Category: trends

An ode to list writing – and why FMCG ad men should take note

Posted on by Gemma T in economy, Marketing, promotional marketing, recession, retail, sales promotion, trends

If I ever get asked to speak at anything like an Interesting un-conference again and have to talk about another of my secret obsessions, I think I’d choose Lists. I love lists and I love list making.  The mere act of writing everything down on a piece of paper makes me feel calmer and more … Continue reading An ode to list writing – and why FMCG ad men should take note →

People Power is going to change AdLand’s playing field

Posted on by Gemma T in advertising, society, trends

If there’s been a theme to the fluffier (non royal wedding related) UK news over the past couple of weeks, it’s been People Power. From X Factor Wagner protest votes and Gillian McKeith’s 6th I’m a Celebrity trial in a row to the John Lewis cold doggy, People Power has been setting the agenda. It … Continue reading People Power is going to change AdLand’s playing field →

Copy heavy is lovely – so long as the audience can read it

Posted on by Gemma T in advertising, society, trends

Via Wikipedia, I stumbled across the staggering estimation that 100,000 pupils each year in the UK leave school ‘functionally illiterate’ – i.e. they cannot read or write well enough to deal with the everyday requirements of life in our society. This prompted me to start thinking about all the adults I know who have literacy … Continue reading Copy heavy is lovely – so long as the audience can read it →

why do brides say ‘I Do’ to the strapless meringue?

Posted on by Gemma T in Life, trends

In the regional press round my way there have been a lot of fashion spreads recently about choosing the perfect wedding dress.  I’m not target audience, but it struck me that 80% of these dresses seem to fall into the ‘strapless meringue’ category. I’ve been wondering why otherwise sane and stylish women decide that this … Continue reading why do brides say ‘I Do’ to the strapless meringue? →

Putting my finger on an art direction trend

Posted on by Gemma T in advertising, Campaigns, trends

I’ve noticed a new trend in TV art direction recently – the Touchscreen Finger Effect.  Watch how we slide seamlessly from one product benefit to another!  That’s how cool and relevant to your tech-savvy life our brand and product is! Recent offenders include: Land Rover  Recover Energy with .. Watch the ad... Toyota Auris Thousands … Continue reading Putting my finger on an art direction trend →

why for some 70 somethings, digital exclusion isn’t fixable

Posted on by Gemma T in society, technology, trends

At last week’s SupNorth we were talking about choosing the appropriate digital platform to communicate with your target audience (aka ‘the answer isn’t always an iphone app’). But I raised the thought that trying to use digital channels at all for some audiences is still inappropriate.  I’ve posted before about my 70-something technophobe Dad who … Continue reading why for some 70 somethings, digital exclusion isn’t fixable →

There’s no such thing as normal or loyal anymore

Posted on by Gemma T in consumers, recession, trends

I’ve come to the conclusion that we can no-longer talk about ‘normal’.  Or ‘average’, ‘typical’, ‘loyal’, even ‘regular’ customers / shoppers / consumers / target audience. You see, the customer, consumer or whatever grew up.  They got savvy.  The recession forced them to reappraise their shopping behaviour. They started visiting different supermarkets, haggling with furniture … Continue reading There’s no such thing as normal or loyal anymore →

The outlook for Christmas 2010 is digital

Posted on by Gemma T in digital, trends

The predicted top ten best-selling toys for Christmas 2010 have been announced – and they’re all basically digital (whatever happened to creative play?).  The maddest of them all is Barbie Video Girl, who has a video camera lens in her necklace and playback screen embedded in her back: It looks like we’re going to have … Continue reading The outlook for Christmas 2010 is digital →

why I don’t think Fast Fashion is slowing down

Posted on by Gemma T in fashion, trends

There’s a piece in today’s Guardian about ‘Slow Fashion’, which declares now is the time to buy forever fashion that will last. I don’t think terminally stylish designs with lasting appeal ever really went away and if we are doing what Gok tells us and shopping less but wearing more, that can only be A … Continue reading why I don’t think Fast Fashion is slowing down →