Our Industry.
The hardest working Super Bowl spot (in our humble opinion).
Unless you were asleep under a rock several light years from Earth, you are well aware the Super Bowl erupted in America last night. And with it came the usual suspects; football-shaped meatloaves, nachos, office pools, and, of course, highly … Continue reading
Tagged with Boxing, Chrysler, Clint Eastwood, Meatloaves, Super Bowl
DIRECTV spots may lead to trouble.
When you see commercials that are clever, you get a smile on your face. When you have a smile on your face, people think you’re a happy person. When people think you’re a happy person, they want to be around … Continue reading
Tagged with DIRECTV, FBI, human-pig hybrids
Hello, my name is Moisés Chiullan, and I’m a cleaner.
Moisés Chiullan is the guy who took over marketing and sales for game product manufacturer N-Control from the now defunct Ocean Marketing. He’s been assigned the Herculean task of cleaning up N-Controls’ former PR representative, Paul Christoforo’s, customer service debacle, and … Continue reading
Tagged with Avenger, Chiullan, Christoforo, N-Control, Ocean Marketing, Penny Arcade, Reddit
“Believing” in engagement.
The Macy’s brand has been synonymous with the holiday season since 1924, the year of the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Over the past three years, Macy’s has continued its holiday marketing with its “Believe” advertising campaign, inspired by a … Continue reading
Tagged with Believe, Christmas, Macy's, Make a Wish Foundation
Skip the media one-day sales.
Call me a skeptic. Call me strategic, research driven, and client focused. Just last week I received an email from “Good Buys Media” an online, flash-sale company selling – get this – advertising space for me to buy on behalf … Continue reading
Social media, and other meaty topics.
In late October, Pete Reiling and I attended a conference of creative directors as part of our AAAAs Green Forum. The Green Forum is a collection of AAAA member agencies about the same size as Crowley Webb who get together … Continue reading
Tagged with AAAA, digital, Green Forum, social media, steak
Right on Target.
A gift card is often regarded as a cop-out—a present you give when you can’t think of anything better. But Target’s new Bullseye Flyer gift card is a gift actually worth getting excited about. This creative contraption, designed by artist … Continue reading
Responsible advertising.
The recent sex abuse scandal at Penn State has us shaking our collective heads in disgust. We ask how Penn State officials and coaches could have let such horrific events happen for so long. We wonder what possesses a man … Continue reading
Tagged with Arendt, Dakota Fanning, Eichmann, exploitation, Joe Paterno, Oh Lola, Penn State
Selling the land of the free.
Being that it’s Veterans Day and all, here’s something that never really occurred to me – our country is a brand. I don’t know why this came as such a surprise. After all, everything else is a brand these days. Colleges. … Continue reading
Tagged with DiscoverUSA
The “Moneyball” of marketing?
In Brad Pitt’s latest box-office venture, he plays Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A’s. Beane uses sabermetrics, a type of statistical analysis that places more emphasis on a player’s contributions to his team’s success than sexy numbers … Continue reading
Tagged with marketing, moneyball, sabermetrics
Crowley Webb wins three Mature Media Awards.
Crowley Webb recently took home one gold and two silver awards at the 20th annual National Mature Media Awards. The awards program, presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, recognizes the best marketing, communications, educational materials, and campaigns for adults age … Continue reading
Tagged with Horizon House, Mature Market Resource Center, Mature Media Awards
Stocking up on midnight oil.
Not too long ago, our man Jeff had the idea of donating an ad campaign to a well-deserving Buffalo startup company. Brilliant. Then he decided the agency-wide effort should be completed over the course of one non-stop, 25-hour workday (in … Continue reading
Tagged with 25-hour workday, Business First, contest
Hey there, sponsorship deals.
Pop culture quiz. Remember the song “Hey there, Delilah” by the Plain White Ts, circa 2007? Well, did you know that it was inspired by a real-life Delilah? Maybe you did, smarty-pants. But I bet you didn’t know that she’s … Continue reading
Tagged with Delilah DiCrescanzo, Puma, running, sponsorship
It’s cheap to have a voice.
Our very own media lover extraordinaire, Erin Haskell, shared some of her vast media knowledge with the patrons of Ad Club this past Tuesday evening. Bryan LeFauve of SKM Group and Julie Mecklenburg of WGRZ also presented. This combination of … Continue reading
Tagged with Advertising Club, media
Social media marketing: spending v. ROI.
This article by Fiona Swerdlow, head of research at shop.org, reports on a survey conducted to ascertain whether the money spent on social marketing strategies is recovered in sales. The answer: kind of. Retailers did not find Facebook or other social media sites particularly effective … Continue reading
Tagged with Facebook, marketing, social media
Commercial firsts.
We, as Americans and advertisers, have a pretty significant celebration coming up in July. I know, you’re thinking “Duh, the 4th of July…” but as Americans and advertisers we have something maybe even more exciting to celebrate. Seventy years ago, on July … Continue reading
Tagged with Bulova, commercial, FCC
Fashion mad.
Advertising folk have always been a stylish crowd. And film and television love to showcase this element. Take, for example, Larry Tate’s debonair silver coiffure, Kip/Buffy Wilson’s commanding shoulder-padded dresses, and Emory Leeson’s extremely form-fitting jacket. But the daddy of … Continue reading
Tagged with Banana Republic, fashion, Gap, Mad Men
USPS has it their way.
