May 14, 2008 | By Miguel

Customer is always right (?)

We've all heard the phrase, but I've come to question how much validity this really has? Soooo, if I can read a few articles on lets say...surgical advances, does that make me qualified to suggest the best way to perform a kidney transplant? We live in the age of "the internet" with information disposable at our fingertips, whereas back in the day, educating ourselves on anything was basically impossible! I mean, come on....to open a book or magazine? I don't know about you, but the fear of life threating paper cuts aways deterred me from so called "self learning." But back to the subject....in a society that enables many customers to educate themselves on whatever they please does that mak ...

View More »

April 8, 2008 | By Celia

Absolut-ness

I'm sure that by now many of you have heard about the controversy surrounding the ad created by Mexico, D.F. ad agency Teran/TBWA - "In an Absolut World" - if so, don't mind me while I devote my blog post today to this subject. Don't worry, I'm not going to go in to much detail, I will leave that to all the professional bloggers, reporters, writers, etc.
I have been following this story since last week when a colleague at SUM showed me this ad and e ...

View More »

April 2, 2008 | By Kelli

American 'Peril

On Monday, actor-director Woody Allen sued American Apparel. It turns out that in 2007 the trendy t-shirt company used an image of Woody Allen from his movie "Annie Hall," (which he won an Oscar for best director) where he is dressed as a rabbi, for an outdoor and online advertising campaign. And this was all done without his consent. Allen states that he never endorses commercial products in the U.S. and these ads are "especial ...

View More »

March 24, 2008 | By Kelli

Brewing ideas for Starbucks

This morning we stopped at Starbucks (as we often do) and at the register we noticed the words, "Have an idea for us?" printed on the front of a stack of cards. On the back you're directed to visit Starbucks' new campaign website MyStarbucksIdea.com. The website tells you to "Share. Vote. Discuss. See." and encourages customers to post their Starbucks ideas and discuss the ideas of others in order to "shape the future of Starbucks."

Ad ...

View More »

March 21, 2008 | By Miguel

Hairbrained Hispanic!

With the explosion of "shake your bon bon" a few years ago and with ongoing Hispanic Advertising, I'm getting a little confused with myself!! First off, am I Hispanic or Latino? Or, in New Mexico, am I New Mexican? How about Mexican-American, or why not the craziest of them all "plain ole" American? (Residency required)

One thing I do know, according to many poorly done Hispanic Ads, is I love dancing (salsa is particular), I am extremely joyous and have a borderline addiction with fiestas (Mariachis included of course), I'm blue eyed with blond hair and only speak Spanish. Hmmm

(Quizo Rapido)
Spanish is best way to reach Hispanics/Latinos?
Which is best way to define this demograp ...

View More »