• Ford Suggests Taurus Redesign In Works
    Derrick Kuzak, Ford's head of global product development, recently likened the current Taurus to the portly, balding, doughnut-devouring Homer Simpson. He then projected a slide with Simpson standing above a Ford Five Hundred--the sedan that was renamed the Taurus last year. Next to Homer were cartoon images of Superman and Mr. Incredible, each above small drawings of sleeker versions of the Taurus. Indeed, CEO Alan Mulally told a seminar audience recently that a Taurus set to debut in the next year or so "is the one we should have made originally." Seldom do auto company executives criticize …
  • Under Armour Takes Run At Athletic Footwear
    Under Armour is running its first-ever Super Bowl ad for a cross-trainer sneaker it figures will start to challenge Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and New Balance in the heavily competitive athletic footwear category. The 60-second ad--featuring a computer-generated version of company spokesman "Big E" (former NFL player Eric Ogbogu)--plays to the brand's near-cultlike following. If Under Armour's track record with performance apparel is any indication of the strength of its brand, Nike and Adidas are right to keep an eye on the upstart, which is expected to post about $605 million in sales last year, up from $431 million …
  • Gasp! Vuitton Takes To Mass Media
    On Feb 15, Louis Vuitton will launch a travel-themed 90-second spot on cable and satellite television channels that it describes as "the first ever on-screen corporate campaign by a luxury house." The spot will also run in movie theaters around the world, and will show ordinary people rather than the celebrities who are featured in a current print campaign for the label. High-end fashion brands and luxury goods companies have generally avoided television advertising, sticking mostly to magazines and, in some cases, newspapers. The Louis Vuitton ad aims to promote the brand itself, rather than a specific …
  • New 4A's Boss: Agencies Can Learn From Outside Experts
  • Lampert Admits Flubs, Sees Sears Turnaround
  • Costco Loses State Case On Alcohol Pricing
  • Philip Morris Readies Global Blitz of New Products
    Marlboro Intense, a half-inch shorter than regular Marlboros, offers smokers seven potent puffs apiece, versus the usual eight or so milder draws. The idea behind Intense is to appeal to customers who, due to indoor smoking bans, want to dash outside for a nicotine hit. It's likely to be part of a blitz of new smoking products by Phillip Morris International once the Altria board approves a long-awaited decision to split PMI from Philip Morris USA. As early as March, PMI could be operating as an independent company--the third most profitable consumer-goods concern in the world after Procter & …
  • Pharma Trade Group Admits To Consumer 'Backlash'
    The pharmaceutical industry is acknowledging that it has a problem with its $5 billion direct-to-consumer ad business as pressure mounts from Congress, the medical community and consumers. The move follows a difficult two weeks as a study on cholesterol drug Vytorin found that it falls short of all that its marketing promises. "In a number of states across the country, there is backlash building against [pharmaceutical] sales and marketing," says Ken Johnson, senior vp for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. As a result, Johnson says the industry trade group will examine how its members bring medications …
  • Mars Markets Caffeinated Snickers
    Mars Snackfoods' new Snickers Charged, which is spiked with caffeine, is being marketed as a mid-afternoon energy booster. The candy bar contains 60 milligrams of caffeine, taurine and B-vitamins. In comparison, an 8-ounce soda has 20 to 40 milligrams of caffeine; an 8-ounce coffee contains 65-120 milligrams. To promote the product, Mars is teaming up with AntiGravity, an entertainment theatrical company, to hand out about 500,000 samples during halftime shows at college basketball games. Radio spots on sports programs, in-store advertising, displays and online marketing at www.Snickers.com support the launch. Packaging features an image of a Rhino, …
  • Colt 45 In Hip Re-Branding Effort
    As microbrews and imports have lent a snootier air to the beer marketplace over the years, Colt 45 became increasingly viewed as a throwback and a symbol of simpler times and unrefined tastes. Despite a re-branding last summer, the brand has remained true to its roots. The Pabst Brewing Company owns Colt 45. Like Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) beer--a brand known for its low cost and ubiquitous presence at frat parties -- Colt 45 has come a long way. The inseparability of Billy Dee Williams' now-almost-satirical commercial for Colt 45 in the 1980s and the current ironic adaptation of …
« Previous EntriesNext Entries »