The Extraordinary Experience*

5W: A controversial PR firm

5W is a young, fast growing PR firm headquartered in New York. A recent article in Business Week suggested that its CEO was egocentric. Well, I have not met him personally but am quite impressed with their eclectic roaster, which includes hip-hop artists, restaurants and Tech firms to name but a few. Looking at their website, there is a clear emphasis on the word 'aggressive' (strategy, approach, culture...). While aggressivity seems to be rewarding for the time being, I am curious to see how well the firm will do in the long run. Watch this space.

The article from Business week is at: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_46/b4058064.htm?chan=search

The agency's website: http://www.5wpr.com

Life's short get a divorce – the banner has been taken down!

In an interview to ABC News' Law & Justice Unit, Corri Fetman, who came up with the idea declared: "Law firm advertising is boring&Everything's always the same. It's lawyers in libraries with a suit on and the law books behind them. They don't say anything. What, I should hire you because you have a law degree? C'mon. So we wanted to try something different."

Apparently, the firm received more than 1000 phone calls and email messages about the ad! The bad news is that the ad had to be removed as the ad firm did not get any permit from Chicago City hall. The good news is that the law firm has other raunchy ideas…Watch this space.

Life's short. Get a divorce

Here is a banner that overlooks the 'Rush triangle', at the intersection of Rush St and State St in Chicago. Also nicknamed the 'Viagra triangle', successful professionals like to valet park their sports cars and eat lunch at local restaurants...

The AK 47 is an excellent weapon of mass communication

I was watching the history channel this evening and the presenter was telling the audience how reliable and robust the AK 47 was L.

It reminded me of the excellent commercial created by Amnesty International and broadcasted in the UK to promote an International arm trade treaty.

Here is the creative and shocking spoof shopping channel ad offering AK-47 machine guns for sale:

Ogilvy teams up with Technocrati to build stronger brands

Ogilvy North America will soon offer its clients a means to strengthen their brands through blogs, vlogs, videos, photos, and other citizen media. The Technorati Conversational Marketing System will allow for the syndication of content, online conversations with clients, and facilitate the building of relationships with online communities that are relevant to Ogilvy’s clients. This wide range of strategic tools ultimately enables Ogilvy to build web sites, advertising, and links to blog posts associated with the brands.

The selling point is that they will be able to deliver an authentic, personal message across the internet by reaching influential communities and bloggers. While the whole offer sounds really exciting to me, it (once again) sheds light on the ethical debate surrounding viral marketing. Thing about promoting brands ‘authentically’ by infiltrating conversations between influential bloggers? I’d better to go and check my voicemail; these guys from Ogilvy must have called me by now…

A car falling out of Marina towers?

Marina towers are two buildings that look a bit like corncobs, located just in front of the Chicago River. This is where the insurer Allstate shot its latest commercial. Their advertising agency (Leo Burnett) had the excellent idea to orchestrate a ‘Steve McQueen type’ car chase…ending up in the Chicago River. If you haven’t seen the commercial yet, you can watch it (as well as a making of) at: http://www.allstate.com/landingpages/GENADV_marinatowers_Q107.aspx.       

If you pass by the actual building these days, you will see a car stuck on the edge and ready to fall off with the Allstate slogan underneath. The commercial generated a massive buzz in Chicago and some good PR coverage. Well done to the agency for their creativity, although it is worthwhile mentioning that Leo Burnett’s windows open on Marina towers!