Alabdallah vs FPM, compare and contrast

 

To be very clear, I am not saying they did, I am not saying they did not. The below ad goes back to 2009, the above is now on the streets (apparently Alabdalla sells chicken sandwiches). It just dawned on me it is the same person behind both ads - 16 years later. File under compare and contrast. I will need extra garlic for this one.

Lipton shoots its pre-Ramadan shot

Lipton has actually a new ad in town, and come on, let us call a spade a spade, this is obviously aimed at the Ramadan crowd. Sure, you can't see a "fully veiled" woman but one with demure hair and a head cover should do instead so that the "other crowd" (namely the Christians) wouldn't feel left out of the ad which obviously thinks it could target everyone in one even shot. Even the copy "so that the gathering would be nicer/sweeter" is a wink to the Ramadan post Iftar or Souhour (basically the pre-fast meal before daybreak). 

Almaza - Valentine's

Just not to leave it out, here it is - after other brands did it, and Exotica won it handily (here), Almaza is here for a Valentine's ad - "tab2in" which means "they click". Not bad, not a vintage either. But since Almaza is winning awards, not sure they care (no names, but you know which awards!). Again, I said it many times, since Almaza owns its old ads by virtue of paying for them in the past, why not rehash them. They worked perfectly well!

NokNok, Durex and that.... perplexing Valentine's

Well, what can one say? I am not even sure how to understand that one. On the one hand, NokNok who basically delivers groceries all over "comes fast", on the other, it's the antithesis of anything Durex stands for, and yet here they are. Durex, well... comes fast, real fast. I am, to put it mildly, very perplexed as it all seems like shooting one's self in the foot, or some other organ. 

Joe Fish: On this Valentine, your partner might be an agency

Because sometimes agencies speak more when trying to seduce. Joe Fish goes all Valentine-ish with an array of recruiting posts. Lovely and well-timed and with a hint of Wes Anderson esthetic. So, who's going to show them some love? Seriously though, these are quite nice and totally up my alley with their pop art influences. Here's the whole stash on instagram!

Chateau Musar goes Valentine's

I admit, the snow heart is a bit gimmicky, but the copy does save the day. And here we are Valentine's ad trickling here and there, thankfully not the flood that used to cover us with anything that's anything but more like selected pieces now. And Chateau Musar comes up with  a brave show up! 

For OMT time to ski!

And here they are, right bang on the Mzaar ski station OMT goes - apparently everywhere. And by this I mean their branding is literally all over inside, outside, on the walls, before you go on the lifts. And of course this comes with a strategic cashback offer of 20%. This, from what I understood from Joe Fish is just a small sample of what is to come later. But as is this is a show of force for a brand that has come to replace banks in Lebanon due to the fact that we are now a cash economy. 

Exotica Valentine's - they're so back I could almost cry

Exotica is back.

I can almost cry.

Above is a mix of their best hits for Valentine's including this year's حب.

Honestly, it is so beautiful, so delicate, so mesmerizing I am almost out of superlatives.

A masterstroke!

ArabAd.... l'arroseur arrosé

So if you are the region's oldest magazine dealing with communication and the media and you need to advertise yourself, what do you do? I go back to the Lumiere Freres film "l'arroseur arrosé" (the waterer watered), whereby ArabAd eventually advertised itself. Of course I am by no means an innocent bystander, my own history with ArabAd goes back to the year 2000 but again "Communication" does bind us in much more ways than one. I am currently on the helm of Communicate, but oddly, I never saw the two titles in competition because both, and each in its different way, is here for the betterment of the industry at large.

Valentine's and further proof if needed of how strange we are as Lebanese

 

Image credit - Michel Elefteriades

The above comes from Michel Elefteriades' instagram story. There is little context but the gist of it seems... I am actually sure, there are characters wearing masks and two "creatures" which seem like an emoticon and one of the Mr. Men had a baby. Or two babies in this case. If these are ears or wings (as in Cupid?) I know not. Because the whole thing - with or without context - screams of the bizarre. But there is it, in the middle of the Jounieh Souk, for everyone to see, men and women with golden-painted faces and two red "thingies". Because, obviously, it is Valentine's and this should make a lot of sense. Or to quote Shirly Bassey, "when did common sense prevail for lovers when we know it never will".

Amour and a timely cheese ad

Well no one can accuse Amour cheese of not being timely. Right bang before Valentine's here they come. Amour obviously is "love" in French. The funny story behind it is that during Telex days Amour was code name for Amine Aour, the name of the company (and the person behind) who got the cheese into Lebanon. But again, sometimes timing does the trick and it did indeed with this.

