JetBlue has gift ideas for non-JetBlue fliers
Traditional agencies are far more likely to messenger me things than digital shops are. Maybe it's the bigger budgets, or the belief in old-school delivery channels. It also helps if you're off an account and don't care about the courier fees. JWT sent over a new six-page glossy fake holiday catalog it made for JetBlue, filled with products it supposedly created to help you cope with flying on other airlines. The 14 products include leather in a jar, for those uncomfortable cloth seats; a knee-jockey apparatus, to make up for the lack of legroom; depth goggles (above), to make the seat in front of you seem father away; and the Yumbro robot, to dispense snacks you won't be given for free. The catalog is also on the JetBlue Facebook page. If you try to buy a product, the page tells you it's out of stock due to high demand and gives you the option of going to JetBlue.com instead. —Posted by Brian Morrissey |
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Published on December 9, 2009 | Permalink
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Is honesty one of HSBC's big brand values?
These U.K. HSBC spots from JWT London that focus on "integrity" and "responsibility" are gorgeously filmed, but they're so achingly ironic and hypocritical, they make my head spin. Yes, HSBC has refused government bailout money, but the firm is now cutting 6,100 employees, yet still managed to find $1.67 billion to bid on ING's private banking business. Meanwhile, the bank holds forth on the topic of social justice in ads that show a paparazzo and fisherman who "do the right thing." It must be comforting for the C-suite suits to see their gold-tinted vision of reality reflected back at them during commercial breaks. Would they spike the photo of the year or toss back the first big catch in weeks, if it meant losing a ton of money? Of course not. Would you? Integrity and responsibility begin with honesty, something these ads sorely lack.
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Published on September 11, 2009 | Permalink
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Public asked to name Vegemite's new flavor
More exciting news involving those crazy Australians. This time it involves Vegemite, the mysterious substance celebrated in music from the 1980s and which, unlike Foster's beer, is consumed by actual Australians living in actual Australia. The paste is introducing a brand-new flavor, which people are intensely excited about. And as this JWT Melbourne ad suggests, they need a name for it. They opened it up to a public contest, which in this case probably wasn't the best idea. The suggestions so far include Tigermite, Rockermite, Mitey-licious and AussieNZjam (whatever that's supposed to mean). Of course, as seen in the ad, the company's leaders have been messing things up like this for several generations. —Posted by David Kiefaber See also: |
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Published on August 14, 2009 | Permalink
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Trident gum leaves dentist, finds happiness
Trident may be the gum recommended by four out of five dentists, but lately it's been making a much softer sell—that it's just "A little piece of happy." What exactly do they mean by that? It's tempting to characterize the commercials, from JWT New York, as oddvertising in league with Skittles and Starburst, but they're really more magical realism with a touch of sweetness (reminiscent of the Skittles stuff from the mid-'90s). In the ad above, a flower grows an extra petal for a little girl to pluck. In the spot below, an old dude inflates. See three more ads here—there's one with a coin-operated spaceship ride that comes to life and two random animated spots involving goats and a cat. I'm rather conflicted about the campaign. I think the ads are cute, but they could be for anything. Then again, watching that stupid squirrel bite the dentist in the nuts six times an hour made me want to stick gum wads in my eyes. So, in a way, this new work did actually bring me a little piece of happy. See also: |
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Published on August 6, 2009 | Permalink
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Bing keeps you from being a blithering idiot
Microsoft and JWT wasted no time in following up their introductory Bing commercial that we wrote about last week. In these three ads, the new "decision engine" is posed as the cure to a new disease called "Search Overload Syndrome," also known as S.O.S. Ha, clever! (Microsoft is all about curing people these days. Its new Internet Explorer spots treat the freaky disorders F.O.M.S. and S.H.Y.N.E.S.S.) Symptoms of S.O.S. include getting distracted by unrelated links and reciting meta tag descriptions in response to loved ones' queries. I like the spots—they're right on Microsoft's brand promises of productivity, efficiency, etc. But I always thought getting lost with other links was part of the fun of Google. (These ads are almost anti-curiosity, actually.) When I think about it, though, I do waste an impressive amount of time exploring unrelated links. If Microsoft could invent Bing-epedia, my productivity could truly soar.
