In 1946 Charlie Wohlford, leveraging his reputation for repairing Canadian loggers' boots to better than new, founded
Dayton Boots. The company emphasized quality and grew largely on word of mouth. In 2010 they hired
Rethink Canada for an ad campaign.
The result was interesting.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker
on Apr 17, 2011 -
81 comments
He was elected at the nadir of the worst depression in history; 25% of the workforce was unemployed, two million were homeless. Yet in the face of this, he made us an optimistic and far-reaching New Deal, creating among other programs a federal minimum wage, social security, and the FDIC. He pulled us out of dire financial straits and, when our country was called upon to fight in World War II, he brought us to the cusp of victory. In his unprecedented thirteen years in office, he cemented his undisputed legacy as one of the greatest presidents in American history. But before he could achieve any of this, Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a promise to keep — a promise to the "wet vote," whose indispensable support he had
called upon in 1932 during his first presidential campaign when he promised to repeal the
18th Amendment and end
Prohibition. And thus, as legend has it, immediately after his
first fireside chat from the White House in March 1933, Roosevelt turned to his two top aides and said, "
I think it's time for a beer." And
yes, indeed,
it was.
[more inside]
posted by churl
on Dec 5, 2009 -
32 comments
"
How do black women fight crime? They have abortions." "
How do you stop a poofter from drowning? You take your foot off his head." These and other 'jokes' featured in an advertisement on
The Gruen Transfer, an Australian television program focusing on advertising. The ad, part of a segment called 'The Pitch' which usually produces humorous ads, was banned by the ABC, but the national broadcaster has still allowed it to be viewed online, and hundreds have now seen it. The ad was designed to sell "fat pride", with creator Adam Hunt explaining his motivation behind the ad being to say "if you discriminate against somebody on the basis of their shape then you are no different to someone who is racist, homophobic or anti-Semitic."
Debate has raged online if the ad is offensive and discriminatory, as the ABC has declared, and whether or not it was effective.
Watch the ad and judge for yourself.
posted by Effigy2000
on May 15, 2009 -
157 comments
Ever secretly harbor a dream to create slick promos for pharmaceutical companies? Have at it, both in
TV and
print form. (Via
Adfreaks)
posted by Weebot
on Aug 14, 2008 -
25 comments
DO NOT click the YouTube link contained in this FPP if you DO NOT want to see an ADVERTISEMENT. The link is to an ADVERTISEMENT. Not viral or whatever, just a plain, old-fashioned, straight-up ADVERTISEMENT. They want to sell you some sugary crap that might make you fat. But it stars Mr. T. In a TANK. And it's funny. But it's an ADVERTISEMENT. You have been warned.
HERE IT IS.
posted by flapjax at midnite
on May 23, 2007 -
107 comments
Hummer Ad strikes all the wrong notes. Tofu-eater feels insecure upon seeing an unrepentant meat-muncher, goes buys a Hummer to 'Restore the balance' (previous tagline: 'Restore your manhood'.) Somehow the ad agency forgot that you're supposed to get the message of "Feeling Down on Yourself? Buy Our Product, Show it Off, You'll Feel Better!" across
subtly, not explicitly.
posted by Firas
on Aug 15, 2006 -
107 comments
Ads (*.wmv) for the Isuzu Gemini. Shot without special effects.
posted by driveler
on Dec 30, 2005 -
59 comments
This Spanish commercial for Madrid's Metro system uses a cool visual device, making the ground transparent and showing the view from the subway, like a glass bottom boat in reverse.
note: link contains embedded wmv
posted by jonson
on Dec 15, 2005 -
26 comments
Rabbit's animated journey through the history of (mostly American) cinema is a wonderful cartoon
and, unfortunately, an ad for Motorola. Link goes to embedded quicktime, very slow loading.
posted by jonson
on Nov 29, 2005 -
7 comments
British Adidas commercial (warning QT direct link) featuring soccer players on a field made only of the chalk outlines, floating in a void. I'm guessing this won't get shown in the U.S. due to the relative low profile soccer has here, but it's a great spot. More on the "making of"
here.
posted by jonson
on Jul 29, 2005 -
57 comments
This is, quite possibly, the funniest TV spot for an independent videogame retailer I've ever seen. Not that there are many out there (funny ones, I mean). There's more
here and
here. (via
Joystiq, requires QT)
posted by riffraff
on Jan 27, 2005 -
16 comments
