As the world burns and the rotting edifice of civilized society starts to fall in around our ears, let us celebrate pet-product online retailer Chewy for its exceptional and heartfelt
Continue readingAuthor: The Cranky Creative
The best damn freelance rate increase email on the net [FREE template]
Need to raise your freelance rates? Soften the blow for your clients with this free rate increase email template. Last year, one of my dear graphic designer friends contacted me
Continue readingWhy is modern advertising so terrible? A comparison of ads, past and present
The advertising industry has lost its way. It’s obvious every time we turn on the TV or open the mailbox. But what makes today’s ads so bad? Recently, advertising industry
Continue readingNo, consumers don’t care about your brand’s stand on social issues
We hear it all the time: “Brands need to take a stand on social issues.” “The public demands to know where your brand stands on social issues.” But is it
Continue readingAd Review: Fly the freaky skies with Virgin Atlantic
As brands and advertising agencies continue to get woke, Virgin Atlantic and its new advertising agency Lucky Generals join the fray with “See the World Differently,” a 60-second ad that
Continue readingAd Review: ‘Back to School with Publix’ is a heart-tugging failure
I’m going to take some heat for this one. “Back to School with Publix” is a good-looking, heartwarming ad. But it’s not a good ad, despite all of the positive
Continue readingAd Review: Chewy’s ‘Chatty Pets: Joy’ truly is
I promise, Cranky readers, I’ll get the cats out of my system soon. But not before I review “Chewy Chatty Pets: Joy,” a 30-second TV commercial from pet-product online retailer
Continue readingFlorida update #2: A kitty named Ladybug [UPDATE: She’s ours!]
We heard a soft jingle and turned toward the sound. Out of nowhere, a little gray tabby came sauntering over to us in all her striped glory. “That’s Ladybug,” said
Continue readingSad news as The Cranky Creative blog turns four
I’m sorry, Cranky reader. I’m not in the best mood today. My step-father-in-law passed away last week. He’d been diagnosed with lung cancer. Except he didn’t die of lung cancer.
Continue readingConfessions of a cranky creative
In this post, I share a collection of confessions, opinions, and unvarnished random thoughts that may or may not get me in trouble. Enjoy. 1. I was born to do
Continue readingFlorida update #1: So far, so friendly
We’d just rolled into town — my wife and I, our two cats, and little else — when we stopped into Wal-Mart to buy a few items for our new
Continue readingWhat a high school softball game taught me about life, people, and winning on my own
Let me tell you about the time I “broke the Matrix” in high school gym class, and what that taught me about life and living well. I remember it was
Continue readingSon of a beach! The Cranky Creative moves to Florida
I fell in love with Florida somewhere between Tampa International Airport’s main terminal and the Alamo Rent A Car. At that time — about eight years ago — the walk
Continue readingAd Review: HomeGoods ‘Love Story’ commercial knows its audience
Personally, I don’t much like “A Love Story,” the 30-second TV commercial for HomeGoods. Watching it, I can’t help but think of the scene from that movie, As Good As
Continue readingProgressive’s ‘Bundles’ commercial does creative right
Progressive‘s iconic “Flo” character debuted in 2008. And while the cast of characters in the company’s commercials has expanded since then to include names like Jamie and Dr. Rick, it’s
Continue readingJeremy’s Razors commercial takes on ‘woke’ Harry’s and Gillette
Are Americans growing tired of woke companies and brands? The Daily Wire thinks so. Witness this amazing commercial for Jeremy’s Razors — a non-woke alternative to shaving products from Harry’s
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