Archives: August 2006

Walmart About to Feel AFA Wrath

Posted by: David Kiley on August 29

News that mega retailer Walmart has hired an ad agency specializing in gay media is, according to sources of mine, sending the American Family Association into overdrive over how...

Snakes on a Plane should have opened in March

Posted by: Burth Helm on August 21

So the much-hyped Snakes on a Plane put up tepid numbers at the box office. Though it led last weekend, it grossed just $15.3 million in three days, a far...

Keeping the low-brows in check

Posted by: Burth Helm on August 18

Deep inside the Beltway, there is a place where humor goes to die. In that place, a few blocks from the toy safety advocacy groups and Ralph Nader’s offices, is...

Strawberry Frog Lands Sam's Club

Posted by: David Kiley on August 16

New York independent ad agency Strawberry Frog landed the ad account of Arkansas-based Sam's Club, the warehouse store division of Walmart. Strawberry Frog succeeds Austin, Texas based ad agency GSD&M....

One more reason to hate preppy white rappers – and Smirnoff

Posted by: Burth Helm on August 16

...Marketers are actually doubling-down their bet with viewers when they employ viral vids. See, you’ve finally gotten us to pay close attention to your ad. We’re “engaged,” to use the buzz word. So release a lame video, and we’ll be thoroughly engaged in noting how much it stinks, and how lame you and your brand are for producing it.

Why is Finding The Right Product So Tough Sometimes

Posted by: David Kiley on August 15

So, I graduated to a Treo. I know. I know. So what? But this was a big step for me. My first reaction: It's too big to keep in my...

Flight Attendants: Glamorous Jobs?

Posted by: David Kiley on August 15

I was struck by this sentence in a New York Times story about flight attendants today. "Flight attendants, whose profession was once considered glamorous, may have one of the toughest...

The iPod: crack-cocaine for thumbs, poison to competing brands

Posted by: Burth Helm on August 10

Yesterday my thumbs taught me a powerful lesson: a brilliantly-designed product is not just great for grabbing consumers’ eyes on the street, or for helping define a brand. Brilliant design can work as a dangerous and destructive weapon against competitors.

Google does search ads better -- and you can take that to the bank

Posted by: Burth Helm on August 08

So Google is partnering with MySpace, guaranteeing the social network $900 million over three years for the privilege of putting little text advertisements next to search results on its pages....

New Kid on the Block

Posted by: Burth Helm on August 07

Hi there. Before I jump in and start blogging, I’d like to take a second to introduce myself. I’m Burt Helm, BusinessWeek’s new Marketing Editor, and I’m excited to be...