Advertising news

• 72andSunny lays off five percent of staffers in NY and LA

  06-03-2019 23:51
  MDC Partners agency 72andSunny says it has laid off five percent of its staff in New York and Los Angelesnews that comes a day after Ad Age first reported MillerCoors had launched a creative agency review for Coors Light, one of 72andSunny's biggest clients. 72andSunny said it was not participating in the review."Today we parted ways with five percent of our staff," an agency spokeswoman said in a statement Wednesday. "As our industry continues to evolve, we are reshaping 72andSunny to maximize
  
  Read more

• Five key takeaways from Shoptalk

  06-03-2019 23:16
  That's a wrap on Shoptalk, the annual retail conference that ran from Sunday through Wednesday. Now in its fourth year, the Las Vegas event attracted 8,400 attendees as well-known brands took to the stage to talk about themes including partnerships, technology and customer experience. Below, a few takeways:It's the place to be for retailers big and smallWhen Shoptalk first started in 2016, it attracted only a fraction of the audience the 2019 iteration saw. It was largely focused on direct-to-c
  
  Read more

• 5 key takeaways from Shoptalk

  06-03-2019 23:16
  Blurring the d-to-c linesMuch of the buzz around d-to-c has been focused on native e-commerce brands, like underwear startup Lively or mattress company Casper. Yet older brands have had their own stores and sites that sell directly to consumers for years; they're now amping up their efforts. Both Levi's and Nike talked about how they're rethinking products and in-store experiences from a d-to-c standpoint. Brands need to "keep up with a very empowered consumer," says Amy Lanzi, North America Com
  
  Read more

• Amazon is closing 87 U.S. pop-up electronics stores next month

  06-03-2019 22:54
  Amazon.com Inc. is ending its experiment with electronics-focused pop-up stores, shuttering 87 kiosks located inside shopping malls, Whole Foods Market locations and Kohl's stores around the U.S."After much review, we came to the decision to discontinue our pop-up kiosk program," an Amazon spokeswoman said.The closings are expected to be completed by the end of April, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Wednesday, saying it wasn't immediately clear if any Amazon pop-ups outside the U.S.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Mark Zuckerberg promises a new privacy-obsessed Facebook

  06-03-2019 22:15
  In a new manifesto that reads like a response to Facebook's many critics, CEO Mark Zuckerberg outlined a new focus on privacy, including a plan for encrypted messaging that would also unite communication across its various apps. He also promised less data permanence on the platform famous for its oversharing users.Zuckerberg posted the new strategy to his Facebook page Wednesday, touching on topics that the company has signaled it would address for months, like connecting its two messaging apps,
  
  Read more

• Why Nike cofounder Phil Knight OK'd the Kaepernick ad

  06-03-2019 21:17
  LeBron James played a key role pushing Nike's controversial Colin Kaepernick ad forward, according to a new account from Nike founder Phil Knight.Knight, who started the sportswear giant 55 years ago, spoke recently at a Stanford Graduate School of Business event about the current iteration of the Just Do It campaign. Knight said that many executives, including Nike CEO Mark Parker, initially had doubts about including the polarizing former San Francisco quarterback in a marketing push to celeb
  
  Read more

• McDonald's is seeing success with Waze in boosting ad results: Marketer's Brief

  06-03-2019 20:37
  Welcome to the latest edition of Marketer's Brief, a quick take on marketing news, moves and trends from Ad Age's reporters and editors. Send tips/suggestions to [email protected] has a new global chief commercial officer overseeing marketing and Church's Chicken has a new CMO. Find out more about the moves in our weekly comings and goings feature at the bottom. But we begin with McDonald's latest move to get inside people's cars to push its burgers.Putting McD's on the map
  Continue re
  
  Read more

• Wedding company Zola tries on brick-and-mortar

  06-03-2019 20:00
  For Zola, the wedding company founded six years ago, breaking into the crowded wedding industry has been a challenge. Initially, the New York-based brand relied on word-of-mouth marketing, but as Zola has grown, it's courting consumers through brick-and-mortar experiences and new marketing channels.In January, the company opened its first physical store, a pop-up shop in Manhattan that will operate through April, during the busiest season for engagements. At the store, shoppers can pick out the
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Celebrity chef Mario Batali cuts ties with all his restaurants

