DDB Cares

An Innovative Charity: Canada’s Cottage Dreams

2009-06-15T20:42:31Z

Many cancer survivors will tell you that their condition not only had huge impact on themselves but on their family. That is why it is important for families impacted by the disease to address it together and heal together. A charity in Canada has developed a program that helps them do just that. “Cottage Dreams Cancer Recovery Initiative is a registered charity that offers recent cancer survivors the opportunity to spend a week at a private, donated cottage to reconnect and rejuvenate with family and friends after successfully completing treatment. For over a century, Canadian families have been finding peace, tranquility and inspiration in cottage country. Cottage Dreams was created with this in mind.”

Since 2003, Cottage Dreams have facilitated 452 families (representing 3,100 people) in some of the most beautiful settings in Canada thanks to those donating their cottages for a week at time. Cottage Dreams has criteria on both sides of the equation to ensure the family visiting has the proper facilities and the donors cottage is respected and returned in the same condition. The testimonials on their website are emotional and heartfelt. Visit www.cottagedreams.org for more information.

Jeff Swystun, Chief Communications Officer, DDB Worldwide

Honoring a Mad Man

2009-05-28T14:14:55Z

An honorary CLIO Award was presented to Matthew Weiner, the Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer of AMC’s critically acclaimed drama, “Mad Men”. DDB Worldwide’s Chairman Emeritus, Keith Reinhard, presented the award at The New Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The room had a 1960’s theme to suit the “Mad Men” salute. There were newsreels of swinging London fashions,1969 moonwalk footage and vintage ads from VW and others.

“What can we say about ‘Mad Men’? Has there ever been such a buzz, inspiring fashions, department store windows, a new line of Zippo lighters, not to say nothing of the critical raves, Golden Globes, Emmys’, said Keith who went on to confirm the depiction of those days in advertising. Keith shared the story of how he met his wife as she was fleeing an “inebriated account director who was chasing her down the hall. How lucky was I?, he said. “ ‘Mad Men’ has captured the essence of the 1960’s ad world and given us a fantastic look at what it was like.”

Jeff Swystun, Chief Communications Officer, DDB Worldwide

Art with a Cause

2009-05-21T13:48:32Z

Is creativity something strictly reserved for the creative department? When Ad Lounge asked me to contribute an original piece of art to their fundraising event, “Art from the Unexpected”, I couldn’t resist the challenge. Ad Lounge has dared me and 19 other agency and marketing CEOs to create an original piece of art and present the concepts behind our creations at the event. On June 16th in Toronto, each CEO will be given one minute to present their art for auction; providing a fascinating glimpse into the creative minds of some of the industry’s leading business personalities. It might surprise a few people to know that early in my career, I studied at the Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver. My painting for the auction, “Bloodsport,” depicts our current economic climate through the metaphor of a Bull and Bullfighter. Like a top marketer today, a Matador needs to be fit and fast in order to triumph and live. I was drawn to participate in “Art From the Unexpected” because I welcomed the chance to return to my creative roots – and to support a unique and deserving cause. Proceeds from the art auction will go to SKETCH; a Toronto charity that provides homeless youths with art studio space and supplies. DDB Canada has also lent its support to the charity auction by donating additional resources and by becoming the only agency Gold Sponsor. I truly live each day being creative, which is why I see significant value in the artistic outlet that SKETCH provides. Creativity isn’t just a vital part of the advertising industry, it’s what gets me up and keeps me fresh and alive. It’s also great to see an organization like Ad Lounge use entertaining ideas to rethink industry fundraising events and explore the nature of creativity. If you’d like to know more, please follow me (@DDBFrank) being interviewed live on Twitter by Ad Lounge (@adlounge) on May 27th beginning at 8:30 p.m. PST.
Frank Palmer, CEO, DDB Group Canada