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Published on June 11, 2009 | Permalink
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JWT builds giant doll for Aussie candy spot
Pediophobes (that's people who suffer from a fear of dolls) hopefully stayed well away from the April ad shoot in Brisbane, Australia, that produced this commercial from JWT Sydney for Allen's Confectionery. It shows a 30-foot-tall doll, created with help from animatronics expert John Cox (an Oscar winner for his work on Babe), delighting a crowd by blowing huge oblong candy bubbles that explode and rain down normal-size candy. There's a lengthy behind-the-scenes video here. The doll, at least in its stature, resembles a similar giant puppet created in 2006 by French theater company Royal de Luxe. That doll was more frightening-looking, like something out of a fairy tale. This one, dressed in pink with blonde pigtails and walking along to the nursery rhyme "This Old Man," is more baby-like, in keeping with the candy theme. |
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Published on June 4, 2009 | Permalink
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Microsoft's Bing prepares to save the world
Here we have a breaking campaign from a giant global company that's struggling to compete in a brutal market. It talks about making "decisions that help us get to the right place at the right time." Out with the old, in with the new. Reinvention. Revving a shiny new engine. But this isn't one of GM's "We're not dead yet!" spots by Deutsch (though there is car footage). No, it's introductory spot by JWT for Microsoft's Bing search engine (sorry, decision engine). Oh, I know the campaigns have vastly different purposes and can't be fairly compared, yadda yadda. It's just the similarity of the images and approach ... big-time drama by way of (mostly) stock footage. The Bing ad uses a snippet of Clockwork Orange-style wide-eyed thought-control footage—you know, where the subject is forced to keep his eyes open as images whip past on screen. That represents the chaotic state of digital information overload. A new search engine (sorry, decision engine) and a bunch of new commercials won't add to that, surely. |
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Published on June 3, 2009 | Permalink
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Got serious speech problems? Try Huggies
Over at Adweek.com, Eleftheria Parpis is less than enamored by this Huggies spot from JWT featuring an expecting couple who can only say "me" (the wife) and "you" (the husband). If this scenario were taking place in my life, I'd be sobbing "Why me?" and my wife would be screaming "Damn you!" But that's a story for couples' therapy. I've drifted from my point, and so does this 60-second ad. Still, it makes a potent statement with the birthing scene at the end, reminding me of one big reason I don't want kids. There's also not a diaper to be seen, either. Just like at my house. Oh, and those of you with little ones at home trying to make plans for this holiday weekend: Good luck getting a sitter, suckers! |
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Published on May 21, 2009 | Permalink
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The wooden skin-blinds will thank you later
When last we hit the beach in France, we saw lots of naughty tan lines in suggestive condom ads. At the other end of the spectrum is this campaign for String Beauty tanning lotion from JWT, which is all about covering up—and objectifying—attractive female forms. That's positively un-French! Or as they say on the Cote d'Azur: Qui est positive non-Français! And as long as I'm Googling, may I add: Ceux qui sont désagréables stores! So, "stores" is French for "blinds." I'd often wondered. Here's one more: Ces annonce est un peu stupide! Hopefully the product provides better coverage than its metaphorical counterpart in the ads. Because those slats would leave some bizarre patterns if any sun seeps through. Via AdverBox. |
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Published on April 24, 2009 | Permalink
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Errol Morris plugging his-and-hers Depends
Errol Morris fires up his famed Interrotron interviewing machine (which he used for the Apple "Switchers" campaign and some pro-Obama election ads, among other efforts) for these JWT ads promoting the new gender-specific Depend adult undergarments. The technique is usually effective, but here the questions posed, designed to highlight the differences between men and women (e.g., "Who are better drivers?"), are so shopworn that the spots end up feeling tiresome. The marketing campaign is supposedly the largest in the history of the Kimberly-Clark brand, and Morris's involvement speaks to the emphasis on presenting Depend users as plainspoken, everyday folks. Unfortunately, there's no Ellen Feiss character to liven things up. |
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Published on April 1, 2009 | Permalink
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JetBlue assuring CEOs that everything's OK
Back in February, JetBlue ran some print ads poking fun at auto-industry execs and other bigwigs who might want to rethink flying their private jets to Washington. The ads were well-received, and now they've expanded the campaign online with The CEO's Guide to Jetting, which unfortunately only contains three amusing videos: the one above, plus these two others. Delightfully snarky lines like, "JetBlue can get you to many cities where you already own homes or hide money!" and "It's easier than writing off a toxic asset!" are courtesy of JWT. They've also got some great online ad buys going. The CEO's Guide to Jetting was my pre-roll ad right before my CNN video titled, "AIG Continues to Enrage." I refreshed to see if it would appear before the video every time and got an ad for Fellows 100% Jam Proof Shedders. I love these ultra-targeted ad buys. Good job, JetBlue, and good timing. Way to turn the nation's unbridled hostility toward the rich to your advantage. Your advertising-fu is so strong that I would totally commit to flying JetBlue if I didn't choose my airlines based entirely on price. —Posted by Rebecca Cullers |
