Weathering the Storm

     American Apparel is known for being controversial in its advertising, but this definitely pushes the limits a little too far. While Hurricane Sandy was busy ravishing the Northeast, the clothing store thought it was a good idea to offer discounts on its stupid overpriced hipster clothes. The store received a ton of backlash because of this campaign, and rightfully so. One of the many reasons this was ignorant is because the hurricane knocked out power and access to the Internet for hours or days for thousands of people, rendering their online sale completely and totally useless. Also, I don't think many people were bored during the storm, they were busy staying safe and making sure their loved ones were safe. I think a way more effective solution, and this is if marketers should even be trying to gain attention in the time of a natural disaster, is if American Apparel had donated some trendy hipster coats made out of hemp or whatever material is deemed cool today or some other form of clothing to the many individuals who were affected by the storm. It should be obvious to not make light of a serious situation, but American Apparel was probably too busy listening to that band they like and being original and ironic to ever learn that lesson. 

Snickers Makes Me Snicker

     Halloween is right around the corner, which means it's time for me to pull out a bed sheet, cut out some eyeholes, and scam some people out of some candy. With the sheet over my head, I can pass as a 6'2 middle schooler...maybe. What was I supposed to be talking about? Oh yeah, advertising. So for the past few years, Snickers has been my favorite when it comes to Halloween advertising. Their spots are genuinely funny, and I appreciate that even though the commercial is seasonal it still ties in to the overall big idea of the brand: hunger is bad. I think some brands view seasonal advertising as a completely different entity, but I'm glad Snickers uses the holiday to further what the brand is known for.

     This commercial came out two years ago, and I still remember it. More importantly, it still makes me laugh. The mix of weird and creepy result in a great Halloween spot for the candy company. 

     This year, Snickers released a new commercial, and I think its even better than the Scary Lady ad. It captures that same weird tone and sense of humor and delivers a familiar idea in a fresh new way.

     These ads can certainly stand alone, but also seamlessly integrate into the work Snickers puts out all year long. When I think about it, that can be hard to do, because "It's Halloween, buy this candy!" is obviously the first thought the commercial has to convey, but these spots do a great job balancing that message with Snickers' branding. I'll definitely be buying them this year, and then lying to trick-or-treaters and saying I'm out of candy so I can eat them all myself. Suckers. 

Brooklyn Nets: Slam Dunk or...Whatever a Bad Thing in Basketball Is?

     A year or two ago if someone asked me my thoughts on the Brooklyn Nets, the first words out of my mouth would be, "What are they again? Basketball, hockey, soccer?" I feel that's valid, as I have no knowledge of sports and all of those do incorporate nets... I think. Now, in 2012, if someone asked me my thoughts on the Brooklyn Nets, I would tell them the branding of the basketball team is fantastic. That's right, it's so good I even know what sport is involved!

Brooklyn Nets Intro Video

     I think the video above is the ultimate brand statement and a great culmination of the new image of the Nets. It's classy, sophisticated, but still has that Brooklyn grit and edge. The use of black and white imagery is a callback to all their other brand elements, and the song proves this team is a testament to Brooklyn and what the city can achieve.

     The team underwent a complete image overhaul, and I think the new logo is a definite improvement. The simple typography is modern and elegant, and with the explosion of bright, garish colors used by most sports team, I love the black and white. The endorsement from Jay-Z adds a hip personality to the team (the only thing that could make it cooler is if his wife endorsed it too), and is a lot of the reason why this rebrand is receiving so much press. However, after looking at several other executions, I think the brand certainly deserves the spotlight.

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