Little Black Book

2009-05-04T20:48:41Z

I was recently asked to appear in a short film promoting Little Black Book Online (www.lbbonline.com), an emerging website that creates online city guides based on recommendations from advertising and production professionals. As you’ll see, my fellow creative directors Sir John Hegarty of BBH, Tony Granger of Y&R and Paul Lavoie of Taxi also appear in the film, which is being seeded through targeted emails and industry websites. You can view it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfhzxC1E-9w. The reason we agreed to help promote this site is that LBBOnline.com offers to donate one English pound to One Laptop Per Child (www.olpc.com) for every recommendation accepted for where advertising and production people should eat, drink and sleep in any advertising center in the world. The mission of OLPC, a nonprofit association, is “to create educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each and every one with a rugged, lowcost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.” Their mission statement goes on to say, “By giving a laptop, you are helping bring education to children in some of the world’s most remote areas. You are connecting them to each other. To us. And to a better future.” That sounded good enough for me. If you visit Little Black Book Online, you’ll find that you can really make a difference just by giving your opinions and a little bit of your time. I’ve already listed places I like in Cannes, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. As the site grows, we’ll see if anyone agrees with my picks! And in addition to donating my acting “skills,” I’ve also made a donation to purchase a computer to give to kids through the OLPC website. It seemed like the right thing to do. Bob Scarpelli, Chairman & Chief Creative Officer, DDB Worldwide

A Tale of Zappos, Twitter and The Future

2009-03-30T08:30:00Z

Let me tell you a story, and it all starts with me needing to replace an old pair of my favorite boots that were literally falling apart. And if you squint your eyes even a little bit, I think you might just see a big part of the future of marketing. Given what's happening in this country right now, it's only reasonable to be purposeful about any purchase decision. So, as I was headed out the door one morning, I said to my wife, "Hey, I think I'm going to order a new pair of Blundstones from Zappos today." My wife, Ann, who orders a good percentage of our kids' shoes from Zappos, informed me that if I ordered by 10am, I'd have them the next day. So I ordered ... hopeful. And five days later, my boots had still not arrived. Though this order was my first with Zappos, I was disappointed. I wanted my boots. So on my way to work one morning, I Tweeted this (by the way, follow me on Twitter): I had heard that Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos was active on Twitter and I wrote this as much as a test to see if they would respond, how quickly and in what way. The threat of Endless, Amazon's shoe store, was an extra worm on the hook. Well, within about an hour, I got a notice that I'm being "followed" on Twitter by Tony. Yes, the CEO. (By the way, to "follow" someone on Twitter is something akin to "friending" someone on Facebook. If you aren't familiar with Facebook, the rest of this post is going to read like total nonsense. I forgive you if you quit reading now. Some of you may ask why I'm being so basic about these technologies. Reality is Facebook has about 175 million users and I know a lot of smart friends -- and marketers -- who are not among those 175 million. And I think I just heard that Twitter is at something like 7 million. That means a lot of people who could use the background info. Pardon this aside if you are not one of them). Within an hour, I got a message from Tony telling me my boots should arrive that day. To make a long story short, we exchanged "tweets" that day and eventually emails about the source of my frustration and ways I thought they might improve their customer experience. Zappos has built a reputation as a service company that just happens to sell shoes. How did that happen? I think that's the moral of the story. Tony and his team monitor in real time what people are saying about them on Twitter and in the blogosphere (it probably won't take long for them to find this post). Is that marketing? Certainly not in the traditional sense, but it's working. Direct Marketers have spent the better part of the last two decades talking about "1to1" marketing, and "customer relationship marketing" (CRM), but it always seemed to me that it was still essentially one way dialogue. Yes, marketers have access to a lot of rich data and laser/digital technology allows marketers to do some amazing "personalization." But in the end, it is still essentially a company talking at a customer or prospect and only becomes two way if the customer/prospect chooses to respond to the query -- usually to buy something. Well, with the advent of newer digital technologies (like Twitter, for example) the customer really is in the driver's seat. They're starting these conversations every minute of every day. The smartest, most progressive companies are finding ways to engage and respond -- and win the hearts and minds of people along the way. Which path are you on?
John Livengood, EVP/Executive Creative Director, DDB Seattle

Social Networking in a Downturn

2009-03-11T14:12:03Z

Numerous articles have covered the increase in traffic and use of social networking sites like Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook, etc. This is attributed to the layoffs and the need to connect, network, and promote one's self. But how can one stand out if so many are doing the same thing? What suggestions do you have for those building their personal brand online?

