Sunday

The Blue Chair Campaign


Our friends over at the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) have recently launched a campaign that they call Blue Chair. OUSA, to back up for a moment, is an undergraduate student-run lobby group that focuses on student issues in the Ontario provincial government.

Over the last number of years, they have run a number of issues based campaigns - from raising awareness around tuition deregulation to helping the province understand what it's like for students to live with thousands of dollars in debt.

While OUSA's intentions are excellent, their previous campaigns have lacked the ability to break through the clutter in a crowded student environment.

With the launch of the Blue Chair Campaign however, OUSA has been able to truly own an issue Provincially - helping first generation students find their way into the Post Secondary system.

What we like about Blue Chair is that it is a simple image that entices the viewer to find out a bit more about what it represents. Unlike a number of student run awareness campaigns, Blue Chair started as a tease on campus and slowly built towards a campus event.

The seven universities involved (Queens, Waterloo, Windsor, Laurier, Wester, Brock and McMaster) all held campus events on January 24th at their respective campus bars with the hopes of raising money.

OUSA has been updating the progress of the campaign on their Facebook page and we hope that each campus had an excellent few weeks executing the campaign (and that ample funds will be raised for First Generation Student programs!)

AdJoke's New Look

After month's of broken promises, we've finally found a new template that we like (after a few hours of reading HTML). Not only does it keep a lot more of our content above the fold, it also makes things much cleaner and easier for the user - as opposed to the infinite scroll that we had before.

We've also added a Poll function and will be implementing some other elements (featured videos and pictures) in the next couple of weeks.

For now, let us know what you think of the new look - we hope you like it.

Saturday

UNICEF Best Photo of 2007


Every year, UNICEF awards one photographer the distinction of "Photo of the Year."

The objective of the award is to shed light on human suffering and issues that can no longer be ignored.

This year, American Stephanie Sinclair won for this photo of a 40 year-old Afgan man marrying an 11 year-old child.

Quite the image.

Found on Three Minds.

New - The Poll

We've decided to add (for a short period) a poll to AdJoke. Each week (or so), we will post a new question that we would love to get your input on - it will help us get new ideas for what to post and what people like - and dislike.

Take a peek when you have a moment and please let us know if you have any questions that you'd like our audience to help answer.

Friday

The Power of Viagra

I don't really have anything to say about this...it speaks for itself.

People Like Us

Think.Mtv has launched a new campaign about the Holocaust. The campaign attempts to create relevance for the viewer by showing them that the event occured to "people just like us."

The two spots, posted below, are jarring and I like how they treat the final frame as an old photograph - they've added a current backstory to a historic image in order to create impact. The music and tone is a bit much, however the the message is a unique one.

As a viewer, I only really remember the Holocost through black and white photograph's, Shindler's List and other films and family stories. These spots help to strengthen the awareness message an dit will be interesting to see if they generate any controversy / WOM during the campaign.

"Subway"


"Family Room"

Thursday

The HP Movie MashUp

Found this ad on the web today.

It's a mash up promoting the new movie "Jumper". Hayden Christensen stars in the movie and it seems to be about someone who is able to leap through time to different places. Some interesting effects to say the least (and that girl from the OC is in it so it HAS to be good).

This 90 second spot was created by the folks from Jumper and it highlights the premise of the movie by having Hayden literally "Jump" through the Serena Williams HP spot. We've written about some cool mash-ups before but never when they have been done by a large studio and a huge brand.

Although it isn't the most entertaining spot in the world, it is pretty unique and it seems like corporate mash-ups are inevitable from here on out.

Monday

Become Legendary. It's not about the shoes...

As promised here is the first spot for the campaign... it reminds me of a line from the Lebron James commercial but reverse...."It's not about you, it's about the shoes"...was it intentional?



Friday

Remind You of Anything?


We've blogged a lot about the horrible Absolut global campaign...we'll they've come out with a new gem featuring their citron vodka.


Quite the image.


Great post about it on copyranter.

ESPN Inks New Deal

Fear not, hardcore gamers. ESPN has just signed a multi-year contract with Major Leage Gaming (MLG) to cover their pro circut.

Many pro gamers do circuts across the US for specific titles and consoles - from XBox to the Wii. They play a multitidue of top games (Halo, Tony Hawk and Madden to name a few) and some competitors even have hardcore rivalries and sponsors.

Jason Lee Miller, from Web Pro News, even believes that by 2011, MLG will host Pay-per view events (think Boxing on HBO or UFC) for key gaming match ups.

Now, it's not like my life would be made substantially better by watching to gamers play Halo 3 in Madison Square Garden, however I think it would make for great comedy and actually have a decent following.

Many people don't realize that gaming is a much larger industry than Hollywood (based on Box office totals - not DVD residuals) in terms of total revnue (about $10 Billion US per year vs. $9 billion).

Wednesday

Gilly Hicks - naked women sell women underwear


Abercrombie has launched a site to promote their line of underwear "Gilly Hicks" in Australia.

It is a short video full of images on naked men with topless women, swimming, running on beaches, holding hands and most importantly being naked together.
This all obviously sells underwear, especially the one ass shot. Watch and learn young marketers.

Sunday

The Worst Ad of 2007?

Check out what might be the worst TV spot of the year. My favorite part is the free gift at the end.

Next time, think before you buy the video camera.

Thanks to Jason P for the link!

2008 Industry Statistics


In the latest issue of Advertising Age, the magazine compiles a variety of stats around the industry - from which agencies made the biggest moves to what companies are spending the most.

It also provides a good overview of some trends - how Agency jobs have declined over the last seven years, the decline of other mediums (radio) and the steady state of TV advertising.

