_Editorial

By Heather Taylor What’s the best way to start your day? Give a little yodel! Yodel-ay-hee-hoo! Are you a longtime fan of the hot cocoa and hot chocolate company Swiss Miss? If so, you may recall Swiss Miss had an iconic character that represented the brand several decades ago. Swiss Miss, with her golden pigtails and blue frock, could always…

By Heather Taylor Over the last few months, the GEICO Gecko’s adventures have been fairly docile. He’s been busy with work presentations and made his first (fiery) s’mores during a camping trip. This October, the Gecko celebrates “Happy GEICOween!” in a new series of GEICO commercials from The Martin Agency. GEICOween may be the first time we’ve ever seen the…

By Heather Taylor In 1995, Ronald McDonald couldn’t figure out what he was going to be for Halloween. One thing was for sure: he wasn’t going to the costume party dressed as a clown! This is the plot of “What Am I Gonna Be For Halloween?” the two-part McDonald’s Halloween-themed commercial from advertising agency Leo Burnett. McDonaldland’s Biggest Halloween Fan…

By Heather Taylor 2022 may still be a few years out, but the Beijing Winter Olympic Games has debuted its mascots! Meet Bing Dwen Dwen, the official Olympic mascot, and Shuey Rhon Rhon, the Paralympic mascot for the 2022 Olympics. Welcome Bing Dwen Dwen! The active, and adorable, panda ambassador Bing Dwen Dwen is sure to melt the hearts of…

By Heather Taylor Can you tell me — or better yet, Professor Burke, the spokesperson for Farmers Insurance —how to get to Sesame Street? Since 2010, Professor Burke (played by actor J.K. Simmons) has appeared in more than 65 Farmers Insurance commercials. From rooftop parking to “hit and drone” runs, Professor Burke has seen and covered nearly everything in the…

By Heather Taylor As Advertising Week kicked off #AWNewYork on Monday September 23, 2019 and inducted new brand mascots into the Madison Avenue Walk of Fame, it was also a very special day for another character. The first lady of fruit, Miss Chiquita of Chiquita banana fame, celebrated her 75th anniversary. From getting a makeover to winning the PopIcon International…

By Heather Taylor Welcome to the first day of #AWNewYork with Advertising Week! On Monday September 23, 2019, brand mascots celebrated Advertising Week’s 16th Annual Madison Avenue Walk of Fame by inducting two beloved characters and iconic brand slogans. Meet The Winning Mascots! 2019’s nominees included fresh faces and longtime favorites in the advertising industry. Our winners were the Oscar…

By Heather Taylor The truth is out there… and it tastes really good, too. Starting September 19th, alien believers and Kool-Aid enthusiasts get to sip on Kool-Aid’s limited-edition “UFO-Yeah Intergalactic Green” drink mix — for free. How Do I Get My Free Kool-Aid? Unfortunately, the aliens themselves will not be descending down on Earth to pass out this drink mix…

By Heather Taylor Orville Redenbacher was destined to lead an a-maize-ing life. Today, when we see his bespectacled, bowtie-clad, smiling face on packages of Orville Redenbacher classic popcorn many of us may not know much about his story behind the snack. Redenbacher put decades of dedication into developing the perfect popcorn hybrid that changed the way we savor popcorn forever.…

By Heather Taylor Horatio Magellen Crunch has encountered more than a few unusual personalities in his time spent sailing the Milk Sea on the S.S. Guppy! The Cap’n Crunch icon spent his 1960s voyages often accompanied by crew mates like Sea Dog and Crunchberry Beast. Occasional journeys included a swashbuckling showdown with the nefarious pirate Jean LaFoote to protect boxes…

By Heather Taylor We’re big fans of brand mascots at PopIcon, but how does our love for characters measure up to the rest of the United States? Crestline, a custom promotional products company, recently conducted a survey to uncover advertising’s most memorable mascots. The survey consisted of responses from 1,630 participants covering 82 different characters in high school yearbook-esque superlatives.…

By Heather Taylor Oh yeah? Oh no! On Monday March 9th, Kool-Aid tweeted that their beloved brand mascot has gone missing. The initial tweet said “The big red pitcher has left the building!” and was full of red alarm emojis. Not since the auto theft of the NUTmobile in 2017 has there been such a need to put out an…

By Heather Taylor Is Halloween canceled? Not when the Kool-Aid Man is on your side! In 2020, the Kool-Aid Man is encouraging kids stuck at home on October’s most spooktacular night to reverse trick-or-treat alongside the iconic pitcher. What’s Reverse Trick-or-Treating? The CDC has advised against traditional trick-or-treating amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This means, at least in 2020, that kids…

By Heather Taylor Kevin the Carrot, the adventurous brand mascot for Aldi UK, has a penchant for getting into mishaps during the holidays. Ad agency McCann UK gets a kick out of creating teaser spots of blockbuster proportions leading up to Aldi UK’s final holiday commercial. Kevin the Carrot, much like 2020 itself, is struggling to navigate a year full…

By Heather Taylor Nobody has a thicker skin in the advertising industry than a brand mascot. Iconic characters like Cap’n Crunch, the Pillsbury Doughboy, and the Aflac Duck wear an absurd amount of hats. They have to constantly sell a product, but never ask for a raise, benefits, or PTO. As they age, characters like the Green Giant and Keebler…

By Heather Taylor Advertising Week’s nominees for the 2019 Madison Avenue Walk of Fame Awards have arrived! Cast your vote for your favorite advertising icon and join us at #AWNewYork 2019 as we announce the two winners inducted into the Madison Avenue Walk of Fame! Who will win? Will it be longtime icons like McGruff the Crime Dog or the…

By Heather Taylor Crestline, a custom promotional products company, recently revealed the results of a survey about the most memorable brand mascots in the United States. The survey broke down memorable icons by various age groups including baby boomers and Gen Z. Who’s the most memorable character for baby boomers? Miss Blue Bonnet from Blue Bonnet butters and margarine spreads…