Pharmaceuticals
Advil displays its feats of strength
A new campaign for Cold & Sinus opts to focus on the power of the product instead of the struggles of illness.
Wake-Ups has mass market dreams
The caffeine pill brand returns to advertising after 65 years with new videos and a rooster roaming the streets.
London Drugs makes a loyalty play
After years of research, the pharmacy has launched a program tailored to customer purchases and behaviour.
Retail growth stays ‘warm’ in Q2
As sales cool slightly, analyst Ed Strapagiel says the outlook for the rest of the year is “good, but not great.”
Robax explores its backstory
A new campaign for the back pain brand uses puppets on a stage to empathize with its target’s suffering.
Inside Cossette’s new health division
In addition to integrated advertising, Cossette Health looks to guide clients through innovation with an accelerator.
Johnson & Johnson brings innovation lab to Canada
JLABS @ Toronto will provide 22 life sciences start-ups with the space and resources to grow.
This watched pot will boil
We look at the marijuana industry’s high hopes for new regulations and how three producers are preparing their brands.
Anderson DDB wins Rexall
After a lengthy competitive review, the health-focused arm of DDB will be AOR for the retailer.
What’s in a name?
Pfizer is putting its signature on one of its top products to let consumers know what separates it from the rest.
Allegra finds a point of differentiation
The brand is changing creative gears with a new campaign that focuses on what allergy sufferers could miss out on.
Clearasil’s spotty campaign scores free media, global pickup interest
What’s a dalmatian without its spots?
The Yorke effect: Susan Yorke, marketing director, Swiss Herbal Remedies
After 15 years of launching and re-launching brands for CPG firms, Susan Yorke has developed a reputation as ‘the turn-around agent.’ Her next mission: Toronto-based vitamin manufacturer Swiss Herbal Remedies.
Fall spend forecast
The perennial top spenders are government, automotive, and food, but lately entertainment, technology/telecom, and healthcare/pharmaceutical advertisers have joined the ranks. With multinationals like Procter & Gamble looking to redistribute media spending and cut back on TV, these newcomers will become more and more important to broadcasters as traditional categories finetune their media mix. Still, don’t look for new categories to jump into conventional this season. You will, however, see some trying specialty TV for the first time.
Who will outwit, outlast and outplay?
It certainly isn’t a soft sell anymore. Undoubtedly, the erectile dysfunction marketing war has hit a new and fevered pitch.
