APRIL 29, 1987

Full News Archive

• Headline: JWT Reports $1.4 Million Loss. Impact: This JWT loss sent shockwaves through the advertising industry, prompting agencies to start using the phrase 'We’re in the red' as a trendy marketing slogan. Little did they know, this would inspire a whole line of financial self-help books later on. Fact: Did you know that advertising agencies often report losses just to keep their clients on their toes? It’s like a bad magician’s trick: 'Now you see your budget, now you don’t!'.
• Headline: Chiat/Day Wins Reebok Account. Impact: Chiat/Day’s win over Reebok was the beginning of a long-standing rivalry that eventually led to completely unnecessary ‘who wore it best’ debates on social media decades later. Thanks for that, Reebok. Fact: Fun fact: Back in the day, resigning from an ad account was akin to breaking up with someone via text. But hey, at least they didn’t ghost Reebok altogether!.
• Headline: Leadership Elevation at Young & Rubicam. Impact: The elevation of these four individuals to senior vice presidents sparked a ‘VP’ craze, leading to a sudden influx of people in offices everywhere adding 'Senior Vice President of Snacks' to their business cards. Fact: Did you know that in the advertising world, becoming a VP is kind of like winning a game of Monopoly? You get a fancy title, but it usually just means you have to pay more rent!.
• Headline: ADVERTISING; Interpublic Net Rises 27.9%. Impact: Interpublic's 27.9% rise proved that even in advertising, money can grow on trees—at least until the next quarterly report. This led to the invention of the 'money tree' office décor, which… spoiler alert… did not grow actual money. Fact: Did you know that 27.9% is also the percentage of people who don’t understand why their paycheck doesn’t reflect their hard work? Welcome to the club!.
• Headline: ADVERTISING; Shriber to Handle Sterling Car Dealers. Impact: With the formation of the Sterling Tri-State Dealers Association, car sales began to take on a competitive reality show vibe. Next thing you know, we’ll have ‘The Real Dealers of the Tri-State Area’ on prime time!. Fact: Did you know that car dealers often operate under the motto ‘No one leaves without a car’? It’s like a bad game show: you either win a car or get stuck in a 5-hour negotiation!.
• Headline: ADVERTISING; Dial Account Awarded. Impact: The mysterious Dial account assignment was the start of a trend where advertisers began to think that being vague was the new sexy. Hence, decades later, we ended up with endless ads that leave us asking, ‘Wait, what are they selling again?’. Fact: Here’s a fun tidbit: the more secretive an ad campaign, the more likely it is to feature a talking animal. Because nothing says ‘trust me’ like a wisecracking squirrel.
• Headline: ADVERTISING; TV Campaign to Begin For Funeral Planning. Impact: The hands-only approach in funeral planning ads sparked a bizarre trend where people began to feel comforted by the idea of discussing their death plans over tea. I mean, who doesn’t love a good existential crisis with a side of crumpets?. Fact: Did you know that studies show discussing death can actually extend your life? So, hey, those tea-drinking hands might be onto something!.
• Headline: GARDENING; PERENNIAL ARRAY FOR BOUQUETS. Impact: The revival of old-fashioned cutting gardens led to a resurgence of suburban gardeners, who suddenly thought they were the next Martha Stewart. Little did they know, they would just end up with too many zucchini. Fact: Fun fact: The phrase ‘cutting garden’ actually refers to flowers, not the emotional state of the gardener who planted them. Sorry, Martha!.