the history of 3D footage.
LONDON – Club Asia, the London radio station targeting the South Asian community, has gone into administration.
Australia’s ANZ Small Business tapped M&C Saatchi to develop a spot that’s both funny and sympathetic to its target demo: small business owners.
LONDON – Social media outfit Reality Digital has signed a deal with parenting community Gurgle.com to introduce richer video and social networking capabilities to the site.
LONDON – Premier Inn is launching a £58 honeymoon deal for cash strapped-consumers.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
