RENT A BILLBOARD FOR $100 A WEEK

ADVERTISING - The Waffle Shop billboard is a re-purposed rooftop billboard structure atop the [you guessed it] Waffle Shop building [Pittsburgh]. It replaces the static message of a commercial sign with a changeable monologue. The system uses a set of custom-made letters that float on rails, with only the sky as the background, to create a live [ish] structure that can change on demand.

Here’s how it works:

: They are looking to promote stories and ideas and as opposed to businesses and will reserve a few spots for non-profits, but request that they keep the aforementioned in mind.

: They are able to accommodate roughly 25 characters a line [including spaces] for a total of 125 or less characters on the 5 lines of the billboard.

: They will change the text every Sunday or the next day if the weather is bad [since it does involve two people up on a billboard for four hours]

: For people that want to rent for a month it’s $400, plus $50.00 for any weekly changes beyond the original post with the maximum cost being $550 for the month.

: All text for the billboard must be approved by the Waffle Shop as well as Eve Picker from We Do Property and Skip Schwab from East Liberty Development [they haven’t said no yet].

: Email them if you are interested at billboard@waffleshop.org

joes[a]fiend

WHO'S BEEN GIVING APPLE THE FINGER?

ADVERTISING - The Apple adverts created by TBWA have always shunned the 'harder, faster, stronger' approach that many consumer electronic goods opt for in their advertising. Instead they go for a benefit based approach to their campaigns. Whether it be how an app on the iPhone can help you spot tree leaves or aid your cooking, the user benefits are always clear to see beyond a bigger screen etc.
The thing that has been bugging me of late is, whose finger is that in the Apple adverts? Are Apple adverts the Holy Grail for finger models? Is it even a real finger? Do Apple localise the finger for specific regions? The more I look at it the stranger it looks.

Do you know who the finger belongs to?

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HUMAN BILLBOARDS MAGAZINE BY STUDIO ROOMSERVICE

PUBLISHING - Some of you may know that eBay is rife with people selling their bodies as an advertising medium. For over two years, graphic designer Jacco Kranenburg purchased as many of these human billboards as possible to advertise his design studio Roomservice.

This is what Jacco told us about the reasoning behind the project:

"Out of sheer curiosity, I started to bid personally on several human billboard auctions. One thing that struck me was the utter confidence with which the different providers presented themselves.Without an exception, they were all convinced that they could provide unique and valuable advertising opportunities. For over two years I purchased as many of these human billboards as possible, advertising my design studio and web address. Instead of actual effective advertising, it did provide me with some delightful views into personal lives. Some of these most fascinating transactions are presented in this magazine."

How much would you sell advertising space on your body for?

joes[a]fiend

A CLEAR BRAND MESSAGE

ADVERTISING - In a time of 'brand blandness', it is even more important for brands to step up. American Apparel has a pedigree of doing this, although its efforts are sometimes over shadowed by it founder's [Dov Charney] somewhat questionable behaviour.

For this advertising campaign American Apparel gets eleven out of ten. It takes courage for brands to take the lead and it can leave them somewhat vulnerable to the press if their credentials don't stand up to scrutiny. If the brand can withstand the pressure, why not step up, be counted and make an impression?

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CAN YOU RESIST WALKERS CRISPS?

ADVERTISING - They don't make 'em like they used to. A little bit of inspiration for your weekend.

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TYPE HAS NEVER BEEN SO SEXY

ADVERTISING - Campaign for Durex by Andrej Krahne.

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LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW

ADVERTISING - At joes[a]fiend we always look forward to the Christmas period, mulled wine is great, secret santa and office parties are even better. The thing that really gets us going is advertising agencies unleashing their creativity, not to mention the one-upmanship that comes with Advertising Agency Christmas cards, or websites and now apps.

Last year was a good, we loved the AKQA microwave song. However, this year our favourite so far has to be the Ogilvy 'White Xmas' app. It's a simple iPhone camera app that adds snow fall when you take a picture within the app.

Click here to download the app [iTune link].

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HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET THAT ALL BACK IN?

A proper plumber never brings more than he needs.

ADVERTISING - Print campaign by Bates United, Oslo.

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FOR ALL YOUR HEAVYWEIGHT SHIPMENTS

ADVERTISING - DHL billboard by Ogilvy & Mather, Makati City, Philippines.

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FAO SCHWARZ

Better rewards, better kid.

Better rewards, better kid.

ADVERTISING - New York based advertising agency Gang Of One created these fantastic print campaigns for FAO Schwarz the American toy retailer.

