Advertising

Five meaty ideas for Smashburger's new TV campaign

Smashburger, our locally born and quickly proliferating burger chain, is taking its wares to the small screen with its first-ever television ads. One thirty-second spot, created by Denver-based Definite Productions, is a burger-fan dream sequence, reportedly complete with actual beef patty-smashing ... More >>

Reader: There's nothing "strange" about nudism

Websites are not the only way to get news about Denver. We love learning about this city by reading the fliers posted on billboards and light posts around town -- fliers that usually hype band gigs, advertise garage sales, or lament lost pets. One flier in particular caught our eye last week. It was ... More >>

Peyton Manning wants a slice of the pie -- Papa John's, that is

Peyton Manning is now officially a Papa. After making his first appearance in a Papa John's ad for Superbowl XLV in 2011, he inked a deal today to become the owner of 21 Papa John's franchise stores in Denver. Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. See also: - Video: Ten best Peyton Mannin ... More >>

Westword ownership to be based in Denver, again, after Voice Media Group deal

The first edition of Westword hit the streets of Denver in September 1977. Over the past 35 years, Westword has gone through many changes -- as has the publishing industry in general, and the alternative newspaper industry in particular. But our basic mission has not changed: to cover (and sometimes ... More >>

Judge Judy: Mitt Romney camp also buying ads on show targeted by Obama forces

Editor's note: This election cycle,Westword is exploring the public records of television stations for information about how candidates are spending money on ads in Denver. Seems that Jude Judy has bipartisan appeal in Denver. After reporting last week that Barack Obama's campaign is pouring money ... More >>

Medical marijuana outdoor advertising ban moving forward at Denver City Council

For the past several months, the Denver City Council has been debating outdoor medical marijuana advertising. The main question: Should it be prohibited near schools or banned entirely? Now, a ban seems to have the momentum, and could be approved in the next several weeks.

Medical marijuana outdoor-ad-ban decision in Denver delayed until August

Two competing medical marijuana advertising bans have been proposed by Denver City Council members, and their concepts are very different in scope. The council's Debbie Ortega and Christopher Herndon have until August to find a compromise before their colleagues take a vote.

Medical marijuana ad regs a way for industry to show it's responsible, advocate says

Yesterday, the Denver City Council's Businesses, Workforce and Sustainability Committee voted in favor of an ordinance that would ban medical marijuana advertising within 1,000 feet of schools, daycares, parks and rec centers. It's a proposal Cannabis Business Alliance executive director Shawn Colem ... More >>

Hot Dog

Crispin Porter Bogusky attempts to turn baby carrots into a junk food

Crispin Porter BoguskySex sells, but can it sell baby carrots?​When Boulder-based advertising firm Crispin Porter Bogusky set began constructing a marketing campaign to sell more carrots, its creative team studied consumers' "carrot habits," and learned all about the importance of crunch a ... More >>

Stupid ad of the week: Axe's fallen angels

OMG: a Dogma sequal?​Few companies blatantly exploit sex appeal for financial gain as much as AXE male scent products. Sure, almost every advertisement in history has employed some degree of sexual innuendo, but AXE forgets all about the innuendo part and goes straight for the junk. Exhibit A: ... More >>

A personal appeal to Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales: Just get advertising already

Eeeeeewww!​Here's to you, Wikipedia, settler of barroom bets, supplier of obscure facts, primary source of 80 percent of papers written for freshman comp. You are our favorite way to waste time on our smartphones, the first thing that comes up when we type "coprophagia" into Google; indeed, yo ... More >>

Pandora and Bernie Buescher: Colorado's first and only streaming-radio political ads?

​So you're happily listening to your custom-made MGMT station on Pandora Radio when suddenly a dude starts talking to you about elections and stuff and a photo of an earnest-looking guy pops into your track listing. What gives? Welcome to the brave new world of political advertising. Secretar ... More >>

Medical marijuana advertising revenue greening local papers (like this one), says New York Times

William Breathes.​I overheard someone call our fine publication Weedword not too long ago, referencing the eight-plus pages of medical marijuana ads in the back of our print edition. Funny, and also true. As Jeremy Peters points out in today's New York Times, that greening of advertisements ha ... More >>

Focus on the Family's Broncos game ad campaign -- minus Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow and his mom for FOTF.​Colorado Springs' Focus on the Family made a big splash earlier this year with a pro-life Super Bowl ad starring Tim Tebow and his mom. And while the publicity generated by the spot couldn't prevent 110 layoffs announced earlier this month, Focus learned that th ... More >>

