I think IKEA’s Oyster card wallet is an inspired media choice. I look at it every time I travel. It’s in my bag all the time. I love the message  'Home is the most important place in the world'. It's so true. I tend to lose things a lot, but because of the primary colours it’seasy to find. I feel rather attached to it.

Comment (0)

I was delighted to see that Lego have reprised their classic 1981 ad 'Kipper' featuring the sublime Tommy Cooper voiceover. Click here to view it. The ad capture everything that's brilliant about Lego: imagination, playfulness, joy and simplicity.

If I was the brand manager of Lego I wouldn't brief in a new piece of creative ever again. I can't imagine it ever being bettered.

Comment (0)

 

A friend of mine told me about this fabulous new invention - the Wifi Body Scale. All you have to do is stand on the scales and it automatically records your weight, fat mass and BMI which you can view from your computer or iPhone.

Apparently, up to eight people can use a single set of scales. It can even send to tweet to your Twitter account every time you weight yourself so your entire social network can follow your progress. Amazing.

I think this will be successful because:

- People need to set targets to achieve their ambitions and its a great way to track progress. A bit like Nike+

- Going ‘public' encourages dedication: Weightwatchers Clubs understand this

- It's a cool gadget to have in your bathroom

 

Comment (0)

Last Saturday I made my first ever trip to the Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush. (There's been a Westfield in Derby for ages, by the way) One of the most surprising things I noticed were the queues that were forming outside the Ugg store. It was like a nightclub. There was a rope, a security guard and a long line of people. This was the second time I've seen this. I remember seeing a queue forming outside the store in Long Acre in December, despite the freezing weather.

I really can't understand what makes the Ugg boot so desirable. They're ugly, really expensive and useless in the rain and snow. What's the point of soggy sheepskin? I guess it's down to celebrity endorsement. An example where - unlike Thomas Cook -  celebrity endorsement does work

Fortunately, their appeal hasn't extended to men. Click here for a Guardian article that explains why.

Comment (0)

Another dreadful ad to kick off the year. It's a prime example of how celebrity endorsement adds absolutely no value. This ad fails on so many levels:

- does anyone honestly believe that Louise & Jamie Redknapp would ever in a million years book a Thomas Cook holiday?

- they look so dozy and vacant

- Louise's voice is so irritating

- why would Jamie play golf topless and play football wearing a suit?

An early contender for worst ad of 2010. Want to see it? Click here

Comment (0)

One of my New Year resolutions is to watch a TED video every day. They're short, inspiring and cover a vast range of topics. Steve Jobs is always a good place to start. Click here to view him.

Comment (0)

I love the 'Like a Golf' ad that I saw on TV last night. Click here to view it in case you were doing something more interesting instead. Its SO insightful. People always say that about their cars. My father-in-law drives a Seat which he often says is 'a bit like a Golf'..only of course, it's not quite as good.

Comment (0)

Saw the latest movie-style Comparethemarket.com ad last night and thought it was a disaster. The original ads featuring the Meerkat  were original and amusing, creating a comic cartoon character that bares comparison to Flat Eric from the old Levi's ads and the Johnny Vegas Monkey (which advertised PG Tips). However, the latest ad demonstrates what can happen when production budgets get too big. The ad is stretched to 60 seconds. The settings become too grandiose. The signature jokes are telegraphed and lose their spontaneity.

It reminded  me of when Morcambe and Wise tried to make movies on location. They never worked. The magic and intimacy of the studio settings were lost.

 I think this is the beginning of the end of the Meerkat.

Comment (0)