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THE WEAK SHOP

ADVERTISING - There's nothing we like more than an advertising campaign created around a funny little product. So when we saw this effort by DDB, Canada for the BC Dairy Foundation we were in awe.

The Weak Shop sells products aimed at people who don't have the energy to go about their daily lives and need a little help. Our favorite product is towel clothing; it's something that would certainly benefit some of our contributors. Also, if you think you can do better you can submit your own ideas for a product to The Weak Shop here, the competition closes on February 1, 2010.

This campaign certainly contains all five key elements needed for success:

1. Simplicity
2. Reflective of the values of the brand and/or product
3. Memorable
4. Playful
5. Collaboration

If you buy anything from The Weak Shop, they will throw in two pints of milk [in bottles, we hope].

I wonder what my first purchase will be... That's if I have the strength to complete the purchase.

joes[a]fiend

UNIVERSAL ADAPTOR

Get a world view. Read The Economist.

ADVERTISING - This billboard for The Economist by BBDO, New York, no doubt resonates with the readership and reflects the global nature of magazine's editorial content.

Thumbs up from us.

joes[a]fiend

PIZZA HUT HATE LATE!

ADVERTISING - When a brand makes a promise, it's nice to see them show that are trying to stick to it.

Pizza Hut in the Philippines, with the help of advertising agency BBDO, placed large LED timers on selected delivery bikes to draw attention to their 'on-time delivery promise'.

Going back to our 4 key traits of a successful advertising campaign; this one ticks all the boxes. In case you've forgotten them they are as follows:

1. Simplicity
2. Reflective of the vales of the brand and/or product
3. Memorable
4. Fun

We'd love to know what happens if the pizza doesn't arrive on time? Does the bike explode?

joes[a]fiend

WE LOVE A GOOD CENTRE FOLD

ADVERTISING - We love a good bit of creativity in print; this campaign by the Grey Group, Hochiminh City, Vietnam for Nha Xinh is one of the best we've seen recently. Like any good campaign, it should be [in our opinion]:

1. Simple
2. Reflective of the vales of the brand and/or product
3. Memorable
4. Fun

Four out of four for this one.

joes[a]fiend

G MARKS THE SPOT

ADVERTISING - There is nothing that needs to be said about this campaign, it was amazing and still looks fresh, six years on. Although the plug socket should have been dealt with... and that jacket is suspect.

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UNITED COLOURS OF BENETON

ADVERTISING - This image first captured the public's imagination in 1996 when the fashion brand Benetton unveiled it as a way to commemorate World Anti-Racism Day.

It just goes to show that a great idea never dates...

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ABSOLUT ANTHEM

ADVERTISING - "A group of artists comes together in locations around the world to create art pieces that spell out the philosophy of Absolut Vodka. See something different in an ABSOLUT WORLD"

A great one minute video that really embodies the philosophy of the Absolut brand. If you visit the Absolut Facebook profile you can see how they made each section of the advert, which we highly recommend. It's interesting to hear the director, Rupert Sanders talk about his vision for each section.

Nice work Absolut.

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POST NO BILLS

'Bill Posters Prosecuted' Signs are uglier than the actual bill posters they are there to stop. So the we are encouraging everyone to change that by making these notices beautiful. Bill Posters Project

ADVERTISING - The government in Australia have recently passed a bill to rid the urban landscape of 'undue visual pollution' or bill posters as your average Joe would call them. By passing this bill the government have added to the 'visual pollution' with their own 'Post No Bills' posters pasted over other peoples/brands posters.

So Happy Soldiers [no suprise in the fact they are an ad agency] has come to the rescue of the people of Australia and their afflicted retinas. The agency has produced a set of aesthetically pleasing versions of the traditional 'Bill Posters Prosecuted' posters. To restore the aesthetic balance back to where it should be.

You can download hi-res artwork from the Bill Posters Project Blog itself.

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UNFINISHED BUSINESS

ADVERTISING - Regular readers of joes[a]fiend will know that we're big fans of interesting advertising. Especially campaigns that play with the size and dimensions of billboards.

This campaign for Lowe's the American home improvement store is a particular favourite of ours at the moment [created by BBDO New York].

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SMOKING MAKES ME SICK

"Cigarettes. Just looking at them makes you sick."

"Cigarettes. Just looking at them makes you sick."

ADVERTISING - These anti-smoking posters by JWT, Brazil do something really funny to your eyes and stomach. Let’s hope they haven’t put any of these on billboards near fast moving traffic.

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