Hyundai Motor America has launched a campaign featuring "everyday consumers" to tout the new Sonata, the Santa Fe, Accent, Elantra and other vehicles. The effort follows a mall tour to Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles that began in May that got consumers to leave unscripted, unedited remarks as they tested various Hyundai models. The remarks are central to the campaign, called "Uncensored" comprising six TV spots, digital, radio, social media, experiential, CRM and point-of-sale components. The effort began this month and runs through the summer, per the automaker. "Hyundai 'Uncensored' was born out of the insight that consumers are …

It may be sweltering outside, but it looks like consumers cooled to retailers in June. While some chains used aggressive markdowns to win stronger sales results, others issued sales figures somewhat below forecast. Overall, comparable-store sales at leading chain stores gained 3.2%, reports Kantar Retail, up a bit from last month's 2.7% same gain, and much better than the 4.7% decline of stores struggled with last June. The International Council of Shopping Centers, which tracks a slightly different group of retailers, says its Index gained 3% for the month, with luxury stores doing the best (with a combined gain …

Brian Lesser, vice president-product management and director of product marketing at WPP's 24/7 Real Media unit has been promoted to senior vice president-general manager of the WPP's Media Innovation Group. He is responsible for the development of new technology and media products for advertisers and agencies.

"Recovery" is a misnomer for the current state of the restaurant industry, asserts Technomic VP Joe Pawlak. While there are signs of slowing in restaurant industry sales declines, actual return to growth is going to be a long haul, in the estimation of Technomic VP Joe Pawlak.  Referring to the industry's slightly less negative trends as "recovery" is accurate only in the sense of "moving a patient from critical to serious condition," he contended in a viewpoint column.

The European Commission is examining allegations of anti-competitive conduct, as the antitrust group takes a careful look at allegations of breaches in relation to Internet searches, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. Joaquin Almunia, the EU's competition commissioner, said in a speech Wednesday, without specifically mentioning Google, that the work is in the early stages, "but given the importance of search to a competitive online marketplace, I am looking at the allegations very carefully."

Click fraud isn't the only malicious online activity advertisers need to keep an eye on. Video as a promotional advertising tool will begin to attract more mischief by those who want to exploit the Web and its content. Hackers exploited a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability on Google's YouTube Sunday, hitting sections where users post comments, according to Network World, an IDG News site. The hack focused on clips related to pop star Justin Bieber. It didn't involve malware, but the code did affect YouTube pages so visitors saw tasteless messages or redirected to external sites with adult content.

It wasn't all that long ago that just the mention of Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, Tesco's small-format grocery store invented just for U.S. consumers, made U.S. food retailers weak-kneed and nervous. But the tepid performance of the West Coast chain since its 2007 launch has been a continual disappointment, which last week erupted in very public rebuke to Tesco management: Shareholder activists challenged the company's executive compensation plan, precisely because of the fat salary it will pay Tim Mason, CEO of Fresh & Easy. While the board's recommendations did ultimately pass with 53% of the vote, 38% of …

The iconic, 15-year-old "Got Milk?"/mustachioed celebrity campaign is moving with the times by using new digital channels--including the iPad and texting--and their interactive/rich media capabilities.

Shell is inviting automotive devotees to share how Shell V-Power fuels their passion for driving in a contest and sweepstakes. Geared toward the type of consumer who "reads the owner's manual for fun," the second annual contest from the Houston-based company asks enthusiasts to submit a photo and a few sentences about how Shell V-Power fuels their motor-loving passion. Consumers who enter have a chance to win one of the five category grand prizes including free Shell V-Power for a year or a $500 Shell Gift Card. In addition, each qualified entrant will automatically be entered into a …

HSN will help Sony Pictures promote its upcoming movie, "Eat, Pray, Love" through 72 hours of programming Aug 6-8, leading up to the film's premiere on Aug. 13. The programming event, which will include TV, online, mobile, print, PR, event and direct mail components, will incorporate appearances by more than 20 of the network's product partners and feature 400 items across a variety of categories. In announcing the partnership, HSN and Sony noted the network has a customer base that is approximately 83% female and between the ages of 30-50, presumably the same demographic that the studio is targeting for …