K-High lives -- and Steve Hamilton's devoted to keeping it thriving online

Steve Hamilton is still high on K-High.​On April 30, K-High, Denver's contemporary-jazz radio outlet, vanished from the airwaves after its owner, Bustos Media, sold the 101.9 FM frequency to Christian broadcaster WAY-FM. The sale price shows how much radio-property values have plummeted in re ... More >>

Focus on the Family's Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad: Pro-lifers jumping on the bandwagon before they even see the commercial

Focus on the Family's decision to buy a Super Bowl ad featuring Florida QB Tim Tebow and his mom has generated a gusher of publicity due largely to protests from pro-choice groups presuming the spot will push an anti-abortion agenda. This extended segment from The O'Reilly Factor is a prime example ... More >>

Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad in O'Reilly Factor spotlight: "Are you offended that Tim Tebow's alive?"

Yesterday, we shared Focus on the Family spokesman Gary Schneeberger's defense of the organization's forthcoming Super Bowl ad, starring Florida QB Tim Tebow and his mom, against protests by a variety of women's organizations. Since then, critics have been out in force, with Women's Media Center pr ... More >>

To defeat the evil health-care legislation, Republicans will target a lawmaker near you

They're coming for you, Betsy Markey.​Politico reports this morning that the battle over President Obama's health care-reform bill will be waged, and won, during the upcoming August recess. And Republicans is already identifying Colorado Democrats it believes it can persuade to stiff-arm the p ... More >>

Quiznos' take on toasty oven love

Last week, I expressed my confusion regarding the Quiznos campaign for its new Toasty Torpedo. Although I still can't get over the peculiar oven-man sexual chemistry, I suppose I can rest a little easier after this relatively ambiguous explanation for the ads from Rebecca Steinfort, chief marketing ... More >>

Layoffs at 5280, too

As publications throughout Colorado suffered declines in recent years, one seemed immune from problems afflicting the journalism industry: 5280. As noted in "Dan Brogan's a Mile High on 5280 ," a July 2007 blog featuring an interview with the aforementioned Brogan, the magazine's founder, editor a ... More >>

The YMCA's In and Out List

The New Depression thriftiness is forcing ad execs to get creative. Car commercials brag about how much money their tiny hatchbacks will save on gas. Banks insist they're the only trusted sources of financial wisdom left. Weird late-night TV ads urge you to stick your gold jewelry in a plastic bag, ... More >>

Chipotle needs a new ad man? How about Adam Cayton-Holland?

Nude Bicyclist Gives Comcast Viewers an Eyeful

Denver Post Pimps Advertiser on Sunday Page One

Dan Brogan's a Mile High on 5280

Our Daily Bread

Newspapers keep cutting staff, but Jake Jab’s American Furniture Warehouse is standing by them. Why?

A Colorado Springs McEducation, thanks to Wal-Mart

Eye Candy

Quiznos ads are fully baked.

Flame Out

Prof Positive

Fame has its price for Video Professor John Scherer -- and he's eager to pay.

Danger Doom

The Mouse and the Mask (Epitaph)

Critical Fatwa

Letters to the Editor

From the week of May 12, 2005

The Message

Are You Positive?

Minus the Bear

They Make Beer Commercials Like This (Arena Rock)

Best Radio DJ

Pete MacKay, KQMT/99.5 The Mountain

Best Budget Wedding Dresses

Puttin' on the Ritz

Best Addition to the Denver Skyline -- Commercial Division

Twins!
Coors Light Billboards

The Pain Train

Two years later, a digital-video short film became an overnight ad sensation

Survival of the Fittest

Planet Muscle publisher Jeff Everson isn't afraid to tackle the truth about bodybuilding supplements. Sort of.

Radio Rumble

Clear Channel takes on all comers, including the largest ratings service in the country.

Best Old-Style Tailor

Duman's Custom Tailor and Uniforms

Show & Sell

Local newscasts have plenty of style, but where’s the substance?

Blood, Sweat and Beers

What we talk about when we talk about beer vendors.

A Little Piece of Denver

Developers lure Denver municipal workers to the sticks.

Big Digital Brother

A Boulder company has its eye (and eyes) on the Internet.

Calling All White People

DPS launches an ad campaign to recruit white students now that busing is over.

ON BEYOND ZIMA

OFF LIMITS