  06-03-2019 20:00
  Celebrity chef Mario Batali has given up his share of the restaurants he has owned for 20 years in partnership with the Bastianich family of restaurateurs, according to a report in The New York Times.The Times report comes more than a year after several women accused Batali of sexual harassment and assault. Batali will "no longer profit from the restaurants in any way, shape or form," Tanya Bastianich Manuali told The Times. Bastianich Manuali will head day-to-day operations for a not-yet-named
  
  Read more

• Watch the newest commercials on TV from Alfa Romeo, Apple Music, Trivago and more

  06-03-2019 19:55
  Every weekday we bring you the Ad Age/iSpot Hot Spots, new TV commercials tracked by iSpot.tv, the TV ad measurement and attribution company. The ads here ran on national TV for the first time yesterday.A few highlights: Alfa Romeo says its Giulia & Stelvio Racing Edition offers "the next level of joy." Apple wants you to "discover" Tierra Whack through exclusive music and video content available only on Apple Music. And the Trivago Guy one-ups a fellow traveler.
  Continue reading at AdAge.c
  
  Read more

• Criteo's John Roswech on helping retailers monetize their biggest asset

  06-03-2019 19:49
  John Roswech, Criteo's EVP of Retail Media, sits down with Ad Age President & Publisher Josh Golden to discuss how Criteo's solutions empower retailers to turn brand dollars into performance dollars.This custom video series is made possible by Criteo.
  Continue reading at AdAge.com
  
  Read more

• The future of e-commerce at Shoptalk

  06-03-2019 19:15
  Now that every retailer has a websitethis was not the case even a few years agobrands are tasked with improving the ecommerce experience to offer the most value to shoppers, and encourage repeat visits. At Shoptalk 2019, several brands, including Macy's, Cosabella and the Bouqs Co., discussed the future of commerce with Ad Age.Macy's is taking its learnings from customer behavior online and using that to inform new fixtures and applications in brick-and-mortar. For example, Macy's found that cu
  
  Read more

• 'Courage is contagious': Diageo CMO on gender balance in advertising

  06-03-2019 18:54 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Alcohol brand releases film addressing diversity and inclusion across its creative output.
  
  Read more

• BuzzFeed's print edition, Kylie Jenner + AI, NYT's new TV show, Pecker's latest woes: Publisher's Brief

  06-03-2019 18:42
  The cover story is "Help! I'm in Love With Momo." Hardin, incidentally, wrote about the so-called Momo Challenge on March 1:It remains unclear how many Momo videos actually exist, whether they have actually caused kids to harm themselves, and just how widespread a phenomenon it is. It's also possible that media coverage has helped amplify the Momo Challenge into existence, creating a vicious cycle that encouraged people to post more Momo videos, sparked panic, and even caused police departments
  
  Read more

• Children see less than 12 seconds of junk food ads a day, research says

  06-03-2019 18:10 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Advertising Association report makes the case against new regulations on advertising of HFSS food and drink.
  
  Read more

• Children see fewer than 12 seconds of junk food ads a day, research says

  06-03-2019 18:10 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Advertising Association report makes the case against new regulations on advertising of HFSS food and drink.
  
  Read more

• Pitch update: M&S adds agencies to longlist, Barclays holds pitches

  06-03-2019 17:36 via campaignlive.co.uk
  L'Oréal has also shortlisted four agencies for its media account.
  
  Read more

• Established underwear brand explores new partnerships

  06-03-2019 17:05
  Unlike many of the brands at Shoptalk 2019, Cosabella has been around for a long timemore than three decades. The high-end lingerie company, which sells via its own website and through other stores such as Macy's, is nevertheless challenged with attracting new consumers and remaining relevant at a time when many digital competitors are rising up in the underwear space. To that end, the brand recently partnered with plus-size retailer Eloquii as well as sustainable fashion company Reformation."W
  
  Read more

• Adidas calls on Zidane and Beckham in latest ad for Predator boots

  06-03-2019 16:49 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Nostalgic pairing of Real Madrid legends promotes the relaunch of the Predator boots they both wore.
  
