Fact is stranger than fiction

Kiddicare sponsor the Katie and Peter reality TV show, showing male and female hands 'bickering' over their products on a sparkly pink laptop.

And now the real-life couple have announced their separation.

There's always a risk when you associate your brand with a celeb. You just don't know what they might do that impacts your marketing.

Happy Birthday To You

M&S is celebrating 125 years with a great ad – the story of their achievements, as told by Twiggy.



Read all about it at www.guardian.co.uk

Meanwhile, Sainsbury's is celebrating 140 years by offering half-price cava.

Company birthdays are a great opportunity for PR.

Dear Sainsbury's. Must try harder.

First there was the Dulux dog...

Now, there are the Durex dogs!



Watch the video on YouTube.

Warning: adult content.

Frog Mob.

Video by YouTube.
Ad by Sky.
Kit by Diving Leisure London (my dive club).

Moral of the story: Providing props can provide good PR.

To be honest

Ginsters is running a radio ad campaign packed with pithy one-liners.

Example:

"My sister suffers from vertigo. I like to phone her up to say 'hi'."

The idea is that their food is filled with good stuff to fill you up.

Trouble is, their slogan is "Real honest food".

So why not construct an ad around honesty?

That would be more consistent with the brand.

Listen to the ads here (although they may have been removed for breaking copyright, ha ha!).

Talking about the ads on 'Talking Retail'.

Should've gone to Croydon

Agency: "Ad opens on a Caribbean beach..."
Client: "Not sure we can afford that. How about Croydon?"
Agency: "Oh, OK then."

Advertising Demoliti..
Watch the ad...

Any other bright-eyed viewers recognise that the Specsavers 'Fairview' building is Croydon's Fairfield Halls?



Well done to the Croydon Film Commission for selling it as a location.

Today's lesson: Set a budget and stick to it.

I don't drink tea. Yuk!

I had a part-time job when I was 16, serving 450 employees in the Allders of Croydon staff canteen. I had to make tea in an industrial-sized tea-urn, using industrial-sized tea-bags, and the smell of it got up my nose, in my hair and in my clothes. I haven't been able to drink any kind of tea since. Yuk!

However, I do recognise the important part that tea-drinking plays in British (and worldwide) culture. And I do acknowledge the 'art' that's involved in making the perfect cuppa.

So I admit I really like the Twinings 'art of tea' ads.

Nothing will convince me to drink the stuff though. Yuk.

The Art of Tea with ..
Watch the ad...

Read about the ads on Talking Retail.

P.S. What can we learn from this? That some people will never buy your product, no matter what you do!