10 best company nicknames (LIST)

Ever ask a friend to join you at Mickey D's for lunch? Unless your dining companion lives under a rock, we're pretty sure he knew you were referring to fast food giant McDonald's. It seems American consumers have a knack for creating their own "terms of endearment" for the companies they patronize and the products they purchase.

Of course, consumer-given monikers are not always complimentary (Taco Hell, anyone?), but whether positive, negative or neutral, an apt company or product nickname can take on a life of its own. Take for instance Trader Joe's best-selling Charles Shaw wine. More people know the wine by its nickname ("Two-Buck Chuck") than they do its actual brand name.

Read More

Ben Quayle, Republican, calls Obama the 'worst president in history'

Ben Quayle, a Republican candidate for Arizona's third congressional district and the son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, thinks that Barack Obama is the 'worst president ever', and makes it fairly clear in a new ad campaign he launched Wednesday.

"Barack Obama is the worst president in history," Quayle says, followed by a dramatic pause. "And my generation will inherit a weakened country."

Read More

Ground Zero mosque advertisement sparks controversy

The Transit agency responsible for all advertising within the New York public transport system has approved a controversial ad opposing the building of a mosque near Ground Zero, the site of the terrorist attacks which occurred on September 11, 2001.

The ad, which shows the 'Two Towers' burning alongside a rendering of the proposed Islamic Centre, was paid for by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, a group that opposes Islamic advancement in the United States.

Transit Agency officials were sued by the group before they would approve the ad. MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz says the agency doesn't endorse the ad's views.

Read More

Anybody in Scotland need a cheap sign?

I've always admired companies whose advertising uses their product, and I think this is an exemplary photo for that very reason.

Somebody tell Ogilvy, I think we have a new contender for best advertising company of all time.

[Via Reddit]

Read More

Turns out that Steve Jobs has always been a fan of turtlenecks

As if to prove the influence Steve Jobs has had on Apple computer, we encourage you to simply glance at the old Apple II poster to the left of this text, circa 1977.

In case you're unaware of the significance this old poster possesses, it is one of Steve Jobs' trademark fashion statements to turn up at Apple events clad in a turtleneck with mandatory sneakers and jeans.

Timeless fashion, certainly appropriate for such a timeless company. [Via Gizmodo] 

Read More

Best Subway advertisement in the world

This photo is part of Flavorwire's list of 10 Innovative Subway Advertisements. [Via Flavorwire]

Read More

The best Old Spice response video thus far

Although I'm aware that the Old Spice responses have been pronounced over, it is still okay to say 'thus far' because we never know when the Old Spice man will grace our YouTube home pages once again.

Incase you have no idea what I'm talking about, as I'm sure many of you do not; Allow me to explain. Basically, the mascot for a body-wash known as 'Old Spice', seen here in a number of hilarious commercials, made short videos responding to various people who used the social networking service Twitter to contact him.

Here is our favorite response:

Read More

$20 million spent on stimulus package road sign promotion

While some call it good publicity, others are crying out while calling it wasteful and frivolous government spending.

What has been estimated to be around $20 million has been spent erecting roadsigns around the country that promote the stimulus package approved by the Obama administration.

These signs merely point out that a particular project has been funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with the subtitle "Putting America to Work".

A single sign, according to ABC News, costs the government around $10,000 to install - that's a single sign.

Read More

Turns out being sexually suggestive is the new pink

As Gillette explores the question "What's the perfect length for your man", we are reminded that this is the future of clever marketing and television advertisements. I think that about a third of the way in we'll have all worked out what they're actually talking about. 

But for the normal television viewership, they'd be completely flabbergasted. [Watch on YouTube]

Read More

How much are they paying Miley for this?

It makes you wonder when you see Miley Cyrus walking down a street with iPad in hand and Starbucks in the other, just how much money she must get for product placement.

You'd think she might expand her revenue streams to include product placements in everyday life.

She could make a killing.

Read More

Cadbury continues animal personification motif with tap dancing cow

First, the chocolate company behind Daily Milk brought to your screens the drumming gorilla, iconically soundtracked in a narrative style with Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight".

Now Cadbury has continued this theme with a new television commercial under its "Glass and a half full of..." campaign. The new ad, which features a cow tap dancing in a Astairesque style to "Putting On the Ritz".

It's a refreshing exit from the weird eyebrows ad which (although it attracted popular attention worldwide) was simply dreadful - not to mention frighteningly weird. 

Read More

Booty Pop - the pants that make your backside look fat - no joke

First there was breast implants, then the push-up bra, now, informercials are targeting a totally different area of the woman's body. Introducing Booty Pop - the push-up bra for your backside.

I kid you not, you can actually buy these - and not from some obscure second hand store. In fact, the product, which is designed to offer the 'ultimate, perfectly shaped booty' has been featured on The View, and critiqued by Regis and Kelly.

It was even advertised during Ellen today with the commercial embedded above.

Read More

Copycat billboards get church in trouble with brewery

DB Breweries has reportedly 'warned' a small Tauranga church following its erection of a number of billboards with striking similarity to Tui's "Yeah Right" campaign.

Six weeks ago Bethlehem Community Church put up the sign reading "Atheists have nothing to worry about! Yeah Right", but not long after received a call from DB's lawyer, said Reverend Jim Wallace.

The church had been running its "Yeah Right" billboard for about eight years which included statements such as "I never sin" and "Everyone goes to heaven", but had only heard from the brewery since the last sign went up, he said.

Mr Wallace did not believe "Yeah Right" could be trademarked as it was a New Zealand colloquialism, and instead of the Tui logo his billboard featured a dove with the word "Spirit" beneath.

"We have a sense of humor", the church said, also noting that they hope to resolve the issue soon.

View the original source here.

Read More