James Dyson is an inspired inventor! The Dyson Ball vacuum cleaner goes round corners more easily. He’s identified a problem. Identified a solution. And markets it with himself as ‘frontman’. For personality-led businesses, this can be an effective approach. It works for Dyson. It works for me. Maybe it would Read more…
as the result of an ad? I had to answer that question as part of a copy test when I applied to go to copywriting college years ago. Many, many years ago. So many years ago that the acceptance letter from Watford College was written on a typewriter. I think Read more…
Aleksandr Orlov has just tweeted a sneak preview of the brand new TV advertisement for Compare the Meerkat dot com. Watch it here. If you’re not on Twitter, you’re missing out! Follow me @jackiebarrie
After three complaints (3!), the ASA has banned this ad for suggesting that Courage beer can boost confidence. But who’s laughing now? As with all controversy, the story has received acres of coverage. Read the BBC report.
I thought it was April 1st when I heard about this, but no, the story broke on April 6th, so it must be true. Sainsbury’s has re-named unpopular pollack as Colin, in order to encourage sales (Colin being the French name for hake). Read the story on the BBC News Read more…
Babies are one of the images that most people find appealing. As are kittens and puppies. So Cow & Gate have laughing babies in their ads. No problem there. But the captions read, for example: ‘Do I look like I need more vitamins and iron?’ Wrong wrong wrong. It should Read more…
I think it was columnist Keith Waterhouse who instigated the Association of the Abolition of the Aberrant Apostrophe. They are needed in Beckenham, where an awning has appeared: Oh people, signwriters and awning-makers, PLEASE get it right!!!
According to Tanya Gold in the Daily Mail. She says: “In fashion, twigman has gone, to be replaced by David Gandy, the male model of now. I find it hard to pay attention to male models – I always forget a pretty face – but even I can see that Read more…
I drove through a town called Blackheath recently. Not the one in London. This one is the highest point in the Blue Mountains, Sydney. Outside the town is a sign, proudly declaiming it ‘Rhododendron Town’. When in New Zealand, I passed through Auckland: ‘The City of Sails’, Christchurch: ‘Garden City’, Read more…