1. AdWeek Advertising and branding
  2. View items

Articles from AdWeek Advertising and branding

Primary tabs

Epic Acura Ad Presents the World's Most Brutal Mechanical-Horse Race

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/11/2014 - 14:51

You probably didn't know your Acura isn't really a car. It's actually a real live dark horse. In a world full of creepy and brutish mechanical horses. It will catapult from the back of the pack to win, and wrench an existential scream from the depths of your soul. Because in this tortured journey down the racetrack of life, feelings can be so real—especially when you are driving an Acura horse. Also, because you are a three-piece-wearing fop, says a new commercial from ad agency Mullen and director Adam Berg.

Getty Images, Sheryl Sandberg Team Up to Make Stock Photos of Women More Empowering

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/11/2014 - 14:33

I just did a search for "working woman" on a popular stock photography site, and got photos of women in pantsuits wielding brick-sized cell phones, photos of women pouting sexily while adjusting their glasses, and not much else. Stock photography is easily accessible and way cheaper than hiring a photographer to produce images for a brochure or an ad or a website, but it is rife with stereotypes. Getty Images and Sheryl Sandberg's LeanIn.org have partnered to produce a collection of images that represent women and families in more empowering ways.

Omnicom Q4 Net Declines 2.1%

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/11/2014 - 14:09

Omnicom Group said fourth-quarter net income declined 2.1 percent to $300.5 million from $307.1 million in the 2012 period. Global revenue in the quarter rose 2.9 percent to $4.1 billion. Expenses related to Omnicom’s proposed merger with Publicis Groupe hit the bottom line, with the U.S. holding company taking $13.3 million in fourth-quarter, pre-tax charges related to the transaction.   Organic growth in the quarter rose 4.2 percent.

BBDO Is Pitching Like Crazy in the Next 4 Weeks

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/11/2014 - 03:10

In the finals of four big reviews, BBDO has a shot at adding about $25 million to its revenue line if it runs the table—or getting burned out trying. The Omnicom Group agency is making four final presentations in five weeks. The first—for the Wells Fargo creative account, with estimated revenue of $12 million to $13 million—took place last week at the bank’s San Francisco headquarters. This week comes the Legacy anti-tobacco foundation pitch, followed next week by Papa John’s and, finally, CVS the week of March 10.

Many Florists Barely Break Even on Valentine’s Day

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 02/11/2014 - 03:09

As you read this, Americans are in the process of dropping $1.9 billion on Valentine’s Day flowers—much of it going to buy the 224 million roses grown just for the amorous holiday. Surprising facts? Here’s another: While most people assume that the local flower shop is making a killing at this time of year, a good many florists are merely breaking even—or even losing money. “People don’t understand the economics of what happens to the money they spend on flowers,” said Bonnie Bank, who runs Superior Florist in midtown New York.

You'll Dig These Scratch-Off Bus Shelter Ads for a Museum's Archaeology Exhibition

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 02/10/2014 - 20:12

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago has employed scratch-off advertising on bus shelters around the city to hype its newest exhibition, The Way of the Shovel: Art as Archaeology. The ads were printed on backlit, clear plastic. Scratching off the opaque topcoat reveals cool artwork underneath. Since an ad campaign requiring real digging with actual shovels would have been prohibitively costly, difficult and unsafe, this is probably the best way to reinforce the theme of the exhibition.