Links for 2008-03-31 [del.icio.us]

That’s a Saturn, All Right.

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If you watch any TV at all, you’ve probably seen that Saturn ad where a bunch of people go “That’s a Saturn…?” and then “That’s a Saturn?” and then (with contempt!) “That’s not a Saturn!” followed by the admiring “That’s a Saturn, all right!”

Porsche selects TBWA China

SHANGHAI – TBWA\ Group China has prevailed in a pitch against three other agencies to secure the 60th anniversary campaign for Porsche in China.

Tomsett to leave Hoffman Agency

HONG KONG – The Hoffman Agency Asia-Pacific MD Susan Tomsett (pictured) is departing her role on 1 May after almost two years with the agency.

Bentoel hands Country cigarettes to Saatchis

JAKARTA – Saatchi & Saatchi Indonesia has won the creative business for Country, a cigarette brand made by Bentoel Prima, after a three-way pitch that displaced incumbent McCann Erickson.

MEC Singapore MD departs

SINGAPORE – MEC Singapore’s managing director Lim Yew Nee (pictured) is departing the media agency after 18 months in the role.

TOA Paint hires Ogilvy Vietnam

HO CHI MINH CITY – TOA Paint, Southeast Asia’s largest paint manufacturer, is investing in communications created specifically for the Vietnam market for the first time with the appointment of Ogilvy & Mather.

Carat Malaysia scoops Tune Talk

KUALA LUMPUR – Tune Talk, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) owned by Tony Fernandes’ Tune Ventures, has selected Carat Interactive, over Proximity and Rapp Collins, to develop its online services on a project basis.

Michael Briggs passes away

LONDON – Michael Briggs, chairman of McCann-Erickson Hong Kong between 1994 and 1997, and the architect of the Cathay Pacific Central Team, has passed away.

Sometimes Saying ‘No’ Is Your Strongest Asset


In Al Ries' opinion, too many advertising agencies are concerned with fixing the advertising when their first concern should be fixing the problem. All the advertising in the world wouldn't have saved Isuzu, he says. Why? First and foremost, Isuzu is a terrible name. And its agency should have said something.

Smooth-Talkin’ Beetle Flatters Model into Frenzy … and Vice-Versa

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Meet Max, the classic ’64 Volkswagen Beetle and star of VW’s new campaign. In it, Max is a German talk show host who interviews people like Heidi Klum and David Hasselhoff of Baywatch.

Aquafina Pins Piniella for Daily Words of Wisdom

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If the bobblehead starts talking to you, squeeze the wheel and look straight ahead. It’s probably just an Aquafina ad.

Commercial Parodies – Russian Mail Order Bride Spoofs Dove Evolution

Dove’s Evolution ad is one of the most viral internet videos of all time. Like many commercials that generate a lot of buzz, it’s been parodied, this time using a Russian mail order bride theme.

Some may be offended, some may think it’s funny. Regardless, here’s what it’s about:

In the original D…

Commercial Parodies – Russian Mail Order Bride Spoofs Dove Evolution (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) Dove’s Evolution ad is one of the most viral internet videos of all time. Like many commercials that generate a lot of buzz, it’s been parodied, this time using a Russian mail order bride theme.

Some may be offended, some may think it’s funny. Regardless, here’s what it’s about:

In the original D…

Free Electric Cars (With Subscription) – Project Better Place

To give electric cars a jolt, Project Better Place proposes a plan like the cell phone launch.

Their idea is to heavily subsidize the cost of the equipment, and charge only for the service. In this case, the car might be free, if you agree to buy the battery and recharge at specified vendor locati…

Ultimate Fighting for Kids (VIDEO)

(TrendHunter.com) Ultimate Fighting or Cage Fighting has become increasing popular in the US with CBS becoming the first of the mainstream networks to broadcast it during prime time. Now kids are facing-off, punching and kicking, in the cage with their parent’s blessing.

Videos of kids as young as six fighting ea…

Confessions of a Director of Diversity


Since the New York Commission of Human Rights focused its spotlight on 16 agencies large and small, any chance of launching programs without intense scrutiny burned off under the white-hot glare. Just as I did in "Why One Black Creative Walked Away," I have created a composite director of diversity in order to share truthfully the input from mis compadres who are on the front lines of the war for diverse talent.

Going Mobile

According to two articles on the front page of AdAge.com, there are signs that mobile ad technology is finally catching up to its amazing promise.

Last month, mobile social network Loopt announced one of the first major location-based marketing experiments, with CBS. The plan aims to use the mobile phone’s inherent ability to locate a prospective customer without invading a consumer’s privacy.

Customers would have to opt-in before receiving any geo-targeted messaging.

The other Ad Age article says each year since about 2000 — and maybe even before — has been wrongly touted as the year of mobile marketing.

The magazine argues that 2008 won’t be mobile’s year either, although 2009 is looking good.

I know from where I sit, I’d like to get my feet wet by developing a mobile program.

Inflatable Architecutre – Blow-Up Concrete Building

(TrendHunter.com) Researchers at Kassel University are exploring a new type of building material that involves inflating a flexible skin and then, filling embedded cavities with concrete. Voila – inflatable concrete! A pop-up building! Blow it up. Squirt some stuff inside. Move in the furniture.

Product Shockvertising – Bolt Detergent

(TrendHunter.com) Your initial reaction may be shock when you see this ad, but take a closer look. It’s a print campaign for Bolt Detergent and definitely made me do a double take.

The best part is the tag line, “It smells this irresistible.”

It’s an attention grabber, for sure, and isn’t that what clever ads are …