USA Today
Some critics of Dewshine, the new "craft" version of Pepsi Co.'s Mountain Dew brand, are critical of the packaging for the cane-sugar sweetened citrus soda. They say the long-neck design and four-pack box makes it look too much like craft beer. But, says John Sicher, publisher of Beverage Digest, longneck bottles are simply a recognized symbol for "premium" soft drinks. "I don't believe PepsiCo will try to market this to look like beer. That makes no sense, and they are too smart to do that."
BDC Wire
The Super Bowl is months ago, but what else is there to talk about until 2016? Federal Communications Commissioned has released complaints received by viewers regarding the February broadcast and its ads. Collaborative news site MuckRock compiled them. There's GoDaddy's "Lost Puppy," a commercial that was roundly hated, with complaints rolling in before kickoff. The Victoria's Secret commercial was also skewered for its blatant display of sexuality.
Detroit Bureau
Honda is launching a major national advertising effort to convince buyers to repair millions of vehicles equipped with potentially deadly airbags produced by beleaguered Japanese supplier Takata. So far, at least five deaths - all in Honda vehicles - have been linked to the problem in which the airbags may inflate too aggressively during a crash, sending shrapnel flying into the passenger compartment.
Oregon Live
Adidas announced Wednesday that 72andSunny, a Los Angeles-based agency would be its global creative ad agency to lead its sport campaigns for basketball, running, soccer and women's apparel. The agency's offices in Los Angeles and Amsterdam will collaborate on the Herzogenaurach, Germany-based sports brand's next major global campaign. A spokesperson said the agency's inaugural work is expected this fall.
Chain Store Age
According to a new survey from Piper Jaffray, 12% of female consumers selected Kohl's as their preferred clothing brand/store/website for spring 2015. Macy's took second place with 9%, followed by J.C. Penney and Wal-Mart (7%) and Amazon (5%). Kohl's has taken the top spot in Piper Jaffray's biannual survey since fall 2013.
BetaBoston
A new research initiative called the Sync Project aims to track how the brain and body respond to music through an app that collects biological data listeners are enjoying music. Researchers have gathered preliminary evidence suggesting that music can have a salubrious influence on neurological disorders or depression, or increase a person's tolerance to pain.
Washington Post
A $599.95 Cinderella-collection crystal necklace on the home-shopping network HSN; a $75 pair of "Cinderella and Prince Charming" champagne flutes; and the kicker: a $4,595 pair of "glass slippers," designed by Jimmy Choo for boutiques in New York, Paris and Milan. Doesn't sound like kid stuff. But licensees of Disney's "Cinderella" movie are hoping women have a taste for the whimsical. It must be working. A Cinderella-themed makeup line by Estee Lauder's M.A.C. Cosmetics, promoted on a Disney fashion blog, sold out within hours.
China Daily
Twitter has established an office in Hong Kong to target Chinese advertisers who plan to expand overseas. The social channel's first site in China will provide online and mobile ad services to local brands across the country and bring Twitter a new source of ad revenue. There is increasing demand in China for the services like Twitter's, per Thomas Crampton, who directs the social media campaign program at Ogilvy &Mather.
Supermarket News
A new ad campaign for the New York-based chain Fairway talks about USDA Prime steaks, decadent desserts and handmade cheeses, while pushing strong values on everyday basics. The "Eat Big, Live Large" effort launched with a video showing a woman pulling a grilled steak and cheesecake from a brown bag at work, in contrast to the sad looking salads and cold-cut sandwiches of her co-workers.
USA Today
The 2015 Ram Laramie Limited pickup truck has a different grill than other trucks in the family and it has attracted attention that may not be the kind the brand wants. It's the pair of holes on either side that oddly nasal. Mark Williams at PickupTrucks.com called them "outer flaring nostril ports." He opines that perhaps Ram was trying to find a way to set itself apart from its Dodge roots, stylistically. At the jump a gallery of other weird grills.