Arctic Monkeys outsell the entire chart!

On its first day of release, the Artic Monkey’s ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ sold more copies than the rest of the UK's Top 20 added together!

The Sheffield band are outselling last week’s No1, Avril Lavigne’s 'The Best Damn Thing', by ten copies to one.

This is a real testament to the popularity of their music. The band do their talking though their lyrics, rather than the typical promotional trail of TV and radio that hype new album launches...

Posted By: Davey

Mini Yo-Yo

As a Mini driver, I have a fond spot for the Mini. The ground breaking ‘Mini Adventure’ campaign introduced the new Mini to the world and successfully re-launched the brand… I’ve been hooked ever since.

Current marketing activity has seen no decline in innovative new ideas or spectacle; check out the image below, seen in Milan…

This massive billboard shows a hand with a long string attached to it and full size Mini dangling at bottom! What makes this ad really special is that the car moves vertically up and down the string on invisible rails, as if it were a yo-yo!

This ad truly conveys the ‘small and fun’ brand values on a gigantic scale!

Posted By: Davey

Online for The White House

Spotted an article on Brand Republic, it’s a clear sign of times and the web’s growing power and influence. The next US Presidential race could feature public online debates between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and Republicans John McCain and Mitt Romney…!

As the internet become more deep-rooted in our culture and society, you can expect political online activity to become far more common. Check out the full article here.

ThinkProgress is keeping track of all the 2008 Presidential candidates’ online activities with a side by side comparison. It’ll be interesting to see if those who have a greater online presence will generate a higher turnout in votes.

We’ll find out for sure in 2008.

Posted By: Clare

Because of the Times

Nashville-based Kings of Leon are doing a UK tour in support of their new album 'Because of the Times'. They played at the Doncaster Dome on 23rd April '07.

I knew they were a great live band, but found out that was an understatement when I went to see their sold-out gig last night at the Doni Dome. It was an absolutely awesome show and the crowd was mental.

If you get the chance to see them live on this tour, don't miss it.

Poster By: Bew

Terry Tate: Office Linebacker

This is one of a series of TV ads created for Reebok, based on the premise of hiring an office linebacker to increase workplace productivity.

Terry Tate, was first shown at Super Bowl XXXVII. The short films feature Lester Speight as "Terrible" Terry Tate, an American Football linebacker who "gives out the pain" to those in the office who don't obey the rules.

This has gone down a storm in America, even Reebok UK made an episode!

Sexual innuendo and strong language is incorporated throughout. So if you're listening in the office, you may want to turn your speakers down a little...

Posted By: Bew

Fast as Schnell

Check out this Business Week article revealing the principles that drive hot Miami ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky and how there’re reviving the flagging VW brand across America with the help of German dominatrix Miss Helga … Read the article here.

Helga implores drivers of tuned cars to "Unpimp Your Auto", poking fun at the way other cars are souped up by local garages, whilst the VW GTi, is ‘pre-tuned’ for performance in Germany.

The tied-in online test drive won a Cannes Lion. After choosing various options for your GTi, Helga goes for a test drive with you and seductively comments on each item you've chosen...

You can learn more about Helga on her amusing MySpace page.

Check out the video below, and experience your own test drive on the VW website.

Posted By: Dan

When is an Ad Agency not an Ad Agency?

Anomaly is an ad agency with a difference: it’s not driven to make ads, it’s driven to solve business problems with the very best solutions they can think of; whatever they may be.

This may seem like a creative free-for-all, but you’ll be surprised to know that if their ideas don’t increase their Client’s sales, they simply won’t get paid.

Anomaly is only paid in equity proportional to the sales that their solutions create.

Check out Anomaly’s website for more info… www.anomalynyc.com

Posted By: Dan

Funky Brochure

I picked up this funky brochure for sleek Italian brand Patrizia Pepe from a shop down Ecclesall Road in Sheffield.

I love the way it’s made from one continuous sheet, folded up to create the individual pages. The glossy photography is lush and the embossed spot UV cover makes this a quality piece of design.

Posted By: Yvette

Doodle Disks

Datawrite specialise in recordable CD and DVD discs. They create a range of on-body disc designs and recently launched a competition to help British art students achieve worldwide exposure.

The 10 winning artists have had their work published on a new range of discs called Scribbles, which all look great.

Posted By: Linda

When the Clouds Clear

Charlie Alex March’s ‘When the Clouds Clear’ EP, 3″ CD, with a limited edition print by Yokoland.

It’s such an interesting format for CD packaging and it experiments with the boundaries of print.

It's great to have something tangable, rather than a software file. I really like it and I’m never opening it!


Posted By: Matt

A Breath of Fresh Air

Forget strong coffee; apparently the best thing to give you energy and drive is a blast of pure oxygen!

‘Oxy Fit’ provide cans of 99.5 % medically pure oxygen from Switzerland. They say it will help you to combat the effects of stress, exhaustion and fatigue, making you feel better and get through a stressful day.

Oxy Fit even let you brand their cans; it’s already been used as a promotional giveaway for the likes of Panasonic, Calvin Klein, Volvo and of course mobile phone provider O2 would have been crazy not to use it!



Posted by: Richard

Perfectly Packaged

Packaging is an integral part of any consumer product; providing information and self promotion. Of course the best packaging combines these features with an irrepressible urge to make you pick it up and have a fiddle…

Check out this special ‘Parka Pak’ DVD packaging by AGI Media for the Northern Exposure DVD. It’s quite unlike anything else you’ve seen, but ties in with the brand so well. Even if you’ve never heard of the show, you’ll definitely want to have a go on the moose pull zipper!

Posted by: Richard

Another Easter Joke

Posted By: Yvette

Mint Advertising

Spotted these clever ads for Mentos, they feature a series of Mentos blister packs with the missing mints punched out to create images. Apparently the street level ads are actually made out of ‘real’ Mentos gum packages!

They complement a fantastic micro-site where visitors can create, save and display their own designs, create yours here.

Posted By: Davey