Then you need the Beer Beard. A secret beer dispenser with a patented 'chilly-tek' bladder.
It makes awkward public stares & social stigma a thing of the past. The complete facial refreshment solution!
Available here.
The Beer Beard
Ever find yourself walking the dog, doing some DIY or taking a paddle down your local waterway thinking, I'd love an inconspicuous but refreshing drink of cold beer?
Then you need the Beer Beard. A secret beer dispenser with a patented 'chilly-tek' bladder.
It makes awkward public stares & social stigma a thing of the past. The complete facial refreshment solution!
Available here.
Then you need the Beer Beard. A secret beer dispenser with a patented 'chilly-tek' bladder.
It makes awkward public stares & social stigma a thing of the past. The complete facial refreshment solution!
Available here.
Bill Bernbach Said #56
Number 56 in our Bernbach series...
“You’ve got to live with your product. You’ve got to get steeped in it. You’ve got to get saturated in it. You must get to the heart of it. Indeed, if you have not crystallised into a single purpose, a single theme, what you want to tell the reader, you cannot be creative.”
Read all of the previous Bernbach Said posts here.
Bill Bernbach Said #55
Number 55 in our Bernbach series...
“Because an appeal makes logical sense is no guarantee that it will work.”
Read all of the previous Bernbach Said posts here.
Colonel Sanders on "What's My Line?"
This isn't some sort of bizarre spoof. It's an episode of "What's My Line" from way back in '63.
Seems incredible that there was a time when the iconic "Colonel" [and man most associated with having his face on a bucket] ever went unrecognised.
For those who can't be arsed to watch all the way through, my favourite question in this clip come at 4mins 15 seconds.
Panellist: "It is used at cocktail parties, Colonel?"
Col. Sanders: "Yes, it could be".
That's some classy cocktail party, Colonel.
Anyhow, the whole thing made me realise again what a great advertising property "Finger Lickin' Good" was. Also made me wonder how he always kept his suits so spotlessly white what with all that fried chicken around.
Bartles & Jaymes
As readers of our blog, you might have guessed by now that we're big fans of the good old-fashioned craft values of advertising. It's also no secret that we're big fans of unashamedly putting a product centre stage loud and proud in any piece of creative work.
Here's some brutally simple but highly engaging and charming commercials from the U.S.A. that Hal Riney did for Bartles & Jaymes from a bygone age where great casting, great acting, great writing and great direction all made for a great campaign.
Seeing these again it struck me just how rare it is to see a campaign that is as consistently good as this these days. And actually how rare it is to see campaigns that build over time. The tendency amongst agencies is to always chase the new and reinvent the wheel every time. Hence brands seem to be on treadmill on churning out a series of different executions rather than trying to invest in something that works over the medium to long term.
There are probably many reasons why this is the case [and that's the subject of another post] but I think the one contributing factor is that it's seen as unfashionable and uncool to write ads where the product is absolutely the undisputed hero. Or where you are open about the fact that you are flogging something to an audience.
These ads are over 25 years old but I'm convinced that if they ran today they would still cut through any commercial break and be equally effective.
"And thank you very much for your support" as Mr Bartles said at the end of every ad. Or was that Mr Jaymes?
Here's some brutally simple but highly engaging and charming commercials from the U.S.A. that Hal Riney did for Bartles & Jaymes from a bygone age where great casting, great acting, great writing and great direction all made for a great campaign.
Seeing these again it struck me just how rare it is to see a campaign that is as consistently good as this these days. And actually how rare it is to see campaigns that build over time. The tendency amongst agencies is to always chase the new and reinvent the wheel every time. Hence brands seem to be on treadmill on churning out a series of different executions rather than trying to invest in something that works over the medium to long term.
There are probably many reasons why this is the case [and that's the subject of another post] but I think the one contributing factor is that it's seen as unfashionable and uncool to write ads where the product is absolutely the undisputed hero. Or where you are open about the fact that you are flogging something to an audience.
These ads are over 25 years old but I'm convinced that if they ran today they would still cut through any commercial break and be equally effective.
"And thank you very much for your support" as Mr Bartles said at the end of every ad. Or was that Mr Jaymes?
Today's Reading: Ad Contrarian On Age In Advertising
Bob Hoffman has written an excellent piece on the stupidity of advertising's obsession with youth. Read it here.
We Do Have An Old Dog
Our latest good old-fashioned print ad for our good friends at Fentimans. Well, you can't teach an old new tricks, as they say.
The Raven Typography
Some clever typography for a sunny Monday morning. The UK poster for the movie The Raven. Great bit of smartness to use the raven image in the negative space of the A and V. The US version looks like a Ralph Steadman illustration (I'm a huge fan of Ralph's work), but I read somewhere that it's not by him, just a rip-off of his style, anyone know if that's true?
Bill Bernbach Said #54
Number 54 in our Bernbach series...
“A unique selling proposition is no longer enough. Without a unique selling talent it may die.”
Read all of the previous Bernbach Said posts here.
Happy Birthday Delicious Blog!
