Ad Fed gets message that business is picking up
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Zippo received the Judges Award of Excellence for this advertisement by Brunner. -
Carnegie Science Center won the Best of Show award for this advertisement by Brunner.
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The recovery has come to the Pittsburgh Advertising Federation. Or at least to its annual awards contest, an event that pits marketers from across town -- and those just across the office -- against each other in a quest to prove their creativity and smarts.
This year the Pittsburgh American Advertising Awards contest, or the Addys as it is known, counted almost 400 entries, a 47 percent increase over past year. And 45 companies took a shot at winning, a 20 percent increase.
John Gatesman, president of the industry group and president of South Side agency GatesmanMarmion+Dave, sees some green shoots here. "I think the economy certainly had something to do with it."
He said spending by advertisers seems to be opening up, and that is encouraging to the local marketing industry. "It's a tough business to survive in. It really is," he said.
The annual awards event, which this year was booked for Friday night at the Carnegie Science Center on the North Shore, is always a big draw for the 350-member group, and Mr. Gatesman said the judges seemed impressed by the work they saw. Addys were awarded in most categories, he said, something that is not required and doesn't always happen.
After flying in from around the country and spending three days going over the entries, the five judges gave Best of Show honors to a piece by Downtown agency Brunner for the Lionel Train Days at the Carnegie Science Center. Miniature people -- women and men -- are gathered by some tracks where a male figure says, "Nice caboose!" as he looks at a nearby train.
The Judges Award of Excellence might draw a nod of agreement from Pittsburghers. In it, Brunner created a piece for longtime client, lighter manufacturer Zippo, based in Bradford, that shows a man in a hoodie and mirrored sunglasses. His beard and face are crusted with snow and ice.
First Published March 5, 2011 12:00 am
