AD AGE's Graham & Pasquarelli noted Converse has tapped Initiative, N.Y., to "handle its global media planning and buying." The account was "put in review earlier this year." PHD, London, "formerly had the account, but the Omnicom-owned agency did not defend the business." This is the "latest in a string of changes for the Nike-owned brand as it strives to regain its cool with shoppers." Nike execs have said that they "plan to ramp up digital advertising for Converse." While Converse in recent years has "tapped both Anomaly and R/GA for creative, it's now working with Wieden & Kennedy" (ADAGE.com, 6/14).
CHEER FOR US: ADWEEK's Cara Anderson noted Volkswagen in collaboration with Deutsch, N.Y., "released its 'Jump on the Wagen' campaign," which features fans from different World Cup teams "making the pitch to Americans to root for their teams during the tournament." Deutsch produced "six spots -- two 30-second spots and four 15-second spots featuring Belgium, Switzerland, Brazil, Iceland and Germany -- that will air on Fox and Fox Sports." The campaign will additionally "feature digital extensions through social channels encouraging fans to adopt a team, as well as Snapchat filters for countries still playing in the last two weeks of the tournament" (ADWEEK.com, 6/14).
GETTING CREATIVE: YAHOO SPORTS' Mike Oz noted Adidas and Topps have "come together to create" a line of baseball card-inspired shoes and cleats. The shoes, which dropped this week, "came after the Adidas design team met up with Topps and opened packs of cards looking for inspiration." The shoes have a "chrome/hologram look -- an homage to baseball cards from the present and past." What baseball fans "might notice is most is that the hologram areas feature baseball-card style stat lines" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/13).
