I like to tell people I used to be a model for Ralph Lauren. And it's really true. OK, so I was two at the time. And OK, the majority of the shots were of my back as I pet farm animals while beautiful models strutted in the foreground. But still, I was a model for Ralph Lauren and this picture is proof.
So now that you know that I am a retired model, I hope you will pay more attention to my bio here. Although I'll keep it quick since the bloom is probably off the rose now that you've seen my modeling pix. So here's the deal: I am a senior consumer strategist with almost 15 years experience in advertising. I've worked in NYC, ATL and now Seattle and had experience across just about everything - from pharma to CPG to telecom/high tech to retail. And across it all, my job has always been to ask questions and help uncover WHY we humans do the things we do and how companies can learn (and profit) from this info. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
And when I'm not knee-deep in research and strategy, I'm busy trying to keep up with my 2-yr old son and husband.
And if you want to know the types of things that make me laugh, cry and scratch my head, check out my blog entries below and you'll get a better sense of who I am inside.
A couple of years ago I was writing a presentation for a Client that basically was driving the point home that even a Brand leader could get round housed by a rookie if they aren't keeping up with culture and trends. And to illustrate my point, I included a case study of the Brand who is a living testament to this: Levis.
I really like the Dove "Real Beauty" campaign. I wouldn't say I love it, but I really do like it. Which is why I surprised when I read recently that Dove, Unilver and Ogilvy were being blasted for apparently photoshopping some of the very "real women" they featured in their campaign.
I was so disappointed in them. And in our industry at large.
I have long been a fan of the advertising done by Harley Davidson...and their latest campaign is no exception. Instead of ignoring the obvious issue of the recession (seems like maybe not the best time to go out and buy a hog) they are almost capitalizing on it. Real men don't cry about the ecomony...
So if you have eyes or ears, you've probably heard of Miley Cyrus (aka: Hannah Montana). And you've probably heard she's in a bit of hot water lately with the folks at Disney due to a recent Vanity Fair photo shoot with world-renowned photographer Annie Liebowitz. Miley is now claiming she is embarrassed by the shoot and Disney has gone all nineteenth century on her and is publicly shunning her. But seriously, can someone tell me why the photo in Vanity Fair is more disturbing than the one I posted above?
And by crazy kids, I'm talking about our colleagues at DDB/Tribal who came up with this classic site that made the concept of "manscaping" an (almost) acceptable topic of conversation. That fabulous site originated on this side of the pond with Steve Nesle and the crew at DDB Tribal NY. This time, it's the kids over at DDB Tribal London who have broken new boundaries, by launching a shaver for women by showing how well it works for....a transvestite.
Amusing, no? See below for the TV ad itself (which is currently running in Western Europe).
So I should preface this entry by saying I'm not a movie buff. Nor am I an expert on viral marketing. But my husband is both and he recently hipped me to the massive "secret" viral campaign that is being launched for the next batman move "The Dark Knight." And all I can say is Wow. It's so comprehensive it's almost impossible to re-cap, but I'll give it the old college try for you...
Ok, so I'm a bit of a lazy blogger. I like to have new stuff on my site, but I don't always have a lot to say so I cheat by swiping from YouTube. There. My secret is out. I feel better. Anyway - this is another classic ad that I just love. I actually happen to be the 1% who is doing exactly what they said they wanted to do when they were a kid. But what about you? Are you living the dream or dreaming of life?
If you work in advertising, or even were over the age of 12 in 1997 - you probably immediately know what I am referencing in the title here: Apple's Think Different spot. Simply a great and iconic ad, featuring footage from some of the greatest "rebellious thinkers" of our time. Now, let's fast-forward 10 years....
Is it just me, or is the use of Photoshop becoming cartoonish? Do we even believe half of what we see anymore? I mean, who really believes Britney Spears looked anything like this 6 months ago when the picture was taken? Last I checked, she was knee-deep in crazy (and fast food) 6 months ago and didn't even have hair. yet one would never know from this picture.
This is my 2-year old son Faedon. Despite any arguments I may make to the contrary - Faedon is convinced that left shoes belong on right feet and that underwear is meant to be worn in pairs. Literally. And I am learning that sometimes I need to back off and give him the freedom to fail - even if "failure" in this case means he's walking around all day in shoes that chafe because they're on the wrong feet. Does that make me bad mom? I don't think so. I think it makes me a great mom and here's why...
Here is an ad that Fallon London just did for Sony. Long story short - they flooded part of Miami with foam and gave 200 people cameras to capture the reactions (which they will also upload to the Sony site). Aside from being a stellar concept that really embraces today's "include me" consumer, it's also just a dang pretty ad. No annoying copy. No overdone humor. Just pretty stuff that gives a big fat warm fuzzy.
Sometimes I hate the Internet because it's got so much awful junk on it and people say the meanest things when under the cover of anonymity. But then I see things like this little video a girl posted for her boyfriend on Youtube and I fall in love again. It's just so amazing that we have this big giant community for self-expression...for better or for worse. I happen to think this adorable little gem is for better.
Have you heard absinthe is making a comeback? Yep - the drink with 68% alcohol content/132 poof that allegedly induces hallucinations and alternatively inspired and tortured some of the greatest creative minds of all time - Van Gogh, Picasso, Wilde, Hemmingway, Degas - to name a few - is making a comeback after 100 years of being banned from the US. So, I can't help but wonder - how does one market something so controversial? Does it even need to be marketed? Aren't there legal concerns with marketing it?
OK, so this is kinda interesting. When I got my usual cup of coffee at Starbucks the other day, I was pleasantly surprised to see the old logo was back - at least temporarily - as part of the promotion of the new/old Pike Place Brew. So, of course, I had to do a little sleuthing to find out why the logo changed so much over the years. And here's what I found out:
So apparently an art director left BBH NY recently, stole pretty much everything he could get his hands on, videotaped it and then sent the video (above) to the entire company. And the response? The chairman apparently called it "extraordinary" and the employees couldn't get enough of it. According to the art director "I guess I was just expressing what everyone wished they could do."
