Jeweler Says Intelligence Isn't Everything

Now here's an ad that made Adrants reader Stacy initially go, "Huh?" The headline reads, "I found it's nice being noticed for something other than my intelligence," which caused Stacy to ask, "What the f#@??!!" While there was concern for a moment that advertising had returned to the classic days of woman-as-homemaker-in-front-of-the-refrigerator, a visit to the web address (screen shot) in the ad explained the woman was simply happy to be noticed for something other than her less-than-glamorous nursing scrubs look when she wore a Silpada necklace to work one day and then decided to sell the stuff, resulting in her quitting her job and making tons of money. The moral of the story? "Get noticed for your brains and your beauty." Oh, and sell lots of Silpada jewelry too.

Campaign Says Exposure to Other's Work Yields Great Creativity

Following its belief that exposing oneself to great ads from other advertising professionals will better one's own creativity, Ad of the World, with help from JWT Bangkok, has launched a promotional campaign that highlights how copying...uh...acknowledging others great creative will results in great creative of one's own.

To be fair, inspiration is a powerful motivator that fuels creativity. knowing what others have done and why helps align one's own creative thinking and, ideally, fosters new, original creativity along the way. The campaign visually illustrates how exposure to, and mashup of, great creative can produce interesting results. We're not sure about that twisted pig, though. See the entire campaign here.

Crocs Now Slipper of Choice for NFL and NHL

Brentter recently let us know that Crocs just inked a deal with the NFL and NHL. The liaison includes team-branded shoes for all 32 NFL teams and all 30 NHL teams.

Crocs depends on word-of-mouth to get its initiatives out in the open. Somebody's got to be buying them because they're all over the place but all the culprits keep them well-hidden. We'll admit on a recent trip to the beach that we bought a pair after a recommendation and found them strangely soothing. But couldn't they go just a little out of their way to make them look more like these?

Some Americans Still Appreciate A Good Dumb Blond Joke

While America might have had its chauvinistic nuts cut off by politically correct extremist who can't take a joke when they see one, other countries are still, happily, appreciating a good 'ol dumb blond joke courtesy of Mercedes Benz who think there's nothing wrong with ordering a fast food meal from a librarian.

Though America might have undergone an unfortunate castration, humor is alive and well under the radar and vigorously appreciated as illustrated by this ad having been sent to us by the very blond and very smart wife of Adrants reader Roy Coffman.

Marketers Keep Flailing Over Pigskin Price Tag, Bill Green Offers SOS

Running on the momentum of his :30 Super Bowl Showstopper Guarantee, Bill at Make the Logo Bigger asks the question we all wonder as we write out the checks, but don't want to ask for fear of looking uncool:

With the hype around the Super Bowl, are the (very expensive) ads worth it to marketers? Find out at the Reuters panel on Wednesday the 24th at 11 AM, The Reuters Building, 3 Times Square.

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Contextual Corrigendums Less Likely Offline

Flickr user rcrowley informs us contextual advertising has leaped off the webpage and into the real world. Since he currently has a small cold, he headed over to Walgreen's to pick up some Dayquil. He noticed the top of the bottle was affixed with a sticker that read "Need Facial Tissue?"

While we're down on contextual advertising at times, were thinking it's less likely we'll see a turpentine ad affixed to the toe tag of a teen who died from drinking turpentine than a similar instance online. Good old, human-controlled advertising to the rescue.

University Wants Ad Agency on Campus

Here's an intriguing proposition. Kean University of NJ is building a new building and wants an advertising agency or design studio as a tenant. Since we all know academia doesn't properly prepare those interested in advertising for the realities of the business, setting an actual agency right next to classrooms might not be a bad idea. Called the Design Center Building, the building would be about six stories and would also house retail businesses such as: a digital printing company, a full service bank, a restaurant, and a Barnes and Noble Super Store with Starbucks. If you're interested in doing something different and want to check this out, call Rose Gonnella, design department professor at 908-737-4432 or email here at rgonnell@kean.edu.

TBWA's Chuck McBride 'Murders' Co-Workers, Leaves Agency

Oh this is beyond good. This is genius. If we could all leave our jobs this way, a career in advertising would be a very satisfying experience. Imagine getting back at all your idiotic asshole co-workers you had to deal with during your stay at the agency. Imagine pulling a knife on that fat ass, know-it-all account director that made you do all his work. Imagine cutting the nads of that smarmy jerk in accounting who couldn't keep his eyes off your breasts. Of course, they are huge and bulging out of your cleavage-enhancing tops all the time but that's besides the point. Imagine TBWA\CHIAT\DAY Executive Creative Director Chuck McBride murdering all the employees in the San Francisco before he leaves to start his own agency. Imagine...oh wait...it's just a spoof YouTube video. Everything's going to be OK.

Sound Effects Get Big Breaks, Creative Directors Should Too

For Recruit Ireland, agencies Head Gear in Toronto and Chemistry Dublin create Beep and Creak, two took-for-granted everyday noises who depart answering machines and door hinges in favour of the big-time. Now Beep censors F-bombs and Creak adds a creepy extra something to coffin doors.

If your lowly house noises can pursue the bigger picture, why not you? Just one catch. To use Recruit Ireland, you have to beep and creak in a twang. And it's too bad we're not Irish considering even our employment boards have been bit by the consumer-gen bug. You know what would be awesome? A little bit of beep and creak for some Creative Directors. Because we need new ones. Badly.

Madison Avenue Crap Avoided With Madscam's No Bullshit Advice

Part way through reading George Parker's new book, MadScam: Kick-Ass Advertising Without the Madison Avenue Price Tag, we informed George we had found the perfect coaster for our scotch. Amused, he agreed but told us to get off our ass and read the book. We did. And we can whole heartedly tell you you should too. With or without a glass of scotch. The man has things to say and things you won't hear from your average "I'm a hot shit marketer and everything I say is gold" flatulence. The man has been through it all and he has no problem telling marketers they don't need Madison Avenue for all their marketing needs.

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