On Sunday night’s episode of Celebrity Apprentice (“Raising the Steaks”) contestants were challenged to create occasion-specific meals using Omaha Steaks products.  The entire episode featured Omaha Steaks products and paraphernalia, not to mention celebrities singing the brand’s praises.  It was amazing!

A few years ago, we wrote about the remarkable transformation of the Omaha Steaks brand position and all of the work that went into it.  We love our clients and are proud that “Oma-Ha Steaks” is receiving such great national recognition!

Sidenote: What dd|a spent countless hours researching and carefully crafting, celebrity contestant Gary Busey took to new heights about 15 minutes into the episode by suggesting a Father’s Day kite… “And on the kite it says ‘Heartland Quality Omaha Steaks Since 1917.’” Genius.

We needed to have a little fun with that and see it come to fruition:

We may not be celebrities, but we’re pleased to see our work getting the star treatment.

When I think of my experiences of IKEA stores in America and England, I often think of interesting home furnishing designs. I also often recollect the one-track maze of the floor layout, which forces you to navigate the entire store. Moreover, I recall the Sunday afternoon amusement park atmosphere brought about by hordes of families making their way to the fun fair that is the children’s section. What I did not think about is a store full of cats. Until now. The ad agency Mother has developed a beguiling ad for IKEA that has given my perspective of the store a new dynamic. It is a fabulous work of video production and I feel certain will connect with the target audience. Be sure to watch the longer “making of” video below as well. I’d love to be able to say to a client, “What would happen if [insert odd scenario]? Let’s just try it!”

Nike ran its first commercial with shamed golfer, Tiger Woods, and perhaps not surprisingly opted to continue commercially with the rehabilitation track Woods started on for his own personal sake. If you didn’t click on the TV spot link above, do so now and watch the 30 second ad. It’s the only way to appreciate this pivotal moment in the resurrection of Tiger Woods celebrity star. And just so you know, the voice is Tiger Woods’ deceased father.

I think the Tiger Woods/Earl Woods ad has the potential to be genuinely moving. Sure, Woods was probably instructed by the director to look sorrowful, but it was well done and appears honest. It is a valid and valiant attempt at contrite introspection … if you were a normal chap. Unfortunately, … (more…)

Luscious lips. A kissable mouth. A sensuous smile. Advertisers are now exploring the potency of physical attraction to compel consumers towards their products. Recently, Diageo approached the bio-statistician Dr. Kendra Schmid of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, as Diageo looked to perfect their Baileys brand “Listen to your lips” campaign; selecting lips that had the most, well, sex appeal.

Dr. Schmid is uniquely qualified to help having developed cutting edge research on the science of attraction, including identifying the characteristics that identify faces and lips to which we are most attracted. (more…)

I almost exclusively watch T.V. shows online, either on hulu.com or a network’s Web site. I am never at home when shows are typically aired and I like the format of short 30 to 15 second ads rather than 2 minute blocks that interrupt the show you are watching. The commercial that was constantly on was a new advertising spot for Frito Lays’ healthy line of snack food.

This advertising is directed exclusively at women. The segments end with a little flag that says “only in a woman’s world.”

I have to admit when I first saw these commercials I was offended. I think that so often advertisers end up talking at women rather then developing a conversation with them. I also think that advertisers play to the typical stereotypes about men and women. See Stuart’s previous blog post “Men are stupid and women are scheming” here and then watch Webisode 7, where the husband is played as well meaning but stupid and the wife as harried yet indulgent. I don’t see myself in these ads. (more…)