This Lord & Taylor ad may be old but it’s not outdated. I love the whimsical, hand-drawn, black and white artwork that I see so little of today. I’m keeping this ad to remind me that in this digital world of computer graphics and photos, smart hand-drawn artwork will always stand out from the crowd.

See how the headline becomes part of the fun and helps to turn this ad into a real eye-catcher? I can almost hear those yappy dogs now!

If this is the first you’ve heard of my 28-Day Creative Challenge, you may want to learn what it’s all about by reading: My Challenge: 28 Days To Clean Up My Creative Morgue. It’s a short post, only one paragraph – I promise.

Designers have been complaining for at least 20 years that the sale ads are too crowded. In the past, we would discuss the merchandise in meetings and the merchants could be persuaded to run less items. Today, the economy and the advertising industry are both in chaos and the merchants seem to have the upper hand. I also blame those young “whipper-snapper” designers who are still able to read small print. Just because 6 point type is available doesn’t mean you have to use it. As a matter of fact, advertising disclaimers must be at least 8 point type to meet the retail advertising regulations of some states.

Did you happen to see the “FREE Gift with $20 Purchase” offer that another Ohio-based chain store advertised over the Christmas season? The “free gift” was just an empty box—a plain, white gift box that stores like Macy’s routinely give away. The store’s Facebook fans discussed it at length and called it “CHEAP.” To quote Charlotte Beers (Advertising Hall of Fame 2009 inductee) “It’s not what you say [FREE] but what they hear [CHEAP].”

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Spring really is just around the corner, at least as far as the fashion industry is concerned. If you haven’t downloaded your “TOP 10 Colors for Spring 2010” bookmark, CLICK HERE to get yours now. Use it as a bookmark or take it along as a color guide when shopping. Graphic designers will find the CMYK values given for each color handy, too.

Looking for unique events to celebrate? CLICK HERE to download your very own “2010 Retail Promotional Calendar.” Never miss National Karaoke Week or National Bathroom Reading Month again.

It’s advertising that convinces some men to pay two months salary for a diamond engagement ring. An advertising campaign that started in 1938 changed the way Americans looked at diamond engagement rings forever. De Beers, a diamond cartel, hired a New York advertising agency to persuade Americans to buy more expensive diamonds. They created a campaign that targeted young men and planted the idea that diamonds were a gift of love: the larger and finer the diamond, the greater the expression of love.

It’s advertising that gave us Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Did you know that Rudolph was created by Chicago’s Montgomery Ward Department Store as a promotional gimmick? Every year around the holidays Montgomery Ward used to give away coloring books. In 1939, they decided it would be cheaper to produce them in-house. One of their advertising copywriters was told to write a story for young readers, and he created our beloved Rudolph.

It may have been subliminal advertising that caused Democrat Al Gore  to lose the 2000 presidential election. The Republicans ran a TV ad in which the word “RATS” flashed briefly on the screen as Gore’s prescription drug plan was criticized. We will never know exactly what effect this may have had on the election but it caused quite an uproar which resulted in the ad being pulled.

Advertising is one of the most persuasive tools a company has. Never underestimate it’s mind-altering power.