Sunday’s Academy Awards marks jcpenney’s tenth year as exclusive retail sponsor of the Academy Awards. This year, in tandem with many of the attendees, it will be putting forth a fresher face — only this one will make it obvious that it's had work done. 

In tandem with the retailer's rebranded logo, look and identity, its advertising during the Oscars telecast on ABC will introduce a new tagline: “We make it affordable, you make it yours.” 

The brand is squarely positioning itself as an expert in great style at compelling prices. Seven 30-second spots produced in partnership with Saatchi & Saatchi will highlight key brands including Liz Claiborne, MNG by Mango, People StyleWatch and Cindy Crawford Style.Continue reading...

Conde Nast Publications announced this morning that it is shuttering four magazines, following a widely publicized review by McKinsey and Company. Food bible Gourmet will shut down, Brides will increase to monthly publication but Modern Bride and Elegant Bride will close, as will family lifestyle magazine Cookie.

The changes show resolve by Conde Nast to eliminate redundant brands -- an opposite strategy than earlier in the decade, when the company was happy to boast food titles Gourmet and Bon Appetit, men's mags GQ, Details, Cargo, Vitals, and Men's Vogue, home titles House & Garden, Architectural Digest, Domino and occasionally Vogue Living, and numerous women's books including Vogue, Glamour, Self, Jane and Allure. In those days, the company's direction was to block competition and nail down every available ad dollar in a given category.

Now, the company has reversed course. Cargo, Vitals, and Domino (all clones, to some extent, of Conde's successful shopping magazine Lucky), Jane and House & Garden are gone, and Men's Vogue has been folded into Vogue as a twice-annual supplement.Continue reading...