Palm Axes Ad Agency

palm commercialFrom the better late than never department comes word that Palm has dumped its ad agency Modernista. The news comes from a article out now at AdAge.

Modernista was partially responsible for the universally derided series of creepy ads the debuted around the Palm Pre launch and continued to run after an enormous amount of mostly negative backlash. An interesting comment in the adage article from an apparent insider sheds some light on the possible reasons why the spots weren't pulled earlier.

Article Comments

 (36 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Start a new Comment Down

Modernista!

Andy3 @ 4/6/2010 11:57:56 AM # Q
Someone should point out that Palm's stock was at $18 when that launch campaign ran. The campaign immediately went viral and gave Palm the best brand awareness numbers it had ever had. Then the company chickened out, dumped the ads and watched its stock drop to $3. Now it's broke. What would have happened if Palm had stuck with a campaign that everybody, everywhere, was talking about?
RE: Modernista!
SeldomVisitor @ 4/6/2010 12:14:59 PM # Q
The problem with that campaign is that people were talking about the campaign and NO ONE was talking about the product.

In fact, watching the ads left viewers completely in the dark about the product - in the earlier ads you had NO IDEA what the product was at ALL - even the later Borg Queen ads only flashed the product at the beginning, then left viewers completely in the dark for the rest of the ad.

Talk about the ads? So WHAT!? We were supposed to be talking about the product!

And all you have to do is traipse on over to modernista.com to see how poorly they market things, even themselves. Making visitors try to figure out what's going on on your web page before telling them anything useful is not just DUHmb, it's unbelievably stupid.

RE: Modernista!
LiveFaith @ 4/6/2010 12:39:44 PM # Q
But, it was nice to see them hire Casper's wife for the slot. Shows a lot of diversity by the agency. That guy has never really gotten the respect he deserved. :-)

Actually, the young lady is quite attractive without WebOS getting involved in some Asian jungle.

http://tinyurl.com/ykcjn93
Pat Horne

RE: Modernista!
SeldomVisitor @ 4/6/2010 1:16:03 PM # Q
The actual Borg Queen wasn't so bad, either:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIdXmC9a3oU

RE: Modernista!
SeldomVisitor @ 4/6/2010 1:33:48 PM # Q
This isn't just beyond DUHmb, it's even beyond stupid:

http://www.modernista.com/7/index.php#/googleblog/


RE: Modernista!
mikecane @ 4/6/2010 5:37:28 PM # Q
You eejits! Don't feed the frikkin ad agency troll! He joined TODAY to post this comment. Where the eff was he when we were all laughing our asses off and/or getting creeped out by the Borg Queen? He had no interest then!

Clearly this guy now has time on his hands, since Palm told them to get lost.

You'd better spend your spare time on your resume, pal.


RE: Modernista!
CFreymarc @ 4/6/2010 5:40:32 PM # Q
IMO this is classic Kill the Messenger corporate politics. It has been said when senior management team screws up and refuses to take the blame, you blame the following in order 'til the heat is off you.

1) Sales
2) Advertising
3) Marketing
4) Manufacturing
5) Engineering
6) Accounting

They did #1 a while ago with the shuffle of their distribution agreements. They are now looking at #2. Who knows how long they will go down the list before a public dissolve or a buyout.

My bet is Motorola is going to pick them up with lots of Palm employee offers to move to Phoenix before the end of they year is out. IMO, the bat-wing phones are in worst shape as Palm as far as market and the integration of webOS into Motorola phones is almost a no brainier.

RE: Modernista!
mikecane @ 4/6/2010 5:53:56 PM # Q
Wait, you're saying what? The ads were *blameless*?
RE: Modernista!
questionfear @ 4/7/2010 10:29:44 AM # Q
Why would Moto want WebOS? The Droid has been a HUGE seller, and they get Android for FREE.
RE: Modernista!
LiveFaith @ 4/7/2010 7:58:05 PM # Q
*Q Wait, you're saying what? The ads were *blameless*?*


