“The Best Men Can Be”
If you’re looking for an ad that’ll make you think, look no further. Gillette’s “We Believe” campaign surfaced in 2019 during the height of the #MeToo movement and talks of “toxic masculinity” and immediately became a controversial topic of conversation. The ad aimed to take their age-old slogan—“the best a man can get”—and twist it to fit progressive social causes—“the best men can be.”
Forget the Product, Give Us the History
I never knew I could love a motorcycle ad until I saw these powerful ones by Harley Davidson based out of the Czech Republic.
And Just Like That… *Spoiler Alert: Sex and The City Reboot*
For those of us that shamelessly indulged in the masterpiece that is Sex and the City, most of us were thrilled to hear that the show was coming back for round 2 seventeen years after the original series concluded.
Restless Wanderlust and Vintage Travel Ads
We just spent a substantial amount of time hiding in our homes due to the lockdown and social distancing. Saying that time was “tough” is an understatement, but it did reveal some silver linings—one of them being our increased gratitude and appreciation for traveling. Being locked away against our own will made us realize how much we love exploring new places, near or far, and the privilege of being able to do that.
Trust Me, The Beer Doesn’t Taste Better
Have you ever bought a product based solely on its unique packaging or a clever commercial you wished you had thought of? I once fell victim to a brand I never thought I would… Miller Lite.
“The World May Never Know”
Admit it, Tootsie Rolls probably didn’t rank very high on your “favorite candy” list as a kid. In fact, you found the massive cluster of them at the bottom of your Halloween candy basket slightly disappointing. Tootsie Pops, on the other hand, were a step up. And with advertising like this, how could you not love them?
A Case Study on Nostalgic Advertising: Chili’s
Chili’s restaurant was never something to write home about but it is the epitome of consistency and comfort. You know what to expect when you walk into a Chili’s, and until this moment, you probably thought you had their brand all figured out.
The Era of the Don Drapers
If you’ve seen AMC’s Mad Men, you’ve probably wondered how to get a job in advertising—STAT. All jokes aside, the series paints a picture of advertising on Madison Avenue in the 1960’s complete with groundbreaking creative pitches, luxurious client dinners, and never-ending happy hours (seriously, all day long). It was a time when creative executives reigned supreme and the copy machine was considered a breakthrough piece of technology.
How “Ted Lasso” is Changing Americans’ Relationship with Soccer
You may have grown up bickering with your sisters and brothers over who got to play the next FIFA match on the PlayStation. Maybe you spent your Saturday mornings kicking around a soccer ball at youth soccer games (without knowing what you were doing, of course). Admit it; you tried watching the World Cup… before switching the channel after a few minutes of sheer indifference.
Chickens Can Take Selfies Now?
Texas-based egg company, Vital Farms, takes a “no BS” approach in their new ad campaign from agency Preacher. It’s called “Hens Behind the Lens,” and it features a pressure-sensor camera in their farm’s pasture which allows the chickens to literally take selfies with every peck on the sensor.
How the Pandemic Impacted Consumer Behavior
The understatement of the year—the pandemic has changed the world as we know it. It’s no secret. You know it, I know it, and brands know it, too. In order to brave the storm of the pandemic, brands have had to change their tune in order to cater to the everchanging nature of consumer attitudes.
Holiday Season Ads: Upgraded
It’s that time of year again—holiday shopping ads flood our mailbox, pop up on our social media, and stream endlessly on commercial breaks. While some of those big brand advertisements can feel inauthentic, materialistic, and profit-focused, Etsy’s “Give More than a Gift” campaign does just the opposite.
Instagram Privacy Policy for Youth Users
With the rise of popularity among social media, more and more youth users are downloading apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. While one may hope these platforms will be teen-friendly, inappropriate content can still find its way onto the screens of younger users.
Kindergarten Enrollment Trend 2020
Some of the most fundamental lessons learned in pre-K or kindergarten reside in social interactions. However, with a pandemic causing social distancing and restrictions, allowing kindergarteners to learn how to share a toy or wait their turn in line virtually became a challenge. As a result, over the past year, parents may have questioned the value of sending their children to an online school.
Back To School Spending Increase
Whether it is the excitement of getting out of the house back to somewhat normalcy or whatever the explanation may be, the National Retail Federation estimates that the “total back-to-school spending is expected to reach a record of $37.1 billion.”
Pandemic Pets
To stay busy during quarantine, we saw a spike in trends such as TikTok dances, tie-dye kits and bread baking. However, the quarantine puppy (or pet) is one trend, in particular, that remains pertinent to this day.
Zoom Game Night
Hellooo, can you guys hear me?
Can you see my screen? (*queue wrong browser screen shared)
Nice to meet you virtually!
From meetings to office happy hours and family gatherings, as Zoom took off within the last year, many found themselves all too familiar with the platform.
IOC Campaign #Strongertogether For 2021 Olympics
With speculation over the safety and possibility of holding the 2021 Tokyo Olympics this summer, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) needed to find a way to garner support for the highly anticipated games. In response, they released the #StrongerTogether campaign to remind the world of the inspiration that comes every four years at the Olympic games.
Looking to Watch the Olympic Games? NBC Has You Covered
After over a year of hardships, loss and most importantly, rebuilding, the Tokyo Olympics will be held this summer 2021. However, this year the games will look a little different as fans and spectators from other nations will not be attending in person. While the world is trying its best to return to a cross between the “old normal” and “new normal,” who can blame the Olympics for making this decision in hopes of continuing to move forward?
2021 Dry Olympic Games
As we’ve discussed the advertisements leading up to the games and how you can watch them from your home, it is only fitting to cover what the games will look like for those given the opportunity to attend.
Aside from setting the capacity limitations at 50% and permitting only domestic viewers in person, the IOC has updated a new restriction on the games surrounding alcohol sales.