[Automotive] The manager of Chrysler advertising and Chrysler global brand communications says the fact that Tyler Perry is a well-known, up-and-coming director and producer made the deal a pretty good bet for Chrysler to be involved in as a way to pitch African-Americans and the general market. "We felt it was a good fit because of the quality of the program and the fact that it reached out to target families." ...Read the whole story

[Retail] In a Q&A format, we learn from TNS's Herb Sorensen why U.S. supermarkets have much to fear from the pending British invasion: "Tesco has ... stopped defining itself by what it sells and started defining itself by the customers who came through its doors. Tesco now sells insurance. It sells vacations. And they are a very astute online retailer. The point is that Tesco knows how to target individual shoppers." ...Read the whole story

[Financial Services] Spots center on one question, "What's your story?," and show how the credit card can enhance life by funding experiences that deepen it. The national campaign is an extension of Citi's global brand campaign, "Let's get it done," that launched in May. The ads make strong use of Citi's symbolic red arc, which the company says is a visual metaphor for connecting human aspirations to realities. ...Read the whole story

[Beverages] The effort kicked off at the Consumers International Congress taking place this week in Australia and calls attention to the marketing of "sugary soft drinks and other high-calorie beverages," particularly to kids. Through the American Beverage Association, marketers called the campaign "more show than substance" and an attempt by CSPI to blame one product for a complex problem. ...Read the whole story

[Electronics] The campaign derives from internal research suggesting that consumers are frequently upgrading instead of waiting for their appliances to go gentle into that good night. "We wanted to take a tongue-in-cheek approach and drive home the premium nature of appliances we bring to market," says the company. ...Read the whole story

[Beverages] The brand's growth is all the more amazing for having never used any marketing support other than a web site. Instead, it relies on a sales force of "Barefooters" who "spread the gospel nationwide," says a spokesperson, calling on retailers and vendors, showing up at local community events and creating "pouring opportunities," particularly as part of philanthropic events. ...Read the whole story