• Ad Age, Wednesday, November 17, 2010 10:52 AM

I'm just catching up with this special report, which is promoted rather discreetly in the right column on the Ad Age website. Lots of good pieces, though, on brands that are making a splash, from "Glee" to Buick. Actually, what caught my eye was an Age retweet of "iamdiddy" tweet in which the hip-hop serial entrepreneur crows about his Cîroc vodka making the list.

Sales have soared since Sean Combs got involved as a self-described hybrid brand manager, CMO and spokesman three years ago, saying at the time: "I've branded myself as the king of celebration, and that's what this alliance is all about."

Personally, I'm more enamored of the brand just below it on the list -- Vibram FiveFingers shoes, having purchased two pairs in the past 10 days. Yes, it's a product that some people deem "ugly" or "disgusting," as the article points out (I've also heard "simian" and "erotic" myself), but I submit that they'll do a lot more for my liver in the long run (pun intended).

Other featured brands include Droid, Beats by Dr. Dre, Bass Pro Shops, Hyundai, Conan O'Brien, Skechers, Dos Equis, 5 Gum, Old Spice and Groupon.

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