  Read more

• Seven inspiring ads that smash female stereotypes

  06-03-2019 16:25 via campaignlive.co.uk
  For International Women's Day, Campaign looks back at ads released this year that shatter gender norms.
  
  Read more

• L'Oreal shortlists four agencies for UK media pitch

  06-03-2019 16:25 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The beauty company is Britain's fifth biggest advertiser with £106m spend.
  
  Read more

• Petition asks Gillette to take name off Patriots stadium to protest owner's arrest

  06-03-2019 16:03
  Here's one more ripple from the splash Gillette created with its January "The Best Men Can Be" video: A Care2 petition is calling for the brand to pull its name off the New England Patriots' stadium to protest team owner Robert Kraft's arrest on prostitution charges.The petition argues that "The Best Men Can Be" from Grey is more than a tagline, but also "a commitment to promoting healthy representations of what masculinity means." Kraft's arrest after police allegedly filmed him having sex wit
  
  Read more

• Behind one charity's mission to close the creativity gap

  06-03-2019 15:24 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The creative industries are a boon to the UK economy, yet cutbacks in schools increasingly bar access to creative education. This is a problem that the advertising industry should take seriously.
  
  Read more

• Formula E to return to UK for 2019/20 season

  06-03-2019 14:47 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Formula E to return to London with Docklands circuit planned.
  
  Read more

• Pick of the Week: The Times reflects the state of the nation

  06-03-2019 13:34 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The creatures within are probably more lovable than the current crop of politicians.
  
  Read more

• Turkey of the Week: Thomas Cook's ad makes you very sleepy....

  06-03-2019 13:30 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Thomas Cook's unentertaining "First time flyers" campaign seems lazy and manipulative.
  
  Read more

• Bushmills returns with maker series events

  06-03-2019 12:08 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The first event will be a whiskey and cheese tasting workshop.
  
  Read more

• Barstool Sports admits to 'moronic' behavior, and Dollar Shave Club tries something new: Wednesday Wake-Up Call

  06-03-2019 12:00
  Welcome to Ad Age's Wake-Up Call, our daily roundup of advertising, marketing, media and digital news. You can get an audio version of this briefing on your Alexa device. Search for "Ad Age" under "Skills" in the Alexa app.What people are talking about todayBarstool Sports' founder acknowledges some "moronic" behavior by the company. What happened? Comedian Miel Bredouw says the media brand ripped off one of her videos and put it online. After she filed a takedown notice to Twitter, she says, B
  
  Read more

• Google, Direct Line and MG OMD on brand safety, diversity and transparency

  06-03-2019 11:35 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Google's Nishma Robb admitted that the tech giant would never be able to ensure its video platform was entirely safe at the ISBA conference in London yesterday. Campaign rounds up the highlights.
  
  Read more

• Nugent joins Girl Culture Films, Method adds content collective and more

  06-03-2019 11:12
  Lauren Greenfield's new company Girl Culture Films has announced its first major hire, appointing Melinda Nugent as executive producer. Nugent will run all commercial and branded content productions, as well as development and production of projects for film and television. Nugent has worked as an executive producer for Stink Films, 1stAveMachine and Strangelove Productions. She has two decades of producing experience for commercial and film projects including Adidas, Apple, Nike, and Google. G
  
  Read more

• Instagram will allow brands to promote influencer posts like ads

  06-03-2019 10:44 via campaignlive.co.uk
  The move signals Instagram's efforts to make the influencer marketing process more transparent.
  
  Read more

• Puma hires Dark Horses to create global football campaigns

  06-03-2019 10:39 via campaignlive.co.uk
  Dark Horses is the sports marketing agency backed by Lucky Generals.
  
  Read more

• TfL's 'junk food' ban rejects ad containing fresh produce

  06-03-2019 10:06 via campaignlive.co.uk
  TfL has rejected an ad for delivery firm Farmdrop because of imagery of fresh produce.
  
