America's Hottest Brands

Consumer spending may have gone cold in 2009, but that didn't stop these marketers from turning up the temperature. Ad Age chooses the upstarts and established brands that are setting the pace for innovation -- and getting results -- right now. Continue reading >>

Goin' Rogue

Late last week, on my way to a 9 a.m. meeting, I encountered two rogue sponsorship programs, one by Clear and one by Chase. Clear, a brand I'd never heard of but which evidently really likes green, had taken over a park, locally known as Love Park, that Philadelphians both love and hate. We love it because it's pretty, has a great fountain, but we're wary because of its past – the City crack...

Nationwide Dots the R-O-i With O.S.U.

If you're an Ohio State fan, you've probably always wanted to follow in the footsteps of Woody Hayes, Bob Hope and Jack Nicklaus and dot the "i." Nationwide Insurance, the official insurance sponsor of Ohio State athletics, launched a clever social media campaign this season that invited fans to dot the "i"... online. The campaign centers around OnYourSideline.com, an interactive micro site th...

The Six Most Memorable Press Conferences

Second guessing is an art form, practiced in pre-season media days and perfected in the post-game press conference. In case you fell asleep thinking the Patriots had SNF in the bag, you're kicking yourself for missing an epic finish and, in the opinion of most, a blunderful playcall at the hands of Pats coach, Bill Belichik. As press conference sponsors, Covidien and Dunkin Donuts, were the...

Is Aggregating Rights A Smart Strategy for Nascar?

Despite some recent notable deals, there's still a lot of pain across NASCAR team race shops. The growing frustration is leading to increasingly louder calls for a new model. Does NASCAR have a responsibility to broker and/or steer companies interested in commercial opportunities with the sport toward teams? That's the question that Josh Corder of bleacherreport.com asks. Corder writes: ...

Links 11/16/09

PETA Takes Issue With 'Sesame Street' SponsorTD Bank Renews Philadelphia International Cycling ChampionshipsToshiba signs as sponsor of England football team Deutsche Bank Signs Five-Year Sponsorship Accord With Art HKCredit Suisse Signs Roger Federer to Long Term DealNissan's Cube Gets Supporting role in Crash & Burn Yi Jianlian helping Nets take their marketing to China Univision Be...

Sponsorship Draws Attention to Sustainable Fashion

Can fashion have a positive impact on the environment? Can green clothing be sexy? Is it sustainable to create slow fashion and can second-hand be futuristic? These are some of the questions that emerging designers are being tasked with through Denmark's Innovating Sustainable Fashion design contest and fashion show. The design contest will culminate in a fashion show on December 2nd during...

Does the PGA Tour Model Need A Makeover?

Just 10 weeks til tee off at Torrey Pines, The San Diego Union-Tribune writes that the Century Club and the PGA Tour are still on the hunt for a title sponsor for the Century Club of San Diego Invitational, formerly the Buick Invitational. Tod Leonard writes that the current crisis has awakened the PGA Tour: 'Yet here the Century Club stands, a suitor spurned by numerous possible bri...

Local Media, Layoffs and Sponsorship

In Albuquerque, Live Nation is shopping the naming rights to the area's largest concert venue after the state's largest newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, decided to cut its 10 year naming rights tie and spend marketing dollars elsewhere. Earlier this year, the paper like virtually every other media organization, announced layoffs. While many organizations will cite shifts in mark...

How to Sponsor Free Stuff

Some sponsors will be looking to build goodwill by lining consumers pockets this holiday season. No problem in that right? Wrong. There's a right way and a wrong way to sponsor product and cash giveaways. The final tally for online marketing company Mailorama.fr's €100,000 free cash promotion: an angry mob of 5,000, 10 arrests, overturned cars, threatened legal action and 0 cash envel...