Schupp Company Blog

The Past, Present, and Future of Advertising

Friday, August 13th, 2010

I’m often not compelled to compile links throughout the week, but for some reason this past week has felt a little different.  With an influx of information coming through at all angles, sorting through the good and the bad can often be an agonizing issue, but this week the good just kept getting better and the bad decided not to show.  Below you’ll find some of the most well written articles I’ve read in the past few weeks.  What’s the common thread?  They all focus on the new, the old, and the in-between of the advertising industry.  Interested yet?  Read on.

This week we take a look at the past, present, and future of advertising.   We witness the end of a cultural revolution as Alex Bogusky continues to confess why he left the ad world to pursue a new life of fearless and sustainable creativity.  We read about what’s keeping advertising alive, and why those that say it’s practically six feet under are dead wrong.  We learn how to leverage social media and how to restructure the typical agency model to cater to a new type of consumer and more importantly, a new type of client.  Lastly, we’re given access to some of the most inspiring thinkers in the biz, offering ideas and insights on the future of digital and links to the most important books, blogs, and people leading the way.

And so it begins…

Advertising is Undead

When radio came out, print was supposed to die. When TV came out, radio was supposed to die. When the inter-webs were born, TV was supposed to die. The reality is that with every new medium, or adjustment to a medium, new tools become available to advertisers.  Those that claim “advertising will fail” are grossly misinformed.

Three Key Lessons to Learning Social

These are challenging times for corporations and ad agencies alike but they’re also exciting. The future is characterized by accelerated change and we all must respond accordingly.  You don’t sell to a community, you support it.  Business isn’t changing, it’s changed.  You want social media success?  Quit resisting the demands of becoming social.

Alex Bogusky Tells All:  Why He Left the World’s Hottest Agency

Over the past two decades, the ad business has changed utterly, with digital imploding linear 30-second spots, earned media usurping paid media, and consumers co-opting brand conversations.  Bogusky’s insatiable appetite – and foresight – for change kept him ahead and on top.  Find out how he got there, how he stayed there, how he defied those around him, and how business will change now that he’s gone.

Books, Blogs and People to Follow

The digital community is extremely open and collaborative when it comes to offering advice, recommendations, and insights on what is and isn’t working in the industry.  There are inspiring ideas floating around the Internet, but oftentimes you’ve got to know of the right people and the right places to look before you can truly benefit from the free-flowing influences of the community.  Edward Boches takes the guesswork out of the process.   Happy (un)hunting.

Tags: Advertising, facebook, marketing, news, schupp company, social media, trends, work
Posted in Advertising, Culture, Online, Water Cooler | No Comments »

A Match Made In Monkey Heaven

Friday, February 19th, 2010

So I’m at a friend’s house for a Fat Tuesday celebration, and as I’m hovering over the pot of jambalaya I noticed something interesting on his kitchen counter. First off, he has a banana rack (not to be confused with a banana hammock) to display his fresh bananas. I found that very intriguing and very metrosexual. Secondly, the Chiquita bananas had little monkey stickers on them. What happened to the traditional, blue banana sticker that I subconsciously equate with a fresher, superior tasting banana? Oh, that sticker is on the bananas in a new video game for the Wii.

It appears as though Chiquita and Sega have teamed up for a little cross promotion. The famous blue-stickered banana will be featured in the new “Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll” game for the Nintendo Wii. In exchange, Chiquita is promoting the game release on 180 million bananas in grocery stores (and on banana racks) near you.

Pulled from an article at Cincinnati.com, the Chiquita people describe the relationship like so:

“We feel that this is a natural fit – to promote healthy and fresh snacking while exercising on a fun game,” Chiquita Brands International spokesman Ed Loyd said. “We’ll obviously be tracking any changes in volume, but the key thing for us is to build the brand.”

It seems like a “natural fit” indeed, Ed. You got my attention.

The deal, which does not involve money changing hands, follows last fall’s national TV ad campaign, Chiquita’s first in more than 20 years. In addition, the company is said to be aggressively pursuing other brand licensing deals for products such as its frozen fruit smoothie concentrate and banana bread mix.