KFC vs. McDonald's - Compare and contrast

I am not saying they did, I am not saying they didn't. But KFC issued a cute campaign where they took off their doors to say they are open 24/24... McDonald's had done it in Ecuador in 2019. Compare and contrast and watch out - don't bang the door on the way out.

Snips pretzels goes whatchamacallit

Snips has a new ad! For its pretzels. Here. The ad mixes and matches some of Lebanon's most known influencers du jour - Ely Chemaly (no relation), Arze Chidiac, Naim Halewe, Gaelle Khoury to name a few... It is well shot and nicely directed - Chady Hanna apparently did the honors - and, for some odd reason it has a distinct 80s/90s flair to it (which I love). The copy is a bit uneven to be honest, but on whole it is a very entertaining experience. Oddly the whole thing revolves around "what's its name?" or "whatchamacallit" because pretzels is not exactly too known in Lebanon. Side news: There is already a chocolate called whatchamacallit (they were briefly present in Lebanon in the 80s mind you).

Can Maliks please stop trying?

First there was here and here. And now this. Look, this is neither funny nor gimmicky nor a great copy and the logo sucks. So can we at least stop this because it hurts the eyes and insults the intelligence as well. And in case anyone needs an explanation "malik(s)" means "owner" so the ad translates into "you (Maliks) my heart" (you own my heart). Please. Stop. This.

Nescafe wins with its new ad

Very few brands can portray their markets without being cheapo. Or overdoing it. Or getting the characters wrong. Or the wrong slices of life that represents them. Nescafe wins on all counts. They even go local with "spilling coffee is a good omen" to "spilling Nescafe is a good omen", without forgetting the football match, the beach vendor, the dad whose daughter asks "want some Nescafe with all that sugar?", or the man who rushes to follow his wife before she goes to work with her Thermos of Nescafe, and the whole multitude of situations one can drink Nescafe in. Truly honest, realistic and believable ad. Please have fun watching it here.

Al Joumhouria x Keira Rathbone: When typewriters are mightier than the sword

Composite image - Bilal Hassan, Keira Rathbone

War and survival stories from the Middle East are being systematically erased on social media. Automated algorithms, intended to safeguard users, now flag critical images as “sensitive” or “violating guidelines,” preventing Middle Eastern journalists from sharing the realities of war and conflict. As a result, the Western world is cut off from crucial information, and vital stories remain hidden before they ever reach a global audience.
“While social media algorithms are intended to protect users, they are also inadvertently silencing essential narratives from conflict zones,” said an Al Joumhouria representative. “We created Uncensored Press to stand up for journalists on the ground and to remind the world that the truth must not only be told but also be heard.”
To counter this suppression, Lebanese daily newspaper Al Joumhouria has launched “Uncensored Press”, calling on the public to sign a petition at uncensored-press.com, urging social media platforms to stop using algorithms as tools for silencing truth.
In an innovative effort to bypass digital censorship, Al Joumhouria collaborated with artist Keira Rathbone to recreate scenes of conflict solely through letters and symbols typed on a typewriter. These intricate, typewritten visuals retain the emotional and journalistic impact of the original images, while escaping automated censorship filters—proving that powerful images can endure when transformed into text. By using the very foundation of journalism—words—they ensure that crucial stories continue to be shared freely.
This campaign has not only allowed the public to see otherwise suppressed images but has also sparked deeper conversations on the ethical consequences of algorithmic censorship. Al Joumhouria’s initiative underscores the resilience of the press and highlights the urgent need for social media platforms to reevaluate their moderation strategies. By bringing these issues into the spotlight, they make a compelling demand that critical stories not be erased under the guise of digital safety.
Ultimately, this project shows that censorship can be circumvented, opening new avenues for journalists and activists to document human rights violations without interference. As the Uncensored Press campaign gathers momentum, its call to action becomes stronger: signing the petition at uncensored-press.com amplifies the movement and increases pressure on social media platforms to guarantee that important stories are seen. By sharing and supporting these typewritten visuals, we can all help ensure that the truth reaches the world.
The press was never meant to be silenced. As long as creative minds continue to challenge the status quo, it never will be.

This blog is now an adult. 18 years and ongoing!

Artwork by Tarek Chemaly

Oh heaven help us. You know one year I actually forgot my own birthday? Well, in the plethora of life, I have forgotten this blog's date of inception! January 11th 2007. This means I have been blogging and getting on people's nerves for 18 years and more. So basically, this blog is now an adult. 

