Rory Sutherland stands at the center of an advertising revolution in brand identities, designing cutting-edge, interactive campaigns that blur the line between ad and entertainment.

Source: Ted.com

Are things getting better or worse, see the pros vs. cons

People are looking to replace hyperconsumption and artificiality with a way of living that offers more meaning and more intangible rewards—even as they wish to maintain the modern conveniences upon which they’ve grown reliant. Marketers will need to be mindful of these shifts as we work to create brand preferences and add values that speak to these new priorities. Given the debt crisis, #occupywallstreet, rogue bankers, obscene bonuses, and political instability, it’s no wonder people feel lost. The economic downturn of the past few years makes us question who’s at the helm. And the very different world in which we live today leads us to wonder whether we are straying too far from time-tested values and traditions. Globalization and new technologies have given birth to a new world, run by a new order— but would we have chosen it if we knew 20 years ago what we know today? And what choices and changes should we be making now to ensure we’re not still adrift or riddled with doubts when a new generation is born? The communications industry will have a role to play in helping people feel a greater sense of control and security, including making consumer choices that offer long-term satisfaction rather than a quick “sugar fix.” And corporations, as we have explored in depth in our Future of the Corporate Brand and New Consumer studies, have myriad new societal obligations and expectations to fulfill. This new study, Digital Life, makes even more apparent the extent to which people all over the world are anxious to reconsider our current path and make adjustments to ensure we’re moving toward a destination we actually will be happy to reach.

Source: Euro RSCG (HAVAS)Full report Euro-RSCG-PR-This-Digital-Life

A delegation from International Vocational College Malta where visiting JPA and Blaze    yesterday afternoon.  The students where accompanied by one of their senior lecturers Ms Derya Satariano who lectures the students at IVCM on Marketing.

The presentation included a welcoming address form the company’s Managing Director Mr Chris Bianco, Chris and Ms Derya Satariano agreed ‘we where brought up in the era of “Kotler” and that’s a great foundation but today rapid adaptability and versatility are key to any marketing strategy’. Chris then introduced Jamie Mc Tavish as the next speaker on the topic “Branding over the past 50 Years”. Mr Jamie Mc Tavish is the International Business Development and Creative Director at JPA. After his presentation Jamie commented on the calibre of the students and their engagement in the conversation as being indicative of the potential these young entrepreneurs have in becoming part of the “backbone of the Maltese Economy” a leading topic that the forefront of the recent B2B conference co-sponsored by JPA, BOV and Economic Update (Network Publications).

Students and Lecturer doing the grand tour of the recently renovated design studio at JPA From left to right (Standing) Alex Mangion, Stephanie, Camilleri, Ms Derya Satariano – IVCM Lecturer – Marketing and Blue Whitney. Seated: Paul Mizzi of RedWhite Malta fame and Richard Hili a leading Graphic designer at JPA and a highly successful photographer in his own right.

The third part of the presentation was made by JPA Digital Team. Ms Naila Neymatova and Mr Marius Gheghici, Naila lead the presentation focussing on the “Brand in the Digital area” ably followed up with discussion on Mobile Applications delivered by Marius.

The group then broke for a brief recess and then the Managing Director of Blaze Productions presented on: Sight, Sound and Everything else” . Mr Pace focused on the topic of transition, transitions that he has experienced first hand, he recalled his first video edit presentation to a leading client in Malta and the tiny sample video that they had produced and edited on computer ” the whole file was stored on a floppy disc”. The industry and the technology is now like a completely different planet compared to those days and once again we are faced with transition, more challenging and vastly more exciting. Brand builders of the future have a huge arsenal of technology on their side and anybody can shoot and edit a video now. They can distribute on one or many of  the hundreds of delivery channels available. Passion, creativity, clarity and innovation is all that needs to be added.

Ms Satariano asked Chris if the agency’s client gave clear concise briefs and did they allow the agency to have creative and strategic latitude.  Chris replied, no not in all cases but certainly with the longer standing relationships this was very much the case.

IVCM delegation visit Blaze Productions one of the leading video production units in Malta.

The talks where rounded off with a heartfelt delivery by one of JPA’s top Marketing Executives Mr James Baldacchino. James explained the bad reputation that advertising and the people who work in the industry had built up over the years. He went on to add that the time has arrived for marketing executives to becomes stewards of the true ethics behind their clients brands and service offerings. There is no room to keep ‘pushing’ the consumer, in fact the consumer is not even the right term any more. We must be involved in building meaningful, brands, that focus on deep integrity and that are ready respond to their public in a very personal way – one to one. James concluded by wishing the students the very best with their studies and he explained that because both his parents are teachers he simply had to give them a book recommendation, at which point he held up his copy of NO LOGO written by Naomi Klein, this he said is one of the best books ever written about integrity and  the way the world is heading.