The Chiquita presence adds to a growing list of in-game ads. Well-known titles such as EA’s Madden NFL football franchise and even the space opera “Halo 3” now routinely include in-game ads or product tie-ins.

Tags: Chiquita Bananas, Cross Promotion, food, marketing, Product Placement, products
Posted in Miscellaneous | 3 Comments »

Lady GaGa: Polaroid’s new Creative Director

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

The 5 grammy nominee, Pop star Lady GaGa becomes Polaroid’s new Creative Director. How bizarre is this. What does this 23 year old singer actually know about technology? So far, she apparently has designed a set of “heartbeat” headphones that evoke more fashion than technology for the company. The basis of the partnership is to help Polaroid to appeal to younger demographic. Good luck.

Watch the video press release here:

Lady Gaga – New Polaroid Creative Director

Tags: interactive, marketing, news, products, trends
Posted in Advertising, Art, Culture, Style | No Comments »

Art in Advertising

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

A recent article in Entrepreneur Magazine (Mixing Art With Commerce, January 2010) talks about how a growing number of small businesses are turning to screen-printed posters, exploiting the medium’s potent marriage of advertising and art to reach a customer demographic impervious to conventional marketing approaches.

Now in our business, posters and displays are used all the time in the on- and off-premise to help merchandise an account. And no offense to any art directors, but these well designed, glossy, price promoters don’t exactly resonate as something of value. We used to joke that we were in the business of creating beautiful landfill. However, a piece designed with the intention of being art first, brand second and promoter third might be able to flip the equation and keep our brands out of the trash heap.

Limited-edition, hand crafted works could be the answer for small brands looking to compete with their macro-competition. It’s nothing new. Fashion designers and car companies have entered stylistic marriages to promote a vision for the future of driving (Jeff Banks Creates Custom Kia Soul for UK Giveaway).  Fine artists and spirits brands have come together to inspire new drinking occasions (Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Contest).

It just makes sense that a brand or business would embrace the equity of attainable art (most limited-edition concert posters and prints range from $20 – $50 a piece … which is why I have a huge collection of screen print and giclée art). More so, I like what it doesn’t have to say, communicating the company’s commitment to old-school virtues like authenticity and handcraftsmanship in a world where homogenization and mass production are the status quo.

If you’re unfamiliar with the screen print poster subculture, check out OMG Posters. This blog does an amazing job of keeping up with the latest releases from artists and print shops across the country, both music and non-music related. It’s also introduced me to a slew of new bands (brands), which I guess is one of the ideas behind having a poster created in the first place.

Tags: Advertising, marketing, people, popular, trends
Posted in Advertising, Art, Culture, Style | 1 Comment »

It’s 3:00. Do you know where your thesaurus is?

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

No matter the day of the week, what I’ve eaten for lunch, how much coffee I have or haven’t downed, or the caliber of superpowers I might be exercising, I am a victim. This thing … this … this creature. (shudder) Ugh. It gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it. He’s unapologetic. He’s uncompromising. He’s unstoppable. He is…

DUHN DUHN DUUHHN…

THE HEADLINE MONSTER!!!

(SFX: blood-curdling screams, crying children, mass chaos)

I can be chugging along at my computer, finding well-suited synonyms, crafting clever phrases and knocking out headlines like it ain’t no thang, and then without any notice …

ROOOAAAARRRR!!!

That, dear readers, is the chilling sound of impending doom. In writing circles, it’s known colloquially as “headline rot,” but has also been called “afternoon stupor,” “creative blahs” and “mind fatigue,” and it shares symptoms with food comas, blood sugar crashes and social not-working. Don’t be fooled, though. Headline rot is a serious affliction, and it’s caused by one ungodly source.

You guessed it, the Headline Monster.

Regardless of what account I’m working on, the Headline Monster strikes around 3 pm. Sometimes he doesn’t come a-lurkin’ until 3:30, and sometimes he slinks back to his cave shortly after arriving. But if I’m writing headlines and his stomach starts to grumble, my vocabulary is always on the menu.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t just steal a few bites and mosey on his way. No. He chews up my words, spits ‘em back out and leaves a rotten, stinking aftermath that I’m stuck cleaning up. And if that’s not enough, his breath wreaks of cliché and clunky diction. Trust me, it’s not a stench you soon forget.