Pat Horne

RE: Modernista!
LiveFaith @ 4/7/2010 7:58:44 PM # Q
c r i c k e t s
RE: Modernista!
CFreymarc @ 4/8/2010 1:04:38 PM # Q
The ads were messed up to say the least. But I also think the sales follow though was not the best either.
RE: Modernista!
hkklife @ 4/8/2010 2:13:32 PM # Q
Pointing the finger at the messenger (Modernista) is akin to shooting the messenger, as someone stated yesterday. Sure, they were bad ads but there are a lot of other factors not related to the techical/quality shortcomings of the Pre & WebOS that did more to irreparably harm (IMO) Palm's fortunes than Modernista's ads:

#1 Palm's tremendous post-CES buzz was killed by their arrogance & lack of solid info/pricing/release date. We nearly had the Osborne effect all over again. Actually, this was very reminiscent of 2001's m500 debacle leading to mountains of unsold Palm Vxs, m100s and IIIXEs being blown out at rock-bottom prices.

#2 The time between the Pre unveiling at CES '09 and the Sprint launch was an eternity in the mobile sector (Jan-June). WebOS obviously wasn't as "done" as everyone thought at CES.

#3 Palm went far too long without a signature "Palm" product. They should have had *something* to keep the Palm branding alive and to transition from Centro/Garnet to WebOS. A Treo Pro w/ Garnet? One of the Palm designs Ruby canned in 2008/ The 128mb Centro 2 available on more carriers with more substantial hardware upgrades (bigger battery, 3.5mm headphone jack etc) would have been an easy and cheap move. Anything would have been better than one "me too" WM device and the last of the Centro inventory being blown out!

#4 Launching exclusively on Sprint was a BAD move. At minimum, Palm should have had a Pre "Touch" non-phone device or been selling unlocked GSM Pre on their website on June 9th. Just something OTHER than a Sprint CDMA Pre. There were (and still are) a lot of people who would like to have a WebOS device but cannot/do not want to sign a contract or pay $70+ per month for the dubious privelege of having the WebOS experience.

#5. The Sprint exclusivity period was FAR too long. Ruby's wrong that the Pre is a superior device to the Droid. Ruby IS right that the Droid stole tremendous amounts of users. marketshare and mindshare on VZW. I know LOTS of people with Droids & recent VZ BB devices. A sizable number of those (myself included) would have bought a Pre/Pre Plus had it been available prior to the Droid launch. January (post-Christmas) is the doldrum season for smartphones but oddly when Palm has traditionally launched new devices on VZW (700w, 755p, Pre & Pixi).
Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p->Verizon Moto Droid + Verizon Palm Centro

Reply to this comment

Modernista!

Andy3 @ 4/6/2010 1:14:49 PM # Q
It seemed to me that Sprint covered the functionality. The purpose of the launch campaign was clearly to build brand awareness, and it did a good job of that.
RE: Modernista!
mikecane @ 4/6/2010 5:39:39 PM # Q
>>>It seemed to me

Yeah, to *only* you. And thanks for stopping by for the stupid astroturfing. We can tell when people join PIC and you've never been here before this.

How odd that someone would join to *defend* those inept ads well *after* the fact. But I guess when you're unemployed, you need to prop up your self-esteem somehow.

RE: Modernista!
e_tellurian @ 4/7/2010 2:00:20 PM # Q
Using energy on the past, other than to learn, slows down progress. Regardless of the results the reality is the ads got Palm this far. It was an investment in a campaign that has done the job. One is never going to please all the people all the time that is a reality. If people think of Palm and discuss Palm and buy Palm then the ads worked. No ad campaign goes on forever it's an ad it's up to Palm to make a lasting impression and they can do that with innovative ways show that Palm is a brand that constantly innovates setting the bar with new products for those that want a Palm.

There is no failure only looking forward to the next company that want to move their company forward.

Its no different than Palm offering new choices while there is anticipation the stock grows. Once the offering hits the market, if not before, Palm is thinking about the next offering. Continuing to make quality hardware more permanent so customers do not have to change too much will enable customers to purchase hardware made from metals such as titanium or other metals. If a customer chooses to change completely Palm can always recycle the metal and use it again. There are many incentives to go "green" such incentives can be reinvested back into Palm.

E-T
e-tellurian

Completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution
WiFi & BT? No strings attached
we_tellurian@canada.com

Reply to this comment

lol..byebye modernista

palmt600 @ 4/6/2010 1:54:19 PM # Q
A little too late but still a great decision on Palm's part. They spent millions on Ads that simply did nothing to demonstrate and convince consumers why the Palm Pre is the best smartphone in-your-face.