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Published on March 19, 2009 | Permalink
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I do not find your brown bubbles appetizing
There's a problem with this "Feel the bubbles" spot by JWT London for candy bar Aero, and it has nothing to do with the controversy AgencySpy is reporting—that hard-core skaters are angry that the idea was lifted from some skateboarding film. No, as usual, the IQ-challenged, scabby-kneed kids (the skateboarders, not the AgencySpy folks) miss the bigger issue: all of the off-putting scatological references and imagery in the ad. Come on, a winding tunnel filled with brown bubbles? Please. Frankly, Nestlé, I don't wanna "feel" your bubbles. I'll stay out of the tub, thanks. I'll grab a Snickers instead. An immature interpretation on my part, you say? A stretch? Perhaps. Still, Adrants thinks the ad echoes the swimming-pool scene from Caddyshack. Let's be glad it's not for Baby Ruth. |
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Published on March 3, 2009 | Permalink
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JWT keeps an eye on global heebie-jeebies
OK, so things aren't going so hot nowadays. We can all agree on that. Must we continue to beat the drum? JWT thinks we should. The agency has launched AnxietyIndex, a blog to aggregate how brands and consumers worldwide are dealing with the global economic meltdown/armageddon. (Example: MTV is soliciting reality stars for a series about people dealing with crushing debt burdens. Sounds entertaining.) Naturally, the blog includes a feed of Twitter posts that mention the word "anxiety." This is a worthy idea. Brands do need to figure out how to communicate with people who are going through a hell of a time. It's just a downer. There's definitely an opportunity to start a rival HappinessIndex to catalog the small glimmers of hope out there in the bleakness. —Posted by Brian Morrissey |
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Published on February 26, 2009 | Permalink
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Trapped humans forced to sell Kit Kat bars
Kit Kat has dropped a few human vending machines into London's Victoria Station as part of its new U.K. campaign. The human vending machine isn't new—the Japanese, always first in all things vending machine, have employed them. But this execution really fits nicely with Kit Kat's "Working like a machine?" campaign. The TV spots, "Checkout" (posted below) and "Arrivals," show people literally working like machines and then getting (you guessed it) a much-needed break. The effort is apparently part of Nestlé Confectionery's biggest U.K. ad campaign ever, with a total spend of £21 million. For that money, I hope they at least get three TV spots. While I have nothing bad to say about the concept (rock it, JWT London!), let me beat up on the press release for a second. It raves that the human vending machines give consumers "the added bonus of having a person to chat to [who will] physically hand them their chocolate treat." You mean, just like a regular vendor? No, the joyful novelty here is just seeing someone trapped inside a box full of chocolate. Photo: techfever on Flickr. |
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Published on February 26, 2009 | Permalink
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A beautiful look at a broken global economyThis is a quite nicely done T. Rowe Price campaign from JWT New York and Psyop. The visuals are clean and appealing. They effectively underscore message that T. Rowe Price understands the complex connections underpinning global financial systems. (You can see another execution here.) In normal times, such thoughtful, inoffensive ads would be on target for the category. Here's the thing: The connections are torn; the system's imploding. You can't play T. Rowe Nice when the sky's raining pink slips. I'd rather you say you feel our pain, you share our fears and that you'll make everything work out all right. Frankly, I think we're entitled to a something more compelling than an animated squid. |
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Published on February 19, 2009 | Permalink
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Twitter has gotten under Bob Jeffrey's skin
I figured after JWT worldwide CEO Bob Jeffrey got through oversharing his experiences at Davos that he'd cast his Twitter account aside for not being worth his time. Not so, at least according to a Twitter love letter Jeffrey wrote for The Huffington Post. Turns out he's positively smitten with the short-message service. "I've never felt this connected to the rest of the world," he writes. "It was a game-changing, moving experience, one that left an indelible mark on how I will lead now." Yikes, is it getting hot in here? Anyway, despite his ardor, Jeffrey isn't keeping up the pace of updates post-Davos. He hasn't updated in a week. —Posted by Brian Morrissey |
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Published on February 17, 2009 | Permalink
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Pink Smartie is better traveled than you are
