Nothing redeeming about Old Navy this season as the manikins get all doped up for the holidays. 



I don't know what's going on here and I don't wanna find out. 

All I had to do was see the manikins and then hear screaming and I was done. 

commercials, holidays, retail, tv
Posted by lee sachs at 9:17 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From the windows of a display at Fresh cosmetics, the holiday shopping message is clear.  It is not enough to just give for the holidays...!   * * G I V E   M O R E ! ! ! * *

holidays
Posted by lee sachs at 4:47 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This from Harry & David...


Awww c'mon!!!  Let's review: holiday copywriting is for boneheads.  Pluck a catchphrase, lyric or some shred of yule-know-what and stick your product name in there. 

food, holidays, visual merchandising
Posted by lee sachs at 12:01 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The GAP reminds us that it's not above giving and receiving for the holidays...

It's  * * W A N T I N G * *

holidays, outdoor, The Gap
Posted by lee sachs at 4:35 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Here's a a twist on the "Drink Responsibly" warning from the smooth, chill folks at Grey Goose.  In a commercial, lots of tasteful images of sailing, golf, jazz in black and white...with some legalese in the last few shots...what is that???




The final frame tells it all:



You think these people want you to sip this stuff??  They spent all this money on the fancy commercial with the sailboat and the golfing!  NO WAY GOOSEY GREY!!!

They say:

"Drink LOTS of this stuff!!  Drink an AWFUL lot!!  But don't say we TOLD you to drink that much!  We said, "SIP IT!!" 

AHHH....NOW look what you went and did!!"

alcohol, liquor, tv
Posted by lee sachs at 12:09 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Let's review: There is no logical connection between these 2 sentences. 



It's like saying...

apple computer, beatles, electronics
Posted by lee sachs at 5:28 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Holidays.  Kris Kringle.  Red and Green.  Boughs of holly.  Red and Green and Red and Green Red and Green until you puke!  So why not make EVERYTHING red and green?!?! 

Even the sign for flu shots....SEASONAL flu shots that is. 



Why didn't they just say:

"Get your FLU shot so you can FLY down the Chimney FLUE with Santa!!"

copy for copy's sake, holidays
Posted by lee sachs at 12:14 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From this vegetarian/falafel type place which actually is damn good, I must admit.>> Maoz

But the name?  What's it mean?  Let's have them explain it to us.




Uhm, like, it was Amsterdam. 

1991. 

I dunno, it was the best we could come up with, 'cuz we had been smoking opiated Nepalese hash for 6 weeks straight.   

branding, food, Moaz
Posted by lee sachs at 3:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

• I have 3 questions about the juxtaposition of this hand sanitizer/ad poster display in a pizza joint:

• Why would I want to sanitize my hands before, during or after eating pizza? 
• Does the office space they're advertising include washrooms, or do they just have hand sanitizers in the hallways?
• Why is Barack Obama's cousin, Otto Obama, making a phone call? 

metaphor on a limb, outdoor, stock photos
Posted by lee sachs at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Let's review: Stories are NOT GIFTS! 




Yes, the holidays are fast approaching and that means...holiday cups and sleeves from Starbucks!!  Wary of these recessionary times, The Mocha Monstrosity suggests we don't even buy something for the holidays.  Just tell a story!!  

"Once upon a time, I didn't have any money. And I couldn't get you a Christmas present.  So now I'm telling you a story.  The End."

food, holidays, starbucks
Posted by lee sachs at 4:59 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This from a candy counter at the neighborhood multiplex:



Seems like the kind of thing you don't advertise.  You just have to know to ask at the counter for some junk, "Yo, yo, yo....frozen horse?  Chill smack??!"

food movie theater
Posted by lee sachs at 11:54 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Marketing Madness is EVERYWHERE!  You see this kinda stuff all the time and think nothing of it.  Then you ask yourself:

WHY DO THESE MANIKINS HAVE HALF A HEAD!?!?


Did the manikin makers feel kinda' nasty one day.  "Fred, I'm damn tired of doing the full-headed ones.  We did all sorta' headless, from-the-neck down jobs.  What about cutting right here!!

But they left the nose...a tiny, humiliating nib of definition to suggest, at one time, there may very well have been a face on this chap.

manikins, visual merchandising, window displays
Posted by lee sachs at 11:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Continuing the Progressive Nightmare.  Let's review: Super-clean, scary-white store with a saleslady jumping out of her skin.  Now about that store.  

This place is so absurd, it's like a dream, it's surreal.  We've never seen anything like this. 









Or have we?  Why yes!  George Lucas's 1971 sci-fi flick "THX-1138" about a dystopian future in which control is exerted on people through omnipresent, faceless, android police officers and mandatory use of special drugs to suppress emotion. (courtesy of Wikipedia)

commercials, product mascot, Progressive Insurance
Posted by lee sachs at 11:29 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This just left me speechless.



Even figuring it's for one of those local hyper perky morning shows where news people happy talk themselves into a frenzy...this is a stretch.   Even allowing that this is part of a campaign of posters on the train...does it help if you see more than one of these?

TV, video
Posted by lee sachs at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Just another insurance company and another irritating, annoying personality.  There are two things wrong here and SHE is one of them.  In this super-clean and scary-white store there's a salesperson who is helpful and funny and cheerful!   Yippee!!

How is it helpful to have some hyper-bubbly, eye-popping, chortle-forcing floozy in your face?!  Back off honey...let me shop in peace.  In fact...let me out of the store.  (later...we'll get to the "Store")

commercials, insurance, personality, product mascot
Posted by lee sachs at 12:05 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

How sad does your life have to be to get excited about "Gluten-Free Dreams?"

food, groceries, packaging
Posted by lee sachs at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)