For an insider's view, watch Charlie Rose's conversation with Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn.

Jeff Swystun, Chief Communications Officer, DDB Worldwide

The Chief Community Officer Yellow Paper

2009-01-07T19:43:01Z

Check out and comment on our new Chief Community Officer Yellow Paper. For other papers, visit the DDB Yellow Papers section under 'What we think.'

Can Philanthropy Survive The Economic Downturn?

2008-12-09T15:47:27Z

Turmoil in financial markets, stagnant growth, and a weakening economy have affected all of us around the globe. An economic crisis may force many to curb holiday spending, but may make some more likely to give a “charitable gift” as a present according to a World Vision survey just conducted by Harris Interactive. This study along with one by the Giving USA Foundation show that charitable giving has statistically increased even through periods of economic downturn. Can philanthropy survive the economic downturn? Can the looming recession create a rebirth in the true meaning of the holiday season? Let us know your thoughts… Diane Bruno, Public Relations Manager, DDB Worldwide

Instant Karma's Gonna Get You

2008-11-12T21:15:07Z

When my good friends and fellow Topanga, California residents Craig and Tanya Farkas needed an ad to promote their eco-friendly production firm Instant Karma in the Cannes issue of Boards, they didn’t come to me. Instead they awarded the business to their son Sean Farkas, a sixth grader at Topanga Elementary School. While this was obviously a case of nepotism, I am trying to get past the bitterness and have decided to share the simple, elegant and heartfelt solution Sean came up with. The ad received such great feedback that Craig entered Sean’s work into an online contest called theadbattle.com, a global website primarily for ad professionals who want to show off their latest campaigns. Click here to view Sean's ad Sean’s ad was competing against ones from high-powered agencies and professionals and was proclaimed a winner in the social ad category. So if you’re looking for a green production company that walks the walk, consider Instant Karma Films. Or if you’re looking for a young creative consider Sean Farkas-- before he takes away your next job. Mark Monteiro Chairman and Chief Creative Officer DDB Los Angeles

Green In a Changing Economy

2008-10-29T15:20:16Z

Given our economic climate, it’s a reasonable question to ask whether the green revolution has sputtered. Recent research indicates that consumer enthusiasm for green has waned in some areas. Yankelovich’s “Going Green 2” study found that consumers’ willingness to pay more for green alternatives has decreased. There’s evidence that companies have cut back their budgets for environmental and philanthropic initiatives, and climate change legislation will most likely stall or not be as favorable to the environment as was originally predicted. But it’s not all bad news. According to the same Yankelovich study, environmentalism is developing among U.S. consumers — especially among Echo Boomers (ages 16-29) and GenXers (ages 30-43), who both said they are more concerned about the environment than they were a year ago. And even more mainstream consumers are responding positively to companies who successfully convey personal benefits in the green attributes of a product. A great example is Clorox Green Works’ household cleaning products that use 99 percent natural, non-petrochemical ingredients. Clorox doesn’t overtly tout the environmental attributes but instead emphasizes a “healthy home” and “living a more natural life.” First year sales have been well over $40 million. The bottom line is that green is still quite relevant and will likely become increasingly so, continuing to change the landscape in which companies do business and consumers buy products and services. It just might be at a slightly slower rate. Arlene Fairfield Global Change Network, in partnership with DDB BIG arlene@arlenefairfield.com

