Monthly Archives: September, 2009

News
Direct and transparent mail marketing
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Are you a marketer that can’t be bothered with the un-fun fiddly bits of a large-scale direct mail campaign? New Zealand Post Targeted Communications to the rescue with the launch of DM One.

DM One is an all-in-one solution for print, data, mailhouse and lodgement services that lets advertisers …

News
Effies for cardboard signs?
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Those señors of shrewd comment, Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics, have compiled a selection of cardboard signs from Flickr and ponder the secret to a sign’s success. See below for appeals to a sense of family responsibility, sobriety, revenge, romance and more.

Pic by mistermuckle

Pic by …

News
2 degrees
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Who by: TBWA. Production co.: Film Construction. Director: Steve Saussey.Who for: 2 degrees launchWhy we like it: Rhys Darby is like the nerdy version of our cool publisher Vincent Heeringa

News
100% Pure BS?
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TVNZ’s Media 7, with Russell Brown, hosted a vigorous discussion about the genius or otherwise of 100% Pure New Zealand.

On the panel were: George Hickton, chief executive of Tourism New Zealand (100% really good, he said), Good magazine’s Dave Hansford (100% total bulldust, he basically said …

News
Libraries: accessory to grand theft
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On bludger patrol

Doyen of the leftie literrati, Brian Edwards, has launched a surprising attack on that near-sacred liberal institution, the public library. In his blog yesterday, he writes:What pisses me off as an author is that for every person who buys your book, dozens of other bludgers get …

News
Fairfax faction wins boss’ fulsome scalp
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Big hair, bigger scalp

The bitterly divided Fairfax board has generated another casualty: the chairman.

Ron Walker was expected to stand for reelection at the forthcoming AGM. But in response to internal disputes which culminated in stinging public criticism from the John B Fairfax faction, Walker yesterday told the Sydney …

News
Finish the line – and win
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Can you complete this terrific little gag by Idealog cartoonist Alister Kitchen? Make us belly ache and we’ll send you a million dollars worth of Steinlager Edge. Post your entries on the comment wall.

News
Pure blonde sweet as
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Here’s a little local plug for this chuckle-worthy ad for Pure Blonde beer by Clemenger BBDO Melbourne. It was shot in Auckland and the production company was The Sweet Shop, founded in Ak by Paul Prince. The company also has offices in Sydney, London, New York, Los …

News
Cream of the crap
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We give you the good, now here’s the bad and the ugly. The Tracy Awards are like Hollywood’s Razzies, except they ‘celebrate’ lamo US print and TV ads. There are some real shockers for Pristiq anti-depressant and McDs, among others. But there’s nothing stopping you submitting a …

News
Gorgeous fruity number
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Fresh’n Fruity gets a rock’n’roll makeover in this totally cool ad by Colenso BBDO.

Dow Design did the graphic design and packaging. Lovely works, chaps.

News
$1b boost for Progressive’s Countdown brand
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Impression of flagship store in Newtown, Wellywood

In the most drawn-out brand merger of recent times Progressive Enterprises is finally merging Woolworth’s and Foodtown brands into the more popular Countdown.

The company has also committed to investing $1 billion over five years in a major spruce up of 20 …

News
Tourism NZ wants Brits to go all the way
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In the wake of New Zild winning favourite long-haul destination in UK Conde Nast Traveller recently, Tourism New Zealand is picking up ball and running with the momentum of the NZ profile.

Next month it launches a campaign specially marketed towards UK backpackers and young travellers through the STA UK …

News
The latest on TiVo, Twitter and more
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Fresh biscuits from The Media Counsel: Is the TiVo and Telecom tango an exclusive dance? Can Twitter get into the black? Who is NZ’s Donald Trump? Aussies clamp down on greenwashing. Read the pdf MediaMonitor 21-September-0The hunt is on for NZ's Donald Trump for The Apprentice Kiwi-style …

News
Vote for your fave envelope art
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The 2009 Art of the Envelope Awards September finalists are:

The Lantern MailerClient: HSBCAgency: JWTCreative: Mike Ramsay

Daylight RobberyClient: Bond and BondAgency: Draft FCBCreatives: Jane Jamieson and Leisa Wall

Koru Mountain ViewClient: Air New ZealandAgency: Trio Group / Aim ProximityCreative: Andrea Cummerfield …

Awards
Get creative at the AWARD Copy Academy
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Calling all budding writers and creatives keen to make an investment for their career – applications are open for the Australasian Writers and Art Directors Association (AWARD) Copy Academy.

