Technique: "Mud, Inc. Goes Out of Business
By Todd Brashear
My wife and I have a running joke. I take that back; technically, it's more like a series of humorous observations. Everywhere we go, we point out the incredibly bad brand names in one particular industry, the most egregious offenders of all that is good and right about branding. The fingernail industry.
Not the high-toned day spas where manicures cost $50. I'm talking about the hole-in-the-wall places crammed between Salmonella Burgers and Mediocre Cleaners. Look around, you�ll find �Nail Focus,� �Nails, Etc.,� �Nails Now,� �Nails R Us,� and �Glamour Nails.� There�s �Nice Nails,� �Hard as Nails� and �Nails To Go.� (Really? I can get them �to go?� I thought I�d just leave �em.) "
Technique: "First Y2K, Now This
By Michelle Owens
Well, John Kerry has finally chosen a running mate, The Olympic torch is getting closer to Athens and McDonald's(R) is gearing up to sell another 6.4 gazillion Big Macs(R). So what do any of these have to do with the price of rice in China, you might ask? The "quadrennial effect" is what. "Huh," you say? My sentiments, exactly. I initially thought this was a cheap marketing ploy to sell more ads, but it turns out to be a full-blown, legitimate phenomenon. "
Technique: "One Time Just Isn't Enough
By Karen Hansen
You know the ad with the old guy dancing by the bus?
I would guess most of you are now chuckling, humming "We like to Party" by the Vengaboys and visualizing the old guy getting his groove on. Whether you see it on television or hear it on the radio, the first thing you remember is the dancing guy and Six Flags(R). It's not just a coincidence. The use of this character and the theme song make this campaign easily recognizable. The consistency of this character and the repetition of the ads on television, radio, outdoor, online and in print make it unforgettable. "