So I start next monday

So I have a job as a quality control inspector for the PPG group for Snelling Staffing. Yeah right on the track to My Career. I apply and apply but it just stinks out there right now.


So here is what I am thinking about Advertising.

Branding is an art form. It's like a first date; You want to impress, you want there to be a second date. You want to be the one they think about the next day. Seems simple doesn't it. If it were only so simple. In my opinion who has a great brand. Lebron James. Look around he is recognizable. He is the face of the NBA, he made more money than any of us before he ever step foot on a basketball court. Nike made him a Multimillionaire before he was out of his teens. Why? Why give this High School kid tens of millions of dollars to market their product? It's simple really.

What you need to realize is that Nike's investment was one of the greatest moves of all time. Did they know that he would be any good? No not a clue, what they did know is that it was a fifty-fifty risk. Look at the numbers, how much do you think Nike makes off each pair of Lebron's shoe they have. The return from that compared to how much they pay Lebron is simple, He brings in consumer spending for the Nike Brand. ESPN has some great commercials with LEBRON too make sure to youtube them, simple making him more and more vi sable.

Sure its simple marketing but look at how Lebron has moved from high school to staring in his own series of commercials. Some of my personal favorites really. Take a look at this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsoP6bjADic&feature=related
I mean is it Nike or is it Lebron, Obviously it's Lebron, Nike is going to benefit but if he wanted to when his contract is up he can easily have what Jordon has with his own brand of clothing and merchandise.

The Lebron commercials are some of my favorites simply because they make you laugh, they don't force you to go buy anything. The message is simple. LEBRON is the present and the Future. I mean come on he has his own Bubbaliscious gum flavor.

I give credit where it is due for Wieden + Kennedy have produced some great Nike Spots and used Nike's athletes to do some great work. What they can't do is use shameless insertions of Lil Wayne into their ads like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRl9zdqOrpo
If I am Nike I don't want Lil Wayne to be a feature of my product. Yes he may be popular but he doesn't stand for what Nike does. Unless Nike stands for Guns and degrading women. But hey what ever sells a shoe.