While the rest of us curtail our travel in these uncertain times, the pink Smartie is racking up the miles by globetrotting in search of a mate. A lot happens to the lovelorn piece of candy in this 90-second spot. She goes snorkeling; visits Egypt, Brazil and Japan; watches fish, camels, birds, a pencil and a sharpener, salt and pepper shakers, a pair of dice and a nut and a bolt enjoy solid, meaningful relationships; falls for a soccer ball and a piece of sushi; and eventually tries online dating. None of which goes anywhere. She eventually settles for a guy she's known all along, who hopefully doesn't mind some credit-card debt. Agency: JWT London. |
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Published on February 17, 2009 | Permalink
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CEOs discover this cool thing called Twitter
More evidence that Twitter has jumped the shark: Agency CEOs are getting into the act. Perhaps inspired by the Twitter tutorial arranged by WPP CEO Martin Sorrell, JWT head honcho Bob Jeffrey yesterday began Twittering his every thought. So far, his mind is clearly on Davos, the subject of each of his four updates, including: "Prepping for Davos. Anxious to listen to experts talk about what's next for the world's economies and implications for our biz." So far, no details on his legendary fitness regimen. Jeffrey isn't the only agency honcho oversharing. AKQA's Tom Bedecarré, Deep Focus's Ian Schafer and Real Branding's Mark Silva are all Twitterers. And of course, there are the imposters, like Dan Wieden and a pretty funny one for Lester Wunderman. —Posted by Brian Morrissey |
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Published on January 26, 2009 | Permalink
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Eat this candy, not the plane-crash survivor
Back in April, we posted some Swedish Fish print ads from JWT with the tagline, "A friend you can eat." Here are three TV commercials from the same campaign. They try a little hard to be hip and offbeat, but the spot above, with the proverbial hungry plane-crash survivors on the snowy mountaintop, is amusing—perhaps the best cannibalism-themed ad since this skin-care one. In other cannibalism news, the Monday after Thanksgiving is probably as good a time as any to ask yourself: "How many cannibals could my body feed?" |
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Published on December 1, 2008 | Permalink
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Those big red lips are crying out for Baileys
JWT London has unveiled its first advertising for Baileys in time for the holidays, and it's all about the lips. The "Listen to Your Lips" commercial shows drops of Baileys falling from heaven and bursting when they land on big, red, spotlighted lips. Sharon Keith, Baileys global brand director, tells Marketing Week: "Consumers tell us that they adore the taste of Baileys. 'Listen to Your Lips' is a simple idea, we don't need elaborate messages, we just need to remind people of the delicious taste of Baileys and trigger the desire for the brand that they already have." Some might think the lips are shown a little too close up. But on the plus side, the campaign will include a lot of in-store sampling. |
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Published on November 10, 2008 | Permalink
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A surreal collision of cops and tree-huggers
There's a lot going on in this British ad for HSBC bank. We've got cops, lumberjacks, tree-huggers, a baby, a tragically mismatched romance and a guy in a bear suit—all set to the haunting tune of "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" by Joanna Newsom. The epic (and topical) spot, by JWT London, is fantastically interesting and re-watchable, although it can't quite decide if it wants to be humorous or serious. Still, it's a 100-second ad for a bank, and I just watched it about a dozen times, so I'll consider it a win. Via Scamp. —Posted by David Griner |
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Published on September 9, 2008 | Permalink
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Chew on an eyeful of Trident's latest gum
Syd Brak whips up this perfectly lovely retro illustration for Trident Chocolate Mint gum, and then JWT London (in the spirit of TBWA’s Pioneer Kuro ads) goes and gives the girl a mouth for an eye. Seems the gum will indeed “mess with your head.” And you thought a few blisters on the tongue was bad. —Posted by Tim Nudd |
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Published on August 8, 2008 | Permalink
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Chew Trident, have a fabulous/terrible day
—Posted by Tim Nudd |
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Published on July 25, 2008 | Permalink
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Just say 'nej' to warm, syrupy bunny waffle
If you need a nice Friday pick-me-up, and LOLcats just won't do the trick anymore, try these ads for Swedish Fish from JWT New York. (Tagline: “A friend you can eat.”) I’m sure this cautionary message about bunny waffles will help the ghost of Oolong rest in peace. Check out four more executions after the jump. Via Ads of the World. —Posted by David Griner |
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Published on April 4, 2008 | Permalink
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Huggies sees workplace full of big babies
This Huggies ad from JWT might have worked better if they'd dressed babies up in business clothes and let them toddle around to their heart’s content. As it is, it looks like someone put horse tranquilizers in accounts payable’s coffee machine. I also now have to picture an office full of thirtysomethings wearing Huggies because they’ve lost bladder and bowel control as well as equilibrium. Was this the inspiration? —Posted by David Kiefaber |
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Published on April 4, 2008 | Permalink
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