Our Insights

advertising, communications, Crenshaw Communications, marketing • February 11, 2011

Can Eminem Save Detroit?

“This is the Motor City, and this is what we do.” Hearing those words from Eminem, his finger wagging in my face, gave me chills. It’s the defiant climax of the two-minute Chrysler commercial that debuted during the Super Bowl. The spot grabbed everyone, partly because it stood out among the beer-serving dogs and […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, social media, technology • February 6, 2011

Does The Revolution Really Need Twitter?

A fascinating sidebar to the civil uprising in Egypt is the debate over the role of social media in the breathtaking rate of the government’s unraveling. After #jan25 happened, many enthusiasts took the opportunity to gloat over social media’s status as accelerant, first in Tunisia and now in Egypt. This revolution has not only been […]

News • February 1, 2011

Sleepy’s Names Crenshaw Communications As AOR

Sleepy’s, the mattress and bedding store with 700+ retails locations in U.S., has named Crenshaw Communications as agency of record. The CC team will launch a branded PR campaign linking Sleepy’s with better sleep. The campaign will kick off in January, when so many Americans resolve to get more and better sleep. For the full story, […]

advertising, communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation • January 30, 2011

"Thanks For Suing Us!" Taco Bell Takes On "Beef-Gate"

A California woman’s beef with Taco Bell over the ingredients in her taco served up an interesting crisis management case study last week. The food fight has turned into a class-action lawsuit alleging false advertising by the chain. The suit claims its tacos are only 36 percent beef, which, if true, means they wouldn’t even […]

advertising, branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations • January 25, 2011

Banned-Ad Gimmick Loses Super Bowl PR Points

As Super Bowl XLV approaches, marketing pundits are suiting up for the ad-stravaganza, but I’m naturally more interested in the PR Bowl. It’s a big part of the marketing investment, and it’s fun to watch brands try to score free media coverage weeks ahead of time. But, one much-practiced play that’s losing ground is the “banned” ad. […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, leadership, public relations • January 19, 2011

Tucson And The Power Of Metaphors

When, in the aftermath of the Tucscon tragedy, some linked it to Sarah Palin’s gun sight map, I was actually irritated. Any attempt to politicize what happened is revolting, and it seemed like a red herring at best. (In my book, images don’t kill people, semiautomatic weapons kill people. But this blog is about communications.) […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation, social media • January 12, 2011

When Bad PR Is Good For Business

Boycotts are powerful, but they can also be PR magnets, drawing attention where none is deserved. That seems to be the case with the attempts to pressure Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade goods, to drop one of its sellers. Etsy is known not only for the business opportunities it provides to artist-entrepreneurs, but for […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, technology • January 9, 2011

What Happened In Vegas: Top Trends From CES 2011

And I thought it was 2010 when CES got its mojo back. By the end of day one of CES 2011, I knew this year’s geekfest would easily top last year’s. The recession seems to be receding, the innovation thriving, and the news flowing. Here are the top trends from CES 2011. Tablets, tablets, tablets. Not […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation • December 31, 2010

The Worst PR Moves Of 2010

It was a good year for bad moves – when it comes to PR, that is. Here’s our list for 2010’s biggest PR blunders. BP. Let’s get it out of the way. There’s not much more to say about BP’s response to the flood of bad press after the Gulf oil spill. Its handling of the […]