THE NIKE+ FUELBAND SPOT
There are so many terrific pop culture references in this just-released spot for Nike that you’ll quickly lose count. I’ve watched it three times and am left with a different impression after each view. The Big Lebowski! Amadeus! Indiana Jones! Who even cares what the ad is for. Only at the end are we shown the Nike+ “Fuelband” product shot. Nike has perfected the soft-sell, aspirational lifestyle approach, where you’re drawn in and sold, way before you even know what it’s all about. The Fuelband spot is so much more effective than this heavy-handed and somewhat painful to watch “KobeSystem” advertisement that clearly cost a fortune.
Now if you are wondering what the hell a “Fuelband” is, you’re not alone. Here’s a description from the clever minds at Gizmodo: (more…)
FASHION TITLES REPORT SPRING AD GROWTH
FASHION TITLES REPORT SPRING AD GROWTH. March is looking like a promising month for fashion titles and to some extent for the magazine industry in general, with nearly all major fashion books reporting ad page increases for their bellwether spring issues. [ADWEEK]
MATERIAL WORLD
MATERIAL WORLD. Business is booming for the €185 billion luxury goods industry. As a result, specialist executive programmes that train managers for the sector are also on the rise, with several high-profile launches in recent years. [FINANCIALTIMES]
THE CARS FACEBOOK’S NEW MILLIONAIRES SHOULD BUY
THE CARS FACEBOOK’S NEW MILLIONAIRES SHOULD BUY. The IPO could raise as much as $10 billion and value the social network as high as $100 billion. And with only 3,000 Facebook employees to split the profits, there will be plenty of money to go around. [FORBES]
TOP SITE: BEST MADE COMPANY
Best Made Company’s website is an example of branding at it’s absolute best. Cleanly laid out, easy to navigate, stellar photography and perfect packaging that all leads to the obvious: higher sell-through. It certainly doesn’t hurt that they sell axes! Sites with flash that immediately launch into a far off journey might look pretty, but more often than not they are annoying. And annoying translates into a mouse-click goodbye. So take a lesson from the boys at Best Made Co and clean it up, par it down and simplify the process. Their still photography in particular is the best I have ever seen on a website. And make sure to always pay special attention to the critical ‘purchasing’ (more…)
THE L.L. BEAN VINTAGE COVER SHOOT
This year marks L.L. Bean’s 100th anniversary and you can expect to see a ton of celebrations, special events and a healthy marketing push as the year unfolds. One small, but very cool part of it, involved taking iconic catalog covers since 1912 and recreating them into photographs. This is an interesting video that shows the massive amount of work and creativity that went into the project, from pulling iconic items from the vast L.L. Bean archive and picking the perfect location to casting each character, including their golden retriever, who had to sit just right.
MEN’S DENIM: IN PICTURES
MEN’S DENIM: IN PICTURES. A slideshow look at upcoming spring denim, from shirts to shoes. [GUARDIANUK]
THE ADS OF SUPERBOWL XLVI
THE ADS OF SUPERBOWL XLVI. Auto brands will crowd the field again. But expect some fresh faces, too, in this year’s big game. [ADWEEK]
“THE GREY” WINS BOX OFFICE BATTLE
“THE GREY” WINS BOX OFFICE BATTLE. The Liam Neeson action film opened in first place in U.S. and Canadian cinemas, taking in $20 million for Open Road Films. [BLOOMBERG]
HIS NOT HERS
HIS NOT HERS. The men’s luxury goods market has gone from underserved to unstoppable – and it’s outperforming the women’s market. [FINANCIALTIMES]
THE REBRAND
What happens when Apple takes over a massive retailer? It becomes instantly cooler. Check out the new J.C. Penney logo – actually now it should be referred to as the “jcpenney” logo – the name of the company itself has changed. Ron Johnson, the former head of Apple’s incredibly successful retail division, became CEO of jcpenney in June of 2011 and his massive changes were unveiled yesterday in New York.
To put everything in context it’s important to look back. Two Oscar seasons ago J.C. Penney clearly wanted to play with the stars in retail by creating a more upscale perception of their brand. They executed a massive marketing push around awards season including expensive advertising, an official sponsorship of the Oscar’s and a temporary and massive ‘pop-up’ shop in the middle of Times Square. The problem? None of this did anything to solve the core issue – that the name and branding of the company in and of itself was the problem. (more…)
WHY J.C. PENNEY WILL BE THE MOST INTERESTING RETAILER OF 2012
WHY J.C. PENNEY WILL BE THE MOST INTERESTING RETAILER OF 2012. There’s a new logo, new spokesperson, new pricing strategy, an investment in Martha Stewart Omnimedia and another designer partnership with Nanette Lepore. All in two short months. [FORBES]
ITALY WOES WEIGH ON LUXURY SHOEMAKER TOD’S
ITALY WOES WEIGH ON LUXURY SHOEMAKER TOD’S. Italian luxury goods maker Tod’s SpA reported lower-than-expected sales in its crisis-hit core Italian market in the last quarter. [REUTERS]
MADE BETTER IN JAPAN
MADE BETTER IN JAPAN. For decades, Japan simply imported the wares of foreign cultures, but recession has led to invention. The country has begun creating the finest American denim, French cuisine and Italian espresso in the world. Now is the time to visit. [WSJ]
NEW YORK TIMES CO. FACES LEADERSHIP VACUUM
NEW YORK TIMES CO. FACES LEADERSHIP VACUUM. The departure of New York Times Co. Chief Executive Officer Janet Robinson last month leaves the company with a leadership vacuum amid falling revenue and profits squeezed by pension costs. [BLOOMBERG]
A SIMPLE PLAYLIST
Here’s a playlist that’s a bit more sophisticated and less centered around a heavy thumping bass. From Django Reinhardt in the 1920′s to today’s Belle & Sebastian, it’s intended to complement conversation and not compete with it. Latin flavor is always essential along with a few classics mixed in to tie it all together, from Dinah Washington to the Rolling Stones. You’ll need to look them up on your own but for a small taste, here’s “Morenito” by Stephane Pompougnac: (more…)
TOP 10 MENSWEAR MOMENTS
TOP 10 MENSWEAR MOMENTS. A slideshow look at highlights from the Paris and Milan A/W 2012 men’s fashion weeks. [GUARDIANUK]
THE GOOGLE SUPERPHONE
THE GOOGLE SUPERPHONE. The Galaxy Nexus, which costs $299 on a two-year contract from Verizon Wireless, is the first device to ship with Android 4.0. [BLOOMBERG]
H&M Q4 PROFITS FALL, TOUGH OUTLOOK AHEAD
H&M Q4 PROFITS FALL, TOUGH OUTLOOK AHEAD. The world’s No.2 fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz said a gloomy economic outlook would keep demand subdued this year and discounting unsold stock led to a surprise drop in fourth-quarter profit. [REUTERS]
LOUIS VUITTON VICTOIRE
Here’s a menswear show worth watching from start to finish. Designer Kim Jones, in only his second season at the helm of Louis Vuitton, has created a razor sharp collection with the timeless appeal of glamorous old Europe. Highlights included a perfectly proportioned 2-button pale blue suit with slight sheen, a black dinner jacket matched with deep purple trousers, a lux double-breasted overcoat and, as always the case with Louis Vuitton, a stunning collection of leather bags. Immaculate and proud, these are young men of distinction. Here are four key looks from the collection: (more…)
