Study: Cutting Spending Hurts Brands Long Term

By Jack Neff, Ad Age
April 06, 2009

BATAVIA, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- Household and personal care might once have seemed recession-resistant, but last year U.S.-based personal-care marketers actually cut ad spending faster than the general market. That could be potentially damaging for their brands, according to one study that shows that marketers that cut spending during a downturn lost share to private labels -- share they didn't regain.
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PPAF AND THE ADDYS

HEAT UP THE DENVER EGOTIST

March 19, 2009
thedenveregotist.com

David C. Cook, zoo big
Addy winners

David C. Cook, a Christian nonprofit group, and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo were the big winners at the Pikes Peak Advertising Federation's annual Addy awards, which were presented Saturday.

David C. Cook's marketing department took home 13 awards, including five gold awards and best of show honors for print ads. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's marketers earned 12 awards and six gold, plus the best of show for radio spots. Visual Image Advertising's spots for the Air Force Academy won the Presidents Cup award for overall best in show.

The other best of show winners were Vladimir Jones in television and World Orphans for interactive.

Other big winners were Cukjati Design, with seven awards, and Focus on the Family and Sandia Advertising with six each.

The Lane family, former owners of Lane Affiliated Companies, was honored with the Frederick R. Sindt Everest Award for community service. Former Clear Channel general manager Bob Gourley won the federation's Silver Medal award for service in the industry and the community.

A Mean Year for Ads and Their Agencies

December 23, 2008

It took a year for economists to call the recession. Yet Madison Avenue felt the pinch earlier than most industries.

Despite an ad-rich presidential election and the Olympics, U.S. ad spending this year is expected to decline 3.8% to $172.5 billion, according to Publicis Groupe SA, as sharp pullbacks in the second half by auto makers and others put an end to routine annual gains.

General Motors Corp., for instance, has asked its agencies to slash fees by as much as 20% this year and next.

An industry-wide ad spending decline of another 6.2%, to $161.8 billion, is forecast for 2009.

In response, big agencies such as Omnicom Group are resorting to layoffs. Omnicom this year cut loose almost 5% of its 70,000 employees, and more pink slips are expected at other agencies early in 2009.

WSJ.com

Book of Tens: Legal Issues to Watch
in 2009

December 18, 2008
With a new President Elect, and the changing economic environment, what changes can we see on the horizon for the advertising industry in government? Here is a list of 10 important issues to keep an eye on.

Advertising Age

Hilariously successful ad campaign
began as in house job

October 15, 2008
You know those commercials for Sonic Drive-In? The ones with the two guys in the car, or the couple, just riffing absurdly about burgers and shakes and life?

Love or hate the ads, Sonic's now 5-year-old campaign is one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history. Pat Piper, the guy who came up with the idea and still manages the campaign, talked about how the whole thing happened to a rapt audience on Tuesdayof local ad people at the Pikes Peak Advertising Federation's monthly luncheon.

The Gazette

• To raise the standards of advertising practice by improving the ability of advertising people
• To stimulate more effective advertising through the exchange of new ideas and techniques of marketing
• To encourage better public understanding of advertising's role in the American economic system
• To serve community causes through the specialization skills of advertising people
• To help students engaged in the study of advertising and related fields
• To make contributions and to assist other non-profit organizations in the Pikes Peak area whenever possible