Here’s my question – do lawyers at major brands get a bonus if they exceed a litigation quota? A sue-mission, if you will? Because that’s my only explanation for this. The United States Postal Service has sued Burger King for negatively portraying mail … Continue reading
Tagged with Burger King, commercials, USPS
OOH — brilliant.
Let’s face it, driving on the thruway can get pretty dull and, for the most part, your brain is on autopilot. That’s where unique outdoor advertising can spice things up a bit. Imagine driving down a typical stretch of highway and … Continue reading
Tagged with Garcia's Irish Pub, Hot Wheels, out of home, outdoor
Please make it stop.
About a month or so ago I saw this commercial for AT&T. I liked it. I liked it a lot. Saw it again, liked it again. Then I saw it three more times during some of my favorite shows that same … Continue reading
Tagged with ATT, commercial, flash mob
Shoemaker seeing red.
If you’re like me, tottering around on 3.5-inch stiletto heels, and you love fashion, you undoubtedly are aware of – or maybe are even fortunate enough to own – Christian Louboutin shoes.
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Tagged with branding, design, Louboutin, shoes
In good company
Does a brand’s social responsibility – or lack thereof – influence your buying habits? A company called Good that works with organizations to promote their cause marketing is banking on it. A recent New York Times article reports that Good has … Continue reading
Tagged with Good, Good/Corps, social responsibility
Check in for deals.
Some marketers have begun offering discounts and incentives – if you’re willing to go on the record with your exact coordinates.
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Tagged with applications, Facebook, Foursquare, Google, Groupon, location-based, social media
The poop on animal ads.
Are advertisers barking up the right tree when it comes to branding with critters?
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Tagged with animal, brand, dog
Google’s +1 share feature.
Google recently released their newest addition to Google search experience, the +1 share feature. It is essentially the “like” button for Google search results or, as the Google’s blog puts it, the digital shorthand for “this is pretty cool.
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Tagged with +1, Google, search results, social media
PSAs have come a long way, baby.
It’s Wednesday night. You’re watching reruns of The Office. Life is good. Then it happens – the public service announcement. Sure, they’re usually promoting a good organization or cause. But Michael Scott’s ineptitude isn’t as hilarious when you feel guilty … Continue reading
Tagged with commercials, PSAs
Advertising causes a ruckus. Again.
It’s a tale as old as time. Company comes out with an “edgy” advertisement. Someone gets offended and complains. Company discontinues ad and apologizes. Company gains 100 times more attention from the ordeal than they would have received from the … Continue reading
Tagged with billboard, commercials, Jonestown, politically correct
Good for you, Mr. Miracle Whip Marketing Man.
It’s not often that you see a TV commercial – or any advertising for that matter – that openly admits not everyone likes the product featured. Typically, we’re encouraged to believe everybody wants to drive car X, no one doesn’t … Continue reading
Tagged with commercials, Miracle Whip, Pauly D
Did anyone else see this?
The Grammys were bizarre. Gaga showed up in an egg. Gwyneth Paltrow sang with a man-bird. And some girl no one’s ever heard of beat sweet little Bieber for Best New Artist. But for me, those pale in comparison to the commercial … Continue reading
Tagged with Grammys, Lady Gaga, PSA
This is too easy.
The story of an arson case in Iowa City has been spreading around the internet like, well, wild fire. It started when police released a sketch of a potential witness to the crime. And it just so happens to slightly … Continue reading
Tagged with arson, caveman, Geico
I think I’ll rent 8 Mile tonight.
Let’s face it, it’s Wednesday now and everyone’s over talking about Super Bowl commercials. So I’ll spare you my in-depth opinions on the creative merit of this year’s lineup. Instead let’s talk celebrity endorsements for a moment. There’s something I … Continue reading
Tagged with commercials, Eminem, Superbowl
I feel like an ad nerd during a Super Bowl timeout.
Just last night, forty or so Buffalo advertising professionals ventured out into the February nastiness to keep the Super Bowl magic alive and discuss, what else, the ads. The Buffalo Ad Club held its second annual Uber Bowl with superstar … Continue reading
Tagged with Buffalo Ad Club, Uber Bowl
The sneaker’s on the other foot.
I finally watched the new LeBron James commercial I’ve been hearing so much about lately. And I must say, I find it unusually interesting. Let me back up a bit. Back before all the free agency nonsense, I thought the … Continue reading
Tagged with LeBron James, Nike
Media Party! With Jessica and Erin.
With our Praxis Risk Campaign, we tell people to be less risky. This Diesel campaign does the exact opposite, encouraging people to “Be Stupid.” Good call, Diesel.
I like what I do.
Just last night, the Ad Club of Buffalo treated its members to a captivating little film about our very own business. No, it wasn’t 1990’s Crazy People. It was the aptly named Art & Copy. The award-winning film features such … Continue reading
Tagged with Art & Copy, David Kennedy, Hal Riney, Jeff Goodby
I am not a Mac or a PC.
After the abortive “Bill and Jerry” series, Microsoft has unveiled the next phase in their rebranding campaign. The “I’m a PC” spots, created by agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, directly answer Apple’s long-standing, highly successful “I’m a PC and I’m … Continue reading
Tagged with Apple, commercial, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Mac, PC, Windows
A letter to the worst billboard on the planet.
I’m sorry, but I just had to tell you. I couldn’t drive past you one more day on my way to work and not say anything. You are, in a word, awful. Just awful. So awful, in fact, I have … Continue reading
Tagged with billboard, BNFF, outdoor