The world’s most famous doll is topping sales again, which some attribute to her brand re-positioning as a female empowerment tool. But isn’t that what she always was?U.S. company Mattel’s baby-boomer doll has taken a lot of flak for wrongful focus of little girls’ aspirations, especially around her physical ‘perfection’.However, an estimated billion Barbies have been sold since 1959, and she still brings in close on US$1 billion a year - it’s hard to argue with that figure even if you
Read more...

With a million plastic bottles bought every minute worldwide, according to The Guardian, and a billion going into our oceans the movement against single-use plastic is gathering momentum in the UK. London Mayor Sadiq Khan is pushing for water fountains across the capital for people to freshen up and fill up free of charge; and January 2018 saw Costa Coffee owner Whitbread leading the charge of companies signing up for the Refill campaign to offer similar stations on their premises.&nbsp
Read more...

If you've been in Spain at all recently, you may have seen this ad in store fronts for fashion designer Adolfo Dominguez.‘Sé Más Viejo’ (‘Be More Old’) is the written message alongside a black and white image of a female model, hands deep in her elegant pockets, lines deep in her elegant face.“I love it, I really love it,” says a mature woman checking out the new season’s offerings in the shop window. “It acknowledges that we’re not all young and perfect for ever, we’re just not.”“The li
Read more...

If you’re into alternative rock, you’ve probably heard of him. If you’re into rock babes, he’s apparently becoming one. Now the Kaleo frontman lends his distinctive voice to conservation.Fans of Icelandic band Kaleo will recognise the soundtrack, 'I Can't Go On Without You' for this one-minute campaign by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), urging action to conserve endangered species.“I believe in preserving the natural world and its beauty," says lead vocalist and guitarist JJ, attributing
Read more...

Famous for unsmiling poses, fashion designer Victoria Beckham says her line always involves an element of poking fun at herself. This recreated Marc Jacobs ad proved the point for her 10th anniversary.Fashion icon, former Spice Girl pop singer, and an original footballer’s wife - she’s Mrs David Beckham - British designer Victoria Beckham has always had a sense of humour belied by her famously unsmiling face. The mother-of-four's fashion house is now celebrating its 10th anniversary. To
Read more...

Fear not, fans - it’s just Square Enix playing cute in a spoof trailer for their 2018 video game ‘Shadow of the Tomb Raider’. Insulting, hilarious, wtf? The jury’s out on this one!With the latest edition of the perennially popular and long-running Tomb Raider series of games recently released, the marketers put a fresh spin on things with a ‘Shadow ofthe Cute Raider’ parody promotion. Whether you're a skilled gamer or a 'Who's Lara Croft?' type, you'll find something to enjoy as the trai
Read more...

We all know the saying “easier said than done”. In Spain, there's a similar saying about the fact that it's a long road between words to action - el trecho. This trailer-style ad shows diverse people settingout on that particular road trip as they decide to take action rather than just talk about it.The context is a new law in Spain which aims to drastically cut under-age drinking in the interest of adolescents’ health. Seventy percent of 14-18-year-olds surveyed admitted that they had consum
Read more...

If you find it scary having to pay fees just to access your own money, you’ll love this‘Jaws’-style spoof documentary about the new kind of shark that attacks millions every year.Duuuunn dunn… duuuunn dunn… dun-dun dun-dun dun-dun dun-dun… Just when you thought it was safe to go back to your ATM… The confusingly named Fifth Third Bank in the USA bills this 1’30” spoof promoting its services as a ‘full documentary’. Parodying the close-up, intensely personal survivor story format - and
Read more...

Californian start-up Dollar Shave Club (DSC) got famous fast for sending guys monthly packs of good quality razors at an unbeatable price, and for humorous ads pointing out the absurdity of paying over the odds, falling into the free gift trap, or getting hooked on too much tech for what should be the simple task of shaving. The first Dollar Shave Club ad featured its founder Michael Dubin straight-talking to camera in an amusing, stripped-down promotional taking the mickey out of elaborate ads
Read more...

Wow, free water fountains in London! Stunningly simple idea that could surely offer an appealing advertising opportunity as well as obvious advantages for the environment and for all us thirsty souls who can't find a tap when we need it.The movement to reduce the staggering plastic waste in society - a million plastic bottles are bought every minute worldwide, reports The Guardian - is gathering momentum in the UK: London Mayor Sadiq Khan is pushing for water fountains across the capital for
Read more...