The Cranky Creative, Author at The Cranky Creative Blog

Mars candy company is retiring its cast of M&M's spokescandies

January 24, 2023 The Cranky Creative

M&M’s retires woke ‘spokescandies’ amid consumer backlash

Weeks after launching its latest campaign to attach social causes to its candy, M&M’s has pulled its cartoon candy characters indefinitely. Yesterday, the company took to Twitter to admit that

J&B whisky ad for modern audiences featuring a grandfather and his transgender grandson

January 2, 2023 The Cranky Creative

Woke capitalism and the myth of the ‘modern audience’

As brand after brand sacrifices its reputation and sales revenue in the relentless pursuit of “modern, progressive audiences,” one has to wonder: Is it worth it? And do these modern

Chewy bests other brands by connecting with its customers

December 11, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Chewy sets the example for brands by connecting with customers

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

Raise your freelance rates easily with this free rate increase email template

November 22, 2022 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

October 25, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Why 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

Frame from Pepsi's controversial TV commercial showing Kendall Jenner giving a Pepsi to a police officer at a Black Lives Matter protest

October 13, 2022 The Cranky Creative

No, 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

virgin-atlantic-tv-commercial-woke-or-no

August 30, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Ad 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

publix-back-to-school-with-publix-tv-commercial

August 23, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Ad 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

Still frame from Chewy's Chatty Pets: Joy TV commercial

August 17, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Ad 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

Ladybug the cute gray tabby relaxes in some grass

August 11, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Florida 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

July 6, 2022 The Cranky Creative

Sad 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.