Learn the nuances for writing for all types of media. Hone your skills for creating the perfect headline. Impress the hell out …

News
Genius label for Johnnie Walker ad
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Too long for a woop but too good not to include on StopPress, this six-minute ad for Johnnie Walker whisky featuring Robert Carlyle is an impressive piece of filmmaking.

Some points to spout off at dinner parties: The agency is Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) London. The film was …

News
Tops in Toronto
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In case you haven’t heard, The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls has won the Cadillac People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The TIFF description reads:In this elegantly compiled work – part biopic, part concept film, part comedy – [director] Leanne Pooley provides a …

News
Orange Monkey
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Real-life British weather presenter Emma Jesson fronts a series of ads for Monkey music sharing on Orange. Let’s hope it doesn’t give Jim Hickey any ideas.

News
Tourism NZ appoints Kevin Bowler as CEO
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Tourism New Zealand Chairman Greg Muir announced today the appointment of Kevin Bowler as its new CEO.

Mr Bowler has extensive marketing and business leadership experience spanning fast moving consumer goods, technology and media brands in New Zealand and overseas.

He is currently CEO for start-up Yahoo!Xtra, a JV …

News
Work distracts life
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Attention HR managers: ever wonder how much actual work you’re getting out of your employees? If computers rule your life, your production output is constantly hampered by distractions. See it large here and spend a few more minutes not doing whatever is it you’re paid to do.

News
Google: now we’ll fix yer crappy display ads
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Google has released  DoubleClick Ad Exchange, a new advertising service aimed at improving online display ads.

Like many of us in the online media business, Google has been concerned about the ineffectiveness of online display advertising, especially the declining value of banner, skyscraper and rectangle spaces.

When was …

News
The marshmallow test
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Psychological research never looked so cute. Our friends at Idealog alerted us to this re-enactment of the infamous marshmallow test that was first done in the late 1960s.

To test self-discipline and delay gratification, four-year-olds were put in room alone with one marshmallow. They were told they could …

News
Top 100 hottest brands
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Fast food, fizzy water and IT continue to dominate the global brands list, compiled by Interbrand.Coca-Cola has taken out the top spot for the 10th year in a row, the 123 year-old company weighing in with just under US$69 billion in brand equity, up three percent from last …

News
Industry huddles to hatch TVNZ response
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A huddle of industry bodies met yesterday to discuss TVNZ’s provocative ‘review’ of its advertising commission structure.

Representatives from the Marketing Association, CAANZ and ANZA gathered together in Auckland to form a coordinated response to TVNZ.

While no TVNZ documents were tabled, StopPress understands CAANZ president David Walden relayed …

News
TiVo deal: it all depends on content
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The TiVo deal is a biggie for Telecom and TVNZ/Hybrid. But are the two big boys bullying customers into buying boxes for their own boon? We put some questions to Richard Betts, technology expert and Tone magazine contributor; and to Michael Carney, media supremo at The Media Counsel.

Why …

News
Ads@6: 11-17 Sep
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The top spending clients of the past week. Veeeery interesting.

Last week’s ads here.

TV3, 17 September 2009

Arnotts Vita-Weat crackers The Warehouse, 4 days of deals Powerball jackpot Roses chocolates Ruapehu ski season Burger King, The Outlaw AXA Insurance Pit Stop Pineo Cleen TV One, 17 …

Awards
Little TED
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The much-attended, much-admired TED conferences in California have spawned a local baby: TEDx, to be held in Auckland October 1.

The youth-orientated event is being organised by Kiwi TED delegate , Richard Hollingum of The Department of Doing.

“As well as talks from eight extraordinary people there’ll be inspirational interludes …

News
Shock, horror – Aussie telcos tell the truth
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Three top Australian telecommunications companies have promised to be more truthful in their advertising. What a novel idea.

In an effort to stamp out dubious and misleading claims in the telco industry, Telstra, Vodafone and Optus have assured the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) that they will improve their …