  Read more

• Campaign Tech Awards: Time running out to enter

  06-03-2019 10:04 via campaignlive.co.uk
  This year's awards include four new performance marketing categories.
  
  Read more

• The man behind the Chia Pet and The Clapper--and their memorable ads

  06-03-2019 09:00
  Illustration by John S. DykesGeico recently did an '80s-style infomercial, and Amazon launched a QVC-style shopping livestream. The decade's advertising, it seems, is having a moment. What better time, then, to talk to the master of the genre, Joseph Pedott?The marketer's most famous products pretty much defined the decade: the Chia Pet ("ch-ch-ch-Chia") and The Clapper ("Clap on, clap off"). His commercials, which he created via his eponymous ad agency, are core to the pop-culture canonand the
  
  Read more

• The man behind the Chia Pet and The Clapper--and his memorable ads

  06-03-2019 09:00
  Illustration by John S. DykesGeico recently did an '80s-style infomercial, and Amazon launched a QVC-style shopping livestream. The decade's advertising, it seems, is having a moment. What better time, then, to talk to the master of the genre, Joseph Pedott?The marketer's most famous products pretty much defined the decade: the Chia Pet ("ch-ch-ch-Chia") and The Clapper ("Clap on, clap off"). His commercials, which he created via his eponymous ad agency, are core to the pop-culture canonand the
  
  Read more

• Opinion: Marketing in a China-centric world

  06-03-2019 09:00
  Every marketer should be planning for the day that China replaces the U.S. as the world's biggest economy and emerging countries start flexing their muscles. That day is comingpossibly as soon as 2020, according to a prediction based on new research from Standard Chartered Bank.Perhaps the most stunning forecast to emerge from the data is that the makeup of the top 10 economies in the world will be completely different by 2030. The U.S. will fall to third place, after India (which will be about
  
  Read more

• Inside Amazon's new program to help brands know where to advertise

  06-03-2019 09:00
  The Amazon Attribution beta program has given a select few agencies and brands a window into which ad campaigns drive consumers to fill their digital shopping carts. The trial, which opened late last year, is closed to newcomers for now, but when it opens widely, brands need to know what it can tell them about where to spend their ad dollars.The problem"What they're trying to do is give insights into what media off Amazon drives the most sales on Amazon," says Mike Seiler, director of search an
  
  Read more

• How to make branded podcasts that pop

  06-03-2019 09:00
  Despite its popularity, Trader Joe's does no traditional marketing and doesn't discuss internal issues with the media. Those seeking details about the inner workings of the company, however, can tune into its podcast. "Inside Trader Joe's" shares information such as how often it turns around its products, and how it decides which food items go on the shelf.Although most marketers know the company doesn't advertise, what may come as a surprise is how popular Trader Joe's podcast is; it ranks in
  
  Read more

• How a Mysterious Sculpture Brilliantly Revealed the Truth Behind Ukraine’s Child Beggars

  06-03-2019 01:20 via feeds.adweek.com
  Despite having a small budget, Ukrainian agency Angry had a big task on its hands: Get people to see the full picture when it comes to children begging on the streets. Specifically, the UN Migration Agency wanted to highlight that most children in such situations are actually being forced to panhandle against their will, manipulated...
  
  Read more

• ING and JWT Amsterdam Resurrect Rembrandt With an AI-Powered Voice Clone

  06-03-2019 00:52 via feeds.adweek.com
  If you ever wanted to take a painting class from Rembrandt, it may now finally be possible. To celebrate the 350 anniversary of the Dutch master's death, financial firm ING and JWT Amsterdam are bringing a small piece of him back to life with a series of video lessons, titled "The Rembrandt Tutorials," taught in...
  
  Read more

• Google Is Bringing Shoppable Ads to Images Results

  06-03-2019 00:34 via feeds.adweek.com
  Taking a page out of other companies' playbooks, Google is bringing shoppable ads to search results on Google Images. Similar to such ads on Pinterest and Instagram, Google's ads will let retailers tag several products on an ad. When users hover over them, they'll see the price and brand. Google is also debuting "showcase shopping...
  
  Read more

Follow @Advertising_US on Twitter!