Artwork by Tarek Chemaly In case you have been living under a rock, Lebanon is having a... challenging week (yes, again). You can go elsewhere for all the details. Suffice to say the Christian quarters seem to feel targeted again. Interestingly, what's with the engrained paranoia they have (I say they and not we as I feel un-paranoid) they are taking aim in their revenge on every moving entity that seems to be Syrian - haphazardly, without discrimination. Kind reminder: when the Syrian forces entered Lebanon, Christians (read that Phalangists) welcomed them by throwing rice on them on ..read more

Well, so the IAA (Lebanese Chapter) is announcing the relaunch of the International Advertising Association Young Professionals chapter. Per their own words: "The IAA YP chapter is dedicated to nurturing and empowering young talents aged below 35, providing them with opportunities for growth, networking, and professional development. To kickstart our relaunch, we are organizing a gathering where attendees will have the chance to learn more about the IAA YP and participate in a Creative Masterclass titled "The 5 C's of Creativity." The participation is free of charge." Let us be honest, when o ..read more

Well IPT seems to be on a roll. First watch their World Health Day here. Then a lovely reminder of what they did on Mother's Day here. OK, so I am going to disregard including McDonald's in an ad for World Health Day (which they did), but - I also don't know if these cute people featured in the ad work at IPT - but damn it they are so model-cute and well chosen! The whole ad has this very suave feeling to it, so I am glad IPT seems to be running on some tight strategy (it is obvious everything is coming from a specific place, not just placed haphazardly). Interestingly the whole thing is bran ..read more

Ah all apologies to Joe Fish, this one slipped through the cracks for Mother's Day (which was March 21 in Lebanon). The ads are really cute to be honest. They present the problem and the solution at once. So how do you remediate eating peas to a child? An air fryer. A bad hairdo? A good electric brush. The traces of a iron on clothes? A new version that would not leave such burns. But at the heart of it, "you know she always had the best intentions". There's also, in smaller font "mothers, we love you" just in case the main message went astray. Still, this was a good one to come one and a ..read more

In a previous post dated June 22, 2021 I wrote the following story (here): "You know the old adage, that in times of crisis brands should advertise more. So that when the crisis ends their name would be top of mind for the consumer. In 1989 the father of a friend was working on a very upscale banquet area in a resort in Kaslik. Of course, everyone thought the owner of the resort was bananas. Why invest in such a luxurious thing when the war was raging? Fast forward to 1991 and the war ended, and guess where everyone who was anyone wanted to throw their wedding reception?" Well, this is indeed ..read more

Heard about the De22ou el Chamasi issue?  First look at the ad - here. It is for Al Ahli Malak - and I thought it was cute as a button (lovely, lively, well-styled, bubble gum colored, and youngish....).  OK, I am also sure you know the original song by Abdel Halim Hafez from the movie "Abi Fawka Al Chajara" (my father above the tree). Here is a reminder. Ever since the ad started airing, the estate of Abdel Halim filed a motion to stop it (A kind of "cease and desist"). The issue? Well, it was written by Moursi Jamil Aziz and the music is by Mounir Mrad. Meaning that Abdel Halim Ha ..read more

Apparently yesterday was "International Zero Waste Day". I was an environmentalist even before the word. I grew up in a family where nothing was thrown away, everything was "make do and mend", we lived by "waste not, want not" without even knowing it existed. We "recycled" and "upcycled" even before any of this became a fad. And even at AUB, I used to speak of all such topics way before any of this reached media and hype. The reason though I speak of all of this today is because apparently yesterday was "International Zero Waste Day". I saw a nice segment from Spinney's - here. But it shocked ..read more

Photo by Natalia Nasser Well, this might have several meanings. But let's recap. First this is taken right next to the entrance of City Mall in Hazmieh. So? Le Charcutier does not have a branch in that mall. But, competitor Le Carrefour does. So? Well, people have been calling for boycotts left and right ever since the whole Gaza issue exploded (sadly literally). So? Well, Le Charcutier is saying "From you and part of you (local expression), Lebanese from generations" (the actual words are "abban 3an jedd" - from father to grandfather - a term that TeleLiban used masterfully in the p ..read more

Remember those Jacquemus Bambino bags cruising in Paris in April 2023 which made everyone wonder if they were real of fake? (actually they were fake and the 3D artist behind them is called Ian Padgham - here). So guess who cruised the streets of Downtown Beirut? Some Potion Kitchen kits a la Jacquemus. Body-Face-Hair the kits say along with Potion Kitchen logo. Well, the difference between the two is that, in the Potion Kitchen thingy you never ask yourself "are these real?" (you actually do in the Jacquemus activation). I mean I do appreciate the effort, but the fact that is like a year too ..read more

IPT has nailed it indeed... What's more interesting than road signs? Road signs written by mothers! "slow down sweetie there's a curve ahead". "promise me not to go fast baby", "don't overtake cares and make me worried", "ring me once you get there", "stop darling", "I am not budging before you put the seatbelt on". "Sustainable love, nurtured by moms, fueled for life". And guess what? It works splendidly (do note, some of the terms of endearment in Arabic language could not transposed into English, so I did my best). And with this happy mother's day to all concerned ..read more