Cotton

2008-10-15T16:07:46Z

Cotton Incorporated and DDB New York are proud to announce the launch of our new quiz “DO YOU KNOW GREEN?” on Cotton’s MysteryFabric.com and TheFabricOfOurLives.com websites. www.mysteryfabric.com With everyone jumping on the “green” bandwagon these days, it’s hard to figure out what’s genuinely environmentally friendly and what’s not. “Do You Know Green?” combines the fun of a game show, the usefulness of an environmental handbook and the pizzazz of a fashion show all into one brain-teasing quiz. Through a series of challenging true/false questions, this quiz will test your knowledge of what’s “green” and what’s “not green” among the fabrics and other items you use in your day-to-day life. Our lovable characters Jane (the eco-aware cotton lover) and Susie (the mystery fabric misfit will model the “green” and “not green” virtual wardrobe pieces you’ll "win" with every right or wrong answer. Cotton is natural, so it’s been “green” even before “being green” was ever in style. In launching this quiz, our goals are to make Cotton a credible resource in helping consumers to separate eco-fact from fiction and, very importantly, to keep cotton top-of-mind for fashionable and eco-conscious consumers. So how well "Do You Know Green?” Play the quiz now using the link above and tell us what you think… Be sure to click on the “Send to a Friend” option to pass this quiz along to someone you know who might be interested in being a little bit “greener.” Lee Garfinkel Chairman and Chief Creative Officer DDB New York

Joseph Cianciotto Executive Creative Director, Amplify Chief Community Officer, DDB New York

Midas and Make-A-Wish

2008-06-18T14:55:26Z

At DDB we enjoy making our clients successful; it is most rewarding when we're able to help them spread goodwill as well. Take the most recent spot DDB Chicago did for Midas to promote their latest venture with Make-A-Wish. Through June 28th, every time someone goes to a Midas facility and orders a vehicle maintenance package, Midas will donate $5 to the Make-A-Wish foundation. Our goal is to help Midas raise as much money as possible for this awesome organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses. Giving consumers the opportunity to contribute to a good cause while having their vehicle serviced can shine a bright light on those tedious Saturday chores! It's our hope that something as routine as an oil change can help to affect a positive change in a child's life. For more information about the promotion and to see the inspirational spot featuring some Make-A-Wish children, go to www.midaswish.com At DDB we have a culture that truly believes in giving back. Isn't it about time you brought your vehicle in for an oil change? Mia Sissac Senior Marketing Communications Associate DDB Chicago

The Big Wild Launches!

2008-05-12T20:25:45Z

Everyone is going green these days. More and more companies are expanding their corporate social responsibility profile through green initiatives. At DDB we care about our environment and so much more. I have enjoyed our green blog and thank all of you who have posted your thoughts and opinions. We have decided to broaden these chats to include all our CSR (corporate social responsibility) ventures. In the coming weeks more reportage and discussion of CSR and DDB will be our focus. We welcome your feedback and look forward to hearing what you have to say. --Frank Palmer Social networking site created by Tribal DDB to enlist and mobilize support. Check out www.thebigwild.org, the new social networking site created by Tribal DDB, the online division of DDB Canada. The new social networking site allows Canadians to share stories and media about wilderness experiences and learn more about the country's wild spaces in need of protection. Most importantly, it will also act as a catalyst to raise awareness and mobilize support for conservation campaigns. The evolving site will continue to have features added throughout 2008 and 2009. Read more about it under "Who We Are – DDB Cares" and let me know what you think. Diane Bruno, Public Relations Manager, DDB Worldwide

Plastic Bags that Go Away

2008-03-26T20:31:31Z

There is a supplement in the New York Times today called the "Business of Green". BASF has taken the full back page to profile a story of its plastic bags that have a shelf life of one year then biodegrade in compost within weeks. Their website has eight other cases including; ethanol extract from corn, reduction of diesel exhaust from school buses, and an 80% more energy efficient home. It is too easy to be cynical that this is just BASF marketing when, in fact, the accomplishments are extremely impressive. Check it out at www.basf.com/stories. Frank Palmer, Chairman & CEO, DDB Canada

How Sustainable?

2008-02-22T21:40:42Z

We know that going green is good for the earth and we are quickly learning that it is increasingly good for business. But how sustainable is sustainability as a business differentiator? If everyone is doing it - where is the competitive advantage? Green is quickly becoming tablestakes - there may be more risk in not doing it than benefits in doing it. If you agree, how can companies benefit and differentiate in green going forward?