Chris to the power of two, Chris Bianco and Chris Pace Managing Directors of JPA and Blaze after presentation to IVCM students

The presentation concluded at 17.00 hrs with the students rushing off to their next assignment Jamie Oliver cooking course – Enterprising young Entrepreneurs also need to know how to cook and eat well after they have built the brands of the future.

“On behalf of Bank of Valletta p.l.c., it is our pleasure to invite you to an information session on JEREMIE & the Single Euro Payments Area Project to be held on 17th May at 1600hrs at SmartCity Malta.

The aim of this information session is to provide you with useful information about the BOV JEREMIE Initiative and its salient advantages, together with the changes vis-à-vis the Single Euro payments Area Project (SEPA) that will be phased in within the next 18 months. Both the JEREMIE Initiative and the SEPA

Project will have important impact on your business customers. Officials from Bank of Valletta p.l.c. and the European Investment Fund will be giving practical information about the BOV JEREMIE Initiative and practical case studies. Furthermore, officials from the Central Bank of Malta and Bank of Valletta p.l.c. will be providing detailed information about the SEPA project and its anticipated changes.

You are also being invited to visit the development taking place at SmartCity Malta.

Registration for this information session will commence at 1530hrs. Refreshments will be served at end of the session.

Kindly confirm your booking by sending an e-mail to Ms Victoria Azzopardi on victoria.azzopardi@bov.com or by calling on 2275 5779.

We thank you in anticipation for your participation in this upcoming event.”

Yours sincerely

EU Business Development Department

If you’re interested, send your photo and contact number to Becky@jpadvertising.com

  or register in our models database: http://jpadvertising.com/models/

It’s Sunday 6th May and the JPA team are out there with the client Benna, under Benna branded skies. It is all happening at The Milk Festival 2012 in the cute village of Gharghur

The Milk Festival is an event held in the small village of Gharghur, Malta, and celebrates milk in all its forms. Visitors will be able to learn about the milks development through the ages as well as about milk production and how different dairy products are prepared and made.

The Milk Festival in Gharghur will offer freshly prepared food and drinks for sale as well as fresh milk products. Typical Maltese products will also be on sale for all food lovers during this fun event.

The bells are ringing and the milk is flowing!

Children will be able to visit the exhibition of dairy animals as well as visiting a local dairy farm and there will be plenty of other entertainment for the whole family at the Milk Festival in Malta!

The Malta Milk Festival is the perfect event for all those people who love milk, good food and animals!

SMEs – The Backbone to Local Industry. Plans, Initiatives, Challenges, Future…

A policy debate between  Hon. Tonio Fenech Minister of Finance, The Economy & Investment and Labour MP Dr Charles Mangion. 

The debate is being moderated by former Sunday Times Editor Lawrence Grech.

The Finance Minister Tonio Fenech revealed that tax credits for a total of €6 million had so far been issued to 700 companies under this scheme.

Asked to explain Opposition leader’s guarantee to keep 16-year-olds in school, training or employed, Dr Mangion that the philosophy behind this pledge to empower the youths to success in their life and at the same time, send out the message that they cannot live off the social security benefits.

Mr Fenech said that further €8 million were inject under the “€20 million for industry” schemes that have granted €38 million to more than 600 firms over the past two years.  Two hundred entrepreneurs have applied for this scheme.

The Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said that the government was committed to combat tax evasion. He explained that the tax revenue increased but at the same the government trimmed the tax bands.

Dr Charles Mangion said in the past years, wages effectively went down in real terms if inflation is factored in. On his part, the Finance Minister  said that since the setting up of Business First as a one-stop-shop for businesses, around 3,000 entreprenuers approach the Malta Enterprise seeking help.

Mr. John Schembri, the president of the Malta Association of Risk Management addressing the B2B Networking Forum.

Mr Schembri said that three steps are key to start managing risk.

Firstly, companies need to accept that there is a challenge in other words; they cannot stick their heads in the sand.

Secondly, they must understand the nature of the challenge, thus understanding sources of risk.

Lastly, they must start addressing business risk proactively and cost-effectively.

“Risk management goes hand in glove with the well-being of  a company” he said.