Today's competitive ads get right to the point and touch on the things people would want to do with their smartphone. Who in the world lives in green pastures surrounded by synchronized dancers that would be compelled to buy a Palm Pre? Get to the point and show what the Palm Pre can do that others smartphones can't - simple.

RE: lol..byebye modernista
LiveFaith @ 4/6/2010 4:36:14 PM # Q
You people on here act like you're better than professionals that do this for a living. To that I say ... uhhh, I think in this case you might be. :-)
Pat Horne
RE: lol..byebye modernista
CFreymarc @ 4/7/2010 12:54:11 PM # Q
To give you a clue, there are a lot of very achieved industry professionals on this site. It is mostly here for us to lash out on some views to go after fellow executives that got to their position with more knowing someone than actual talent.

Also, the life of a high tech exec is very, very complex with some much data coming at them, it can overwhelm you very quick and isolate you from real market data and profiles. Also, they may just not care about your market position since they can't make money at it.

If you read between the lines here, you know who is saying what if you are in the business. The ones out of their parents basements are easy to spot. I, at least, ignore them. Can't talk about other pros on here.

Talking about that, Friday lunch at St. John's Burgers sounds good!

RE: lol..byebye modernista
e_tellurian @ 4/7/2010 1:38:12 PM # Q
If the focus is on growth and what people want it helps make the job of discerning the data more rewarding. Encouraging the executives to soldier on even when it seem too dark to try i can assure you there is light at the end of the tunnel. Think of all the men and women that battle every day to succeed. With their success then choose Palm to invest their hard earned capital to support Palm's people and brand.

Palm is in a good growth position. They have a good history of rallying back and proving they have earned the right to call themselves a pioneer. The captain of a ship goes down with the ship. Best not to let a boat sink then one needs not learn how to swim.

Palm is like a ship that is sailed by talented people that care about the boat as much as the captain does.

E-T
e-tellurian

Completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution
WiFi & BT? No strings attached
we_tellurian@canada.com

RE: lol..byebye modernista
LiveFaith @ 4/7/2010 8:03:01 PM # Q
CF,
Sit back down buddy. It was a little TnC there. I agree with you. I promise. :-)
Pat Horne
Reply to this comment

Modernista!

Andy3 @ 4/6/2010 1:57:34 PM # Q
I'm wondering too if the purpose of a television ad is to give a product demo, when we have the Internet to do that? If TV commercials simply described product, TV would be a pretty dull place. My feeling is that ads drive awareness and the Web and other tools deliver the details.
RE: Modernista!
e_tellurian @ 4/6/2010 3:49:29 PM # Q
Good point. What if people could take that a step further and purchase directly from an advertisement with a we-com virtual wallet from advertisement linked to a web sight. Would that help complete the e-com circle? People could purchase from we-com enabled billboards and we-com enabled PC, a we-com enabled handheld device, or we-com enabled brick and mortar with a simple touch of ones we-com virtual wallet that matches ones finger print.

It seems logical to offer technology that helps people efficiently and securely interact with the electronic commerce world without leaving anyone behind.

Remember the Jetsons? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jetsons They were flying in cars and interacting with robots and yet still had analog currency. The commerce did not keep up with their changed world. 2062, we could do this is 2011.

E-T
e-tellurian

Completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution
WiFi & BT? No strings attached
we_tellurian@canada.com

RE: Modernista!
gmayhak @ 4/6/2010 6:40:23 PM # Q
Thanks ET, you got me laughing my ass off on an otherwise boring thread ;-)
Tech Center Labs
RE: Modernista!
cmason @ 4/7/2010 8:14:56 AM # Q
I thought (cause I'm a little wacky like this) the purpose of TV ads were to sell product. The purpose of an ad agency is to determine how best to do that. Modernista failed both these purposes.
RE: Modernista!
e_tellurian @ 4/7/2010 8:28:13 AM # Q
Well laughter is a good choice, it's a good feeling.

The Jetsons lived in 2062 we can enhance the commerce system in 2011 with we-com innovation. A prototype needs to be built to show our thoughts in action. If we can help two nations have peace at the same time and the cost that entails i am sure we can find a way to build interactive we-com virtual wallet offering without leaving anyone behind.