Here are some of the highlights:
  • Top US Advertiser - Proctor & Gamble with $4.9 Billion (also top in Canada), AT&T is #2 at $3.34B
  • Top Priced TV Show - "Grey's Anatomy" | $419,000 for a 30 second placement
  • #1 Medium in the US? Direct mail at $61B, Broadcast TV is #2 ($48B), Internet increasing the most (16.5 % growth from 2006) at #8 ($12.7B)
  • Top 3 US Categories (by spend) - Automotive ($19.8B), Retail ($19.1B) and Telecommunications ($10.9B)
  • Sunday Night Football 30 Second Spot - $358,000
  • Top 3 Internet Ad Spend by Category - Telecom ($1.49B), Finance ($1.4B), Retail ($1.25B)
  • Top 3 US Agency Brands (by Revenue) - JWT ($445M), BBDO Worldwide ($444.2M), McCan Erickson Worldwide ($443.4M)
  • Top 5 US Digital Agencies (by Revenue) - Avenue A/Razorfish ($235.4M), Sapient ($228M), Digitas ($163.2M), Wunderman (113.4M) and Rapp Collins (107.1M)
  • 17,000 - Decrease in the number of agency jobs since 2000 (-8.3%)
  • 19,700 - Decrease in direct mail jobs since 2000 (-22.2%)
You can find the entire article here.

Saturday

AJ 23. Become Legendary.


The AJXX3 release will be similar to the release of any greatly anticipated product a shit-load of exclusivity, mixed with a big ad spend. Only 23 Nike sanctioned stores, each with only 23 pairs will have the kicks on Jan 25. $230 will be the ticket. This initiative will be supported by a campaign appropriately titled “Become Legendary.” Jordan, Melo, Chris Paul and Ray Allen will appear in the spots which are expected to come out mid January. I will try to post them/it as soon as the campaign is released.

I wonder what other support tactics will be unveiled over the next 3 weeks? Microsites? Promotional events? World-wide roll-out, etc?


Horrible Media Placement Part 5067



It keeps happening and it keeps getting worse. How can the industry address these problems and quickly?
Found on Digg.




Radiohead - Scotch Mist

Radiohead continues their onslaught of unique online marketing tactics for their new album "In Rainbows". Scoth Mist is a 52 minute film that includes every song from In Rainbows and was posted to YouTube by Radiohead on Jan. 1st. Just under 1 Million views in 11 days, 4800 comments and another first for the music business.

I like to just press play and listen while I work.


Thursday

The slowest car they've ever built

I don't know how this spot eluded me for 11 months???

Not amazing but I like the spot for the Audi R8 almost as much as I like the car.

A year of ideas will make you think.

One day I want my ideas to be featured in this video. I wonder why some of these ideas never made it to mainstream media.

NY Times a year of ideas:

Tuesday

Quiet Down

The Hearing Foundation of Canada released three TV spots in late November that have gained some good attention from the Canadian media and even, TBS.

Of the three, this one is my favorite - it was also ranked #9 in TBS's 2007 Funniest Commercials show.



Surprised this spot made it on air? So was I.

That being said, the Hearing Foundation has found a way to keep their message about hearing loss relevant and shows that it isn't just geriatrics's that need to worry about the loss of hearing; it is everyone young and old.

The spots link to a website called Turnitdown.ca where the entire series is posted. One of the neat things about the site is that it is running a contest for graphic designers / developers to help build it.

It's quite basic right now (hence the contest) but it will be interesting to see the submissions and the new design in a few months.

Thanks to Katy and T for the link.

PC and Ty

Monday

Book of the Month; The Futurist

Over the break, I read a great little novel called The Futurist.

Written by James P. Othmer, former Executive Director of Young & Rubican, the novel is about a futurist - Yates - who travels the world from global conference to conference, brining hope about the future.

But during the opening of the novel, Yates finally gets tired of all the BS his life is about and goes off the wagon - speaking the truth no matter what the consequences.

What I liked about this novel is that it's over the top, out of control writing with some neat mini narratives interwoven - like a private space station for rich billionaire's that runs out of oxygen on reality TV.

As someone who doesn't read much fiction, it was nice to take a break from the ad books and the other stuff and really get into this good story. Highly recommended if you're in the mood for something different.

Thanks to PC for the book!

The Green Spot



This spot, from EDF Energy (a power company in the UK), was made from recycled footage - all in an effort to strengthen their green agenda for the future.

A nice idea and neat spot.

Found on Adverblog.

Mac - Referee Spot

Debuted with the NFL playoffs. By the way I love the leopard packaging.

You are officially dead...

Unless you turn off the TV and buy Converse.




Taxi - 15 yrs already?




From Digital World:

"When Paul Lavoie, chairman of respected ad firm Taxi, brainstormed ideas to commemorate the company’s 15th anniversary, he wanted to do something to change the world.

Enter Steve Mykolyn, Taxi’s Toronto executive creative director, who proposed this selfless idea: Why not create a thick coat ideal for those living on the street? Mykolyn contacted a college friend, designer Lida Baday, and together they worked on an all-season lightweight weatherproof coat to be given free to the homeless across Canada and the U.S. Baday decided to insulate the coat with newsprint, which is the second most popular insulation material after fiberglass."

WALLNUT CLIMBINC MONKEYS


To raaise awareness for a wall climbing centre monkeys were placed on windows in hard to reach but easy to see places complete with t-shirts that read, wallnutsclimbing.com.

I find this campaign cute, entertaining and it definitely carries a lot of talk value.

Read in Strategy...found on adofdamonth.