Articles from AdWeek Advertising and branding

Activia managed to drag Shakira out of wherever she's been hiding and put her in the brand's new "Dare to Feel Good" ad, which gives us an interesting and cartoonishly idealized peek into the pop singer's digestive tract. No wonder she's so perky all the time. It looks like Fern Gully in there. And here I thought Shakira felt good because she's beautiful and rich. In any case, Activia's ads bother me in the sense that I can't take adults seriously when they say the word "tummy" and aren't talking to or about a child.

Pop Chart Lab makes some impressive taxonomy charts. Following last year's complete taxonomy of college sports mascots, the poster company has turned to everyone's favorite subject—alcohol—for its latest mind-boggling creation: The Magnificent Multitude of Beer. Click over to the site to zoom in and scroll around the comprehensive chart. It's organized by varieties of beer, with examples of brands for each type.

Despite the rage of disposable clothing and the rise of America’s throwaway culture, some brands do still make things for keeps—and offer satisfaction guarantees to go along with them. Read why in Adweek’s March 17 cover story here. Meanwhile, our short list of forever brands—companies that guarantee that what you buy from them will last you a lifetime—is right here. And yes, we know: Some of these “guarantees” are better than others, which is why we included “the catch,” when necessary. Got any brands to add? Let us know.

Ashley Furniture is looking for a new creative and media agency. The Arcadia, Wis.-based chain’s search is in the early stages and the national retailer is offering up $50 million of its annual media spending, according to sources. “Ashley Furniture HomeStores has decided to review their current approach to advertising, with the idea of identifying the best marketing agency to assist us in achieving our goals,” the retailer said in a statement issued through Boston-based consulting firm Pile + Co., which is managing the review.