A big Sell! Towers happy birthday to the Delicious Industries blog. Four years of inspiration and visual goodness. Keep up the good work! Why not pop over and say Happy Birthday?
Bill Bernbach Said #53
Number 53 in our Bernbach series...
“Logic and over analysis can immobilise and sterilise an idea. It’s like love – the more you analyse it the faster it disappears.”
Read all of the previous Bernbach Said posts here.
Start Strong For Upper Crust
If you’re feeling a little peckish, apologies for what’s about to follow. Our new campaign to promote Upper Crust’s fine breakfast fayre launched last week in around London. From an advertising point of view it's an unusual project because, let's face it, a bacon sarnie sells itself, doesn't it?
The problem for bacon-based food sellers is that most of us are generally trying to be healthy in the morning. But the truth (and the basis for this campaign) is, nothing really sets you up for the day like a proper, hot meaty breakfast. You feel like you can take on the day better with a belly full of bacon sarnie, rather than a sad little pot of cold, damp muesli.
We put the product front and centre with really great shots of the food - we brought in Gareth Morgans, a true master in the art of food photography, to temp the eyes. I believe the saying is something like “The first bite is with the eyes”? In this case my eyes ate the whole thing and have gone back for seconds.
The campaign consists of morning newspaper strips, six-sheet posters, and radio commercials running in the morning - starring the always fantastic Mr Peter Serafinowicz.
Newspaper ads...
Six sheet posters...
Radio commercials...
The problem for bacon-based food sellers is that most of us are generally trying to be healthy in the morning. But the truth (and the basis for this campaign) is, nothing really sets you up for the day like a proper, hot meaty breakfast. You feel like you can take on the day better with a belly full of bacon sarnie, rather than a sad little pot of cold, damp muesli.
We put the product front and centre with really great shots of the food - we brought in Gareth Morgans, a true master in the art of food photography, to temp the eyes. I believe the saying is something like “The first bite is with the eyes”? In this case my eyes ate the whole thing and have gone back for seconds.
The campaign consists of morning newspaper strips, six-sheet posters, and radio commercials running in the morning - starring the always fantastic Mr Peter Serafinowicz.
Newspaper ads...
Six sheet posters...
Radio commercials...
Bill Bernbach Said #52
Number 52 in our Bernbach series, and one of my favourites. Obviously in this quote, Bill’s ‘today’ is in the sixties or seventies, but it feels more relevant now that ever before...
“Today, everybody is talking ‘Creativity,’ and frankly, that’s got me worried. I fear lest we keep the good taste and lose the sell. I fear all the sins we may commit in the name of ‘Creativity.’ I fear that we may be entering an age of phonies.”
Read all of the previous Bernbach Said posts here.
WTF QR Codes
By now everyone who hasn't been lobotomised knows that QR codes are pretty much pointless. In fact, when used in advertising they actively communicate a sense of futile desperation on the part of the people involved. But still, they appear. Now there is a website dedicated to the tip of the pointless iceberg. Have a look here.
VIA RUBBISHCORP
VIA RUBBISHCORP
World Book Day Advertising Reading List
It's world book day. So today we've all come to the office dressed as our favourite literary characters. But apart from that, it got us to thinking about a list of books that advertising people should read/have read. Obviously everyone should be reading stimulating and interesting stuff all the time anyway, but what about specifically around the subject of advertising. Here’s our shot at a list, some are good thinking, some because they inspire us, and some just because:
What's the big idea? George Lois
Inside Collett Dickenson Pearce. John Ritchie & John Salmon
Ogilvy On Advertising. David Ogilvy
Remember Those Great Volkswagen Ads? Alfredo Marcantonio
The Book Of Gossage. Howard Luck Gossage
Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite. Paul Arden
Hey Whipple, Squeeze This. Luke Sullivan
Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind. Al Ries & Jack Trout
Truth, Lies & Advertising. Jon Steel
Up The Agency. Peter Mayle
Madscam. George Parker
101 Contrarian Ideas About Advertising. Bob Hoffman
Helmut Krone. The Book. Clive Challis
A Technique For Producing Ideas. James Webb Young
And here's a couple that we haven't read yet, but are on the list:
From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor. Jerry Della Femina
Ally & Gargano. Amil Gargano
Creative Mischief. Dave Trott
Any more suggestions?
What's the big idea? George Lois
Inside Collett Dickenson Pearce. John Ritchie & John Salmon
Ogilvy On Advertising. David Ogilvy
Remember Those Great Volkswagen Ads? Alfredo Marcantonio
The Book Of Gossage. Howard Luck Gossage
Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite. Paul Arden
Hey Whipple, Squeeze This. Luke Sullivan
Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind. Al Ries & Jack Trout
Truth, Lies & Advertising. Jon Steel
Up The Agency. Peter Mayle
Madscam. George Parker
101 Contrarian Ideas About Advertising. Bob Hoffman
Helmut Krone. The Book. Clive Challis
A Technique For Producing Ideas. James Webb Young
And here's a couple that we haven't read yet, but are on the list:
From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor. Jerry Della Femina
Ally & Gargano. Amil Gargano
Creative Mischief. Dave Trott
Any more suggestions?