Luckily, I’ve learned of several preventative measures, some of which are easier than others:

• Channel Samuel L., shift into badass mofo mode, and take care of any headline business before 2:59:59.

• Fill in a placeholder headline — one that I don’t mind sacrificing to the Monster — and work on less Monster-alluring copy until he’s had his fill. Body copy … Scripts … White paper concepts … They’re like a slab of raw beef is to a vegetarian.

• Close my eyes, hold my breath and keep completely still. Kidding, folks. (That only works with T-Rexes!)

• Or, if I have no other choice, I power the hell through and hope for the best.

My fellow writers, I hope you can empathize. And if not, you’ve been warned. My Headline Monster isn’t the only one of its kind. I’ve seen its ravenous rage inflict serious, lasting damage before, and it ain’t pretty. So look out. This blog entry is not intended to be a scare tactic; it’s a public service announcement. Please, take heed.

Tags: Advertising, marketing, schupp company, work
Posted in Advertising, Water Cooler | No Comments »

Monopoly Goes Interactive for Real

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Hasbro and Google have teamed up to launch an interactive version of the famous board game Monopoly. Set to launch tomorrow, Monopoly City Streets  will be using google maps as the game board, creating a virtual Monopoly game on a global scale. There is also a building design competition using Google Sketch Up. Cool idea. Get more details here.

Tags: Advertising, gaming, interactive, marketing, networking, people
Posted in Advertising, Culture, Online | No Comments »

Skateboard Graphics Retrospective

Friday, August 14th, 2009

I’ll never forget the day I bought my first “real” skateboard. Standing across the counter at a local skate shop staring at the wall-to-wall spread of colorful wooden planks. Which board would replace my worn out Variflex? My requirements for my new skateboard purchase were pretty simple…it had to look kick ass. At the time, skateboard graphics were just starting to leave the conservative world and manufactures were beginning to realize that technological innovations in skate deck design were not as viable of a marketing ploy as the graphic on the underside. Kids didn’t really care if a board had a concave surface or a steeper tail. Young skaters needed a way to identify with their personal hero’s, or at least immortalize them in any way possible. Personality was punk and punk was attitude. As a pro skater, the place to personify that attitude was with the graphics on the underside of your own pro model.

$35 and 5 minutes later, my first “real“ skateboard became a Schmitt Stix, John Lucero X2 or “Behind the Bars” model. At the time, Lucero was not a world-renowned rider, but the X2 was his first pro model released under the new up and coming Schmitt Stix label. Besides a few snap shots in Thrasher Magazine and the occasional print ad, even though he was already a legend amongst his peers, I barely knew who John Lucero was.

What appealed to my 13 year old mid-western mind was the cool factor of the illustrated graphic on the bottom of his skateboard. The twisted demented jester graphic pried at my hell bent desire to break out of my suburban confines and unleash the fury of my youth upon the world…or at least the neighborhood.

Fast forward to present day…

These days, skateboards are all basically the same shape and size. They closely resemble the early freestyle type deck and it’s no wonder why. The actual tricks have elevated to a level of sophistication that have surpassed segregation from the original methods of style and performance: freestyle, street and vert.

Skate deck artwork has taken a turn as well. Today still, Like Lucero, riders themselves translate their own personality into signature graphics. But, the board as a canvas has come full circle. Art board companies have spawned and the amount of new school vs. old school collector decks have multiplied with the advent of commissioned artwork by world famous artists, fashionable skate deck only designers and the ability to turn the skateboard itself into a political statement.

New Skateboard Graphics written by J. Namdev Hardisty and published by Mark Batty Publisher is a diverse catalog spanning just over a decade and containing over 400 full color illustrations across 145 pages. With a reflective foreword by Michael Leon, rider interviews and an unbiased peek across numerous brands, anyone who has been a fan of skate culture artwork will enjoy the rich visual stimulation this book delivers.

Skateboarding may not be the only industry to have made a complete transition through artistic influence, but reviewing its history through mediums like this book is something I enjoy, and who knows, maybe some day a few of the decks I’ve designed will make it into volume 2.

Tags: marketing, products, sports, trends
Posted in Art, Culture, Miscellaneous, Recreaction, Style | 3 Comments »