I am truly trying to think what this all means. No no, not just the numbers which oddly are still here, even if as of late I am exceptionally busy, or because the source material got less and less due to the ad slump we are facing. I mean, somehow, I feel there is a shift, one which comes with age, the blog and mine's. I worry less and stress less and can't give a toss less. I feel more relaxed, a little more trusting that things will end up where they ought to end up without the histrionics from my side. 

Also, I am becoming more and more, overtly a "mentor" which I have always was, but now people (youngsters truth be told) call me so overtly. I was always generous with advice, but now they label it for what it is. Which I find a bit... tender? I am not sure if this is the word.

Of course with time, separating the personal me and the public me becomes a little difficult even if I try to do it. I still want to keep a part of me hidden and no up for public consumption. Despite the many projects I am helming at this point - even if teaching has been left off the menu due to different reasons. But who knows what the future can bring, even if no classroom dispensing knowledge and information is part of my DNA.

And this blog goes on, with all the eyeballs and numbers attached to it. Which makes me exceptionally proud as to why would anyone still be - 18 years later - interested to read my opinion and thoughts about advertising and communication at large.

But the machine never stops, there is even a new book coming out soon which I am co-authoring (hello Ali and Geoana!) to add to my growing collection of authored books, and this blog will soon have a strategic partner as well. I am not just "teasing" projects no, I am simply trying to say that the engine is still going in full gear. 

Exciting things are ahead.

Ah to be 18 and young!

OK, the blog is, I am not :)

The unlicensed protest - or how license plates became a call for reform

Fed up with corruption, exorbitant fees, and extended closures at the Lebanese vehicle registration department (“Nafaa”)—which have forced many to drive without license plates—citizens across Lebanon have transformed their empty license plate holders into powerful symbols of protest. In a country lacking efficient public transport, cars are essential for daily survival; yet many drivers remain unable to register their vehicles, risking hefty fines and impoundment at checkpoints.

Introducing: The Unlicensed Protest—a citizens’ movement launched in collaboration with Transparency International Lebanon to compel government bodies like “Nafaa” to resume operations transparently and efficiently. Rather than using standard license plates, protesters display messages such as “Bring back the state,” “Until the thievery stops,” and “Until Nafaa employees get back to work.” By refusing to allow corruption to immobilize vital public services any longer, this initiative exemplifies a collective stance against systemic failings.

As part of the movement, car convoys rolled down major highways from the country’s northern to southern regions, voicing public frustration with widespread inefficiency and corruption. By taking to the streets in unity, protesters aimed not only to reignite dialogue around systemic reform but also to encourage renewed adherence to lawful procedures—once the system itself is set right.
The “Unlicensed Protest” underscores an urgent national need: to restore functional, trustworthy government services. Organizers hope these efforts will spark long-overdue reforms in Lebanon, ensuring that every citizen has fair access to the vital institutions meant to serve them.

Mano and that confusing ad. (update)

Mano - the pastrami king has an ad. I have spoken about it with several people, and so far I have... several interpretations. I am truly confused. Now "Mano" in Arabic is "Ma no" (he is not). So the ad says "the baron of the pastrami Mano is here" (baron is how you call an Armenian gentleman). OK, so the ad either say "Mano is here" or "Mano is not here". No one could pick the riddle. Here's the continuation of it, Mano is not in the building where the ad is but rather at the end of the street if you go further in. Which only makes it more complicated if he is or he is not there. If this is not confusing, I wonder what is.

OK, it seems the above was... well, a teaser? Because the reveal is below. Which only confuses the equation even further. Apparently the reveal goes "the baron has opened in Khaldeh" - the signature says "shant" (another pastrami seller, presumably, and another Armenian at that). The end result is so convoluted truth be told. Especially that "shant" is written in such a small typography you'd think it is an error.

And if anyone is unfamiliar with Lebanon's geography, Khaldeh is incredibly far from Dora where the ad is placed making the intersection in terms of clientele literally zero. So strategy and execution wise, this left me a little... baffled.

Kafa - using tactics which make little sense

Well, that rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.

First, before anyone telling me I am being biased. There is a big difference between Labneh w Jebneh  (for reference check here) and between the ad above. The other was funny, it made you look, was very tongue-in-cheek, the Kafa ad uses tactics used by the nation bordering us on the south used to scare people prior to bombing. So using such post-colonial pseudo-terrorist ads basically fostered by - what technically is still - our enemy, is not exactly a smart move Kafa no matter the intentions (which I am sure are originally good). Sometimes, one really, really needs to read the room before issuing ads.

Small update on Facebook, the ad was eliminated and a long, long notice was put instead - which instead of simply apologizing it goes on a diatribe of justification. You know Kafa, sometimes admitting a mistake goes far enough...