Summary: When it comes to the advertising world, Microsoft has had a tough time. In the past, its Windows products did not match up to the multi-million dollar ad hype, and it created more of a nightmare for the software company than revenue.
But recently, it looks like things are changing.
Summary: I recently met with an old colleague who is currently at a major agency, and although we had promised not to discuss work beforehand, we eventually couldn’t help ourselves. Apparently, there is something in an advertising creative’s DNA that does not allow us to break away from our area of expertise when we get together, and by now, we should probably just accept that fact. I assume this is because, unlike most professions, ours is always around us with no chance for escape. So there we were, at a local establishment when a new commercial for an old product came on. It was at this point that our conversation went from family to advertising.
Summary: An important step towards improvement is the ability to admit when you are wrong. In doing so, you are able to recognize your weaknesses and transform them into strengths. Over the past year, JC Penney has taken a bruising from loyal customers due to their pricing schemes, apparel strategies, and several other improvements that turned out to be anything but. Attempting to bounce back and regain consumer loyalty, JC Penney has managed to provide an apology in the form of a commercial aptly entitled “It’s No Secret.”
