Wild Ass Rumor of the Day: Ford Stops Advertising in the UK
Autocar slips this little nugget in an alarming alarmist story that Ford will run out of cash by May: “Ford has already pulled all of its UK advertising across all mediums until the end of the year.” I’m Googling like mad, but can’t find any corroboration. If true, this is some SERIOUS SHIT. Meanwhile, TTAC’s Ken Elias debunks Autocar’s assertion that FoMoCo will be out of dough by the spring. “AutoCar’s analysis on Ford’s cash flow is incorrect. For the year to date, Ford has used $15.7 billion in cash, although only $2.9 billion relates to pre-tax losses. The bulk of the cash used to date reflects mostly restructuring efforts due to constriction in working capital ($6.7 billion) and funding the required VEBA to the amount of $4.6 billion. Since these are mostly one-time items, the cash burn situation at Ford does not appear as dire as that of GM. Any stabilization of Ford’s North American business will stem its cash outflows.” Thanks for the heads-up Ken.
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Every time I watch that ad it just fills me with glee. It is so confident and perfect.
I like that commercial. Here kitty, kitty, kitty... the SportKa just wants to be your *friend*. :-P
Regular television and print advertising is useless compared to properly applied Customer Relationship Marketing (CRM) using the internet, snailmail, telephones and personal follow-up. Been arguing this for years to clients, and have made inroads with them. They are in autopilot when it comes to using money on television/print, until you show them the results achieved by others who go full tilt for what the net can do for them. Just check out how Audi has reallocated its spend in the US, for instance. Good move by Ford, but misinterpreted by Autocar.
@RobertSD I acutually think the pigeon one is better. I wish that were a real optional feature. I would so get it on my car. Sure is, sure is. Very sick, very funny.