Quote of the Year

OK, it's only May, but still.

Lee Clow on new media and agencies' ability to deal with it:

"If you want to participate, you've got to start hiring young people. And don't tell them what to do -- ask them what to do."

Here's the entire article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/business/media/30adco.html?scp=2&sq=stuart+elliott&st=nyt

Schwarma

I was in Ottawa on a production this week and had Schwarma, which is hummus, garlic mayonnaise, chicken, rice, potatoes, salad, pickled vegetables, all thrown together on one plate.

Schwarma is not any one thing. It's a lot of things. It tries to be all things to all people.

Which got me to thinking.

A lot of brands are like Schwarma. They don't commit to any one thing. They commit to several things in the hope that one thing sticks.

I think a lot of brands (and agencies for that matter) would be better off being just the hummus. Or even the pickled vegetables.

Think Schwarma, corporate America.

Top 10 Ineffective Agency Names

I've been gone for a while and for that, I apologize. But I'm back, with an impressive 100 Words Blog Entry: 10 Ineffective Names For An Ad Agency. They are:

1. Greater Akron Unit Shifters
2. The Most Hospitable Folks In Marketing
3. Pasquesi Plumbing
4. The Quarrymen
5. Traditional!
6. Larger Logos
7. Awards, Inc.
8. Marketing Sparks
9. Blueberry Tadpole
10. Commerce

Actually, that last one sounds kind of cool.

By the way, why that guy above? I don't know....he just seems ineffective.