It would be nice to have Palm around to interact with a we-com virtual wallet. Perhaps a Palm Classic will offer such choices.

If we can offer such choices in 2011 by 2062 the Jetsons should be interacting with a we-com virtual wallet. In 2062 some of us will be 97 years of age. That seem a long time to do what can be started in 2011 and completed a few years later.


E-T
e-tellurian

Completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution
WiFi & BT? No strings attached
we_tellurian@canada.com

RE: Modernista!
LiveFaith @ 4/7/2010 8:11:12 PM # Q
**I thought (cause I'm a little wacky like this) the purpose of TV ads were to sell product. The purpose of an ad agency is to determine how best to do that. Modernista failed both these purposes.**

Selling the product might be helpful. Color me wacky on that one too.

Obviously, the threads OP is doing (trying to do) damage control for the Ad Agency here. Like a driver pulled over for speeding who thinks their "excuse" sounds legit, he/she has no clue how the comments appear so obvious.
His/her model for success sounds really nice. But watching that horror flick that they bathed Palm / Sprint with should take any thunder away.
Pat Horne

Reply to this comment

Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.

pmjoe @ 4/7/2010 1:49:03 AM # Q
Milked the FrankenGarnet golden tit for nearly 7 years and delivered a next-gen OS 6-8 years too late. I'm sure there are some investors laughing their way to the bank on what will surely go down in history as "how to cash in on running an IT company into the ground".
RE: Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.
pmjoe @ 4/7/2010 1:54:41 AM # Q
Or, LOL, watch the "Future Stock" episode of Futurama.
RE: Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.
jca666us @ 4/7/2010 4:32:28 AM # M Q
Milked the FrankenGarnet golden tit for nearly 7 years and delivered a next-gen OS 6-8 years too late.

What made it worse was Palm's "promise" that any users who purchased a Tungsten (at the time) would be able to upgrade to their next generation OS.

The next generation OS that put webos, iPhone os, and android all to shame.

This fantasy OS that never appeared - lol!

Of course there was the m500 fiasco, the SUDS issue, yellow screens, and years of poorly built devices and buggy software.

The Palm name is so severely tarnished, Elevation Partners would have been better off to kill the Palm name and start with an entirely new company name.

RE: Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.
mikecane @ 4/7/2010 7:01:00 AM # Q
>>>with an entirely new company name.

Lamp?

RE: Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.
e_tellurian @ 4/7/2010 8:59:59 AM # Q
Palm is a pioneer naturally they have weathered many storms. A brand is an investment in its self.

Rather than giving up on Palm why not encourage them to build something like a Palm Classic with the best of Palm past, present and future?

There stock has gone up in value that's a good sign it can only grow more.

E-T
e-tellurian

Completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution
WiFi & BT? No strings attached
we_tellurian@canada.com

RE: Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.
CFreymarc @ 4/7/2010 12:56:00 PM # Q
Agree, while I'm not planning on short selling Palm stock, it is tempting this summer.
RE: Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.
e_tellurian @ 4/7/2010 1:20:40 PM # Q
With more thoughtful work your investment will leave you with a nice return and more of the best of Palm Classic past, present and future.

Thanks for your support.

E-T
e-tellurian

Completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution
WiFi & BT? No strings attached
we_tellurian@canada.com

RE: Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.
LiveFaith @ 4/7/2010 8:14:40 PM # Q
Short selling? Seriously, how much "short" is left in this stock? The short sellers fiesta has been happening for the past several months.
Pat Horne
RE: Yawn. Palm blames everyone else for their own problems.
e_tellurian @ 4/8/2010 2:43:22 PM # Q
The only thing Palm can control is their innovative flow. The market is going to do what's best for the investor. It is the thoughtful and hard work of individuals that invest in Palm and trust Palm will continue to grow by innovating desirable Palm choices. Like the ads the engineers and support staff have brought Palm this far it is not the end think of it more as a new beginning.

Would a Palm Classic help the new beginning by not forgetting the past, present and future? Palm has created an interactive mobile server. What more could we build that could interact with webOS and the best of Palm past, present and future?

E-T


e-tellurian

Completing the e-com circle with a people driven we-com solution
WiFi & BT? No strings attached
we_tellurian@canada.com

Reply to this comment
Start a New Comment Thread Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: