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This New Zealand ad agency is fighting gender inequality one Google search at a time
It's no surprise the internet is chock full of misinformation. But did you know individuals have the power to change that misinformation?
Under the Influence |

This chill movie theatre wants you to keep your phone on
An East Village movie theatre gave New Yorkers a much-needed break from the summer heat. But, the film it played featured no actors, the popcorn was free and patrons were encouraged to use their cell phones.
Under the Influence |

The Red Cross produced a horror commercial for blood donations
The commercial was titled “A Bloody Nightmare" and had a specific message for viewers during the pandemic.
Under the Influence |

How a chimpanzee brought Xerox to the masses
Duplicating paper so easy, a monkey could do it. That is, with the approval of the FCC.
Under the Influence |

How spinach became Popeye's secret weapon
Spinach was Popeye's secret weapon – even giving the character the power to turn into a human rocket. But the reason illustrator E.C. Seegar chose spinach as Popeye's superpower-in-a-can may surprise you.
Under the Influence |

IKEA recruits employees using 'inside the box' thinking
IKEA Australia was looking to hire employees for its latest mega-store, and the furniture company attracted over 4,000 applicants — without spending a single media dollar.
Under the Influence |
Thou shall change church signs during Covid -Hygenesis 24:7
When the pandemic hit, churches closed their doors in order to contain the spread of the virus. And because people weren't coming to weekly services, church signs became even more important as a way to communicate.
Under the Influence |

L'Oreal changed its slogan for the first time since 1971
The growing market for men's makeup made cosmetics brand L'Oreal take a second look at its long-standing slogan.
Under the Influence |

The real reason Charlie became Willy Wonka
When Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was adapted into a movie, its name changed. All thanks to a food company.
Under the Influence |

The four-word code that signalled the end of a long reign
When Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, one brief, simple phrase set off a monumental chain of events across Britain and the world.
Under the Influence |

How many French fries did the boy in the 1987 McCain ad really have to eat?
It’s remarkable how well-remembered that commercial still is to this day, considering it's 35 years old. The story behind it may surprise you.
Under the Influence |

Burger King found a way to offer Whoppers at McDonald's
McDonald’s is the 800-pound gorilla in the fast-food category, and Burger King is particularly ingenious when it comes to sniping at McDonald’s.
Under the Influence |

This 1960s toy brand set a record year for sales in 2018
Hot Wheels is one of the best-selling toys in the world. Over six billion have sold since the company was founded over 50 years ago. And even in today's digital age, the brand manages to reach new heights.
Under the Influence |

How a waffle iron inspired the Nike shoe
Ever notice the grid-like pattern on the outer soles of running shoes? Turns out, there's a very interesting story behind it, and it all began with waffles.
Under the Influence |

This burger chain showed mouldy food in its advertising
The campaign broke all the cardinal rules of advertising. But for one fast food company, it paid off.
Under the Influence |

Why plain old vanilla is the world's favourite ice cream flavour
The term “vanilla” is synonymous with boring, dull or bland. Yet a scoop of vanilla is the number one choice across the globe.
Under the Influence |

Inmates in a Brazil prison shorten their sentences by writing book reviews
Those reviews turned out to be remarkable and insightful. So much so, they were turned into an advertising campaign.
Under the Influence |

Walt Disney was told Snow White would be a costly mistake
In the 1930s, the Disney studio was the leader in animated short films, but had never attempted a full-length film. So when Disney came up with the 80-minute Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hollywood was skeptical.
Under the Influence |

How American troops used inflatable tanks to fool the Nazis in WWII
There were 1,100 people in the American army's top secret division, but they weren’t soldiers. They were artists, sound engineers and set designers, and their mission was deception.
Under the Influence |

How the Lamborghini supercar began with a tractor and an insult
The Lamborghini is one of the world’s most famous supercars, born of Italian craftsmanship and a love of speed. But the true origin of the supercar may surprise you.
Under the Influence |

Times Square used to go by a very different name
What's in a name? Like Hershey, Pennsylvania or Port Sunlight in England, Times Square is named after a company. But it had a long history beforehand.
Under the Influence |
One New York hotel manager discovered a 450-pound lion roaming a suite
Lions and waiters and police officers - oh my! The Hollywood PR stunt that pioneered the motion picture publicity spectacle.
Under the Influence |

How Stephen King dealt with the horror of not being recognized
An American Express advertising campaign featured celebrities whose names were well-known, but their faces weren't. Its slogan would be considered among the best of the 20th century.
Under the Influence |

How "loose lips sink ships" was updated for modern war times
The World War II-born phrase was modernized in 2018 to reflect advances in technology and social media.
Under the Influence |

Why a tornado prompted Best Buy to change its original name
There are many different reasons successful companies change their names. Sometimes it’s because the old name has too much negative baggage, sometimes it’s to boost a stock price, sometimes it's for legal reasons and sometimes a name changes because of a tornado.
Under the Influence |