This Advertising Age article touts the tongue-in-cheek generic brand video (below). All of the segments are taken from stock footage and could be used to promote almost any product. The underlying advertising formula is exposed. In this cliche environment, what does an effective differentiation strategy look like? One might send the class on a scavenger hunt for firm/products that are truly differentiated (and those that are trying but fall into these cliche traps)

Contributed by Russ Coff