Breaking News! Popeyes Runs Out Of Chicken

I thought local broadcast news reached a new low with its widespread, panic-laden coverage of swine flu. I was mistaken. Rochester, NY’s ABC affiliate, WHAM Channel 13, released two weeks ago a scathing report on a Popeyes franchisee which closed early one day because it ran out of chicken.… Read the rest

How To Smoke Smarties (And Ignite Customer Passion)

I don’t understand why reporters still automatically conclude problems and crisis when people use brands in unintended ways and then share their experience with others. People have done that forever.

This time it’s Advertising Age announcing foul play over a few kids that posted online videos of themselves demonstrating how you can inhale and then exhale powdered sugar from Smarties candies, creating a cigarette-like smoke cloud.… Read the rest