1. Dodge has apparently time-warped back to the early 1990s, with "new" commercials featuring
Jason Alexander and Lee Iacocca (former Chrysler chairman). It must have escaped the market researchers that neither character has been relevant for the last decade or two - kinda odd for a brand that's struggling to re-invent itself as... well... anything but retro, as that flopped with the ugly Prowlers. I think I will find a better car and buy it, Mr. Iacocca.2. BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Lexus, Audi, Aston-Martin, Cadillac, Infiniti, Land Rover, Saab, Acura. What brand is missing from this luxury car list? And for that reason, Jaguar needs to fire their ad agency.
3. The Washington Performing Arts Society is apparently trying to appeal to horny frat boys. No, not with a very smiley Yo Yo Ma. Look again. Perhaps at the hand dead-center of the ad. Shocked (pardon the pun)???
4. Applebees, TGIFridays, Olive Garden, O'Charleys, et al. I don't know which one of you has the sizzlin' shrimp platter or the premium pasta, nor do I know which one guarantees that I'm family or part of some neighborhood, or something like that while I'm there. And frankly, I don't care. You're advertising is all exactly alike and you're wasting your money on it. A smart business move would be to collaborate, hire the same agency to do your ads, heck, even make the same ads and simply switch out your names. The whole point of marketing is to differentiate yourself from the competitor so that your consumer is not indifferent between the two; And you certainly don't do that by producing ads that look, sound, feel, taste, even smell the same.
5. RyanAir for the ad shown right. I'll buy the argument that some of the best advertising is a tad offensive. Certainly RyanAir's ads that read "Blow me! These fares are hard to swallow", or "Satisfaction guaranteed" as a means of promoting Valentine's Day prices, were kinda fun. But I don't think it has ever been profitable, or just basically nice, to capitalize on a terrorist act and RyanAir's refusal to pull the controversial ad isn't placing them near and dear to the hearts of their consumers.On a sorta related note...
Wanted: Online copy of US Army's "Two Things" ad. Although it just came out, this is quite possibly one of my favorite ads ever made (props to Leo Burnett). If I find a copy online, I will certainly post it, as it is everything advertising ought to aspire to be. If you find it for me, there'll be some sort of reward.
