September 2013

In 2004 – the inaugural year of the industry’s biggest event, Advertising Week – Facebook was launched as a social networking site open only to Harvard students.  Now ten years old, Advertising Week – like social media – has seen many changes and, more importantly, has shaped critical conversations driving change in the advertising industry in the past decade.  Advertising Week now has its very own app, not to mention too many hashtags to count.  With dialogue and events on the most important topics in the industry, featuring many of the industry’s biggest innovators, movers, and shakers, Advertising Week is the most important week of the year for everyone on Madison Ave and beyond.

The Way I See It

  • I see an event that has grown vastly in the past ten years, mirroring the growth and innovation that the industry has achieved, to present hundreds of events, discussions, panels, and live case studies  on advertising’s most important issues.
  • I see a week of creativity and innovation that is truly unmatched.  With some of the brightest minds in an industry that is notorious for driving change faster than you can say, “Advertising Week is a hotbed for big ideas.”
  • For Advertising Week’s tenth year, programming is right on point for what will shape advertising moving forward, with mobile, data, video, and innovation tracks.  With a session called “Will Robots Ever Cut Your Bangs,” it’s safe to say that Advertising Week is looking toward the future.
  • I see the industry’s biggest leaders gathering in New York City to share and discuss the latest ideas, creations, and technology that are shaping the future of the industry.

The Way The Industry Sees It

I sat down with Matt Freeman, the Chairman of Advertising Week and Operating Partner at Bain Capital, to discuss all the details of Advertising Week’s tenth year.

It’s hard to believe Advertising Week is in its tenth year.  The industry has experienced a lot of change in this past decade – the advent of smartphones, Twitter, and YouTube, to name a few.  How do you think this year will differ from others in terms of programming and topics?

Data has truly become a central player in marketing – as is reflected in the strong presence of technology and analytic companies this week. The ability to use data to unify and optimize a brand’s connection to consumers – increasingly in real time – may be the most dynamic sector of marketing today, and it is changing all facets of the business. This data trend not only makes for exciting new capabilities, but also for a more diverse set of talents and conversations – ultimately a great strength for our industry.  Also, Pamela Anderson will be doing a Q&A. So, to summarize: data and Pam Anderson.

What role do you think this week plays in the industry?

Advertising Week is a unique chance for our industry to come together each year for both celebration and (even more importantly) advancement.  Our business is replete with award shows, but Advertising Week is a chance to celebrate the best and brightest aspects of marketing in the interest of education and advancement.  From promoting diversity to attracting and developing young professionals, the week is fundamentally centered on the long term health of advertising – in turn, a vital driver of our economy.

Continue Reading A Decade of Advertising Week

The sale of gluten-free foods is big business.  In fact, Americans spent more than $4 billion on gluten-free foods alone last year.  Whether an individual is diagnosed with celiac disease (an autoimmune digestive condition that can be effectively managed by eating a gluten-free diet), is gluten-sensitive, or has chosen to eliminate gluten as a trendy diet option, the gluten-free movement is a booming industry.

Until recently, there has been no regulatory definition of “gluten-free” in the United States and manufacturers have been able to use their discretion with regard to how much gluten they include in their food and dietary supplement products.

In early August, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at last defined what a “gluten-free” label on a food or dietary supplement package means, after more than six years of consideration.  According to the FDA, products labeled “gluten-free” will either have to be free of wheat, rye and barley or contain less than twenty parts per million of gluten.  The FDA considers the statements “no gluten,” “free of gluten,” or “without gluten” to be equivalent to a “gluten-free” claim.  According to the FDA, a food or dietary supplement that bears any of the foregoing claims in its labeling and fails to meet the requirements for a “gluten-free” claim will be deemed misbranded under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA also discourages the use of statements in labeling about the gluten content in foods or dietary supplements other than “gluten-free,” such as “low-gluten” or “very-low gluten,” because, according to the FDA, there is no scientific basis for these claims.

Requirements related to “gluten-free” labeling on drugs and cosmetics are outside the scope of the FDA’s rule, but the FDA is evaluating whether to address ingredients in human drug and cosmetic products that currently are derived from wheat, rye, or barley.

Manufacturers have until August 5, 2014 to review their food and dietary supplement products to ensure that they comply with the FDA’s rule, or to remove “gluten-free” or similar claims from their labels.

 The Way I See It