David Ogilvy
David Ogilvy
David Mackenzie Ogilvy CBEwas an advertising executive who was widely hailed as "The Father of Advertising". In 1962, Time called him "the most sought-after wizard in today's advertising industry". He founded Ogilvy & Mather...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionBusinessman
Date of Birth23 June 1911
wife favors trends
there are now unmistakeable signs of a trend in favor of superior products at premium prices. The consumer is not a moron, she is your wife.
mean smell atmosphere
Always hold your sales meetings in rooms too small for the audience, even if it means holding them in the WC. 'Standing room only' creates an atmosphere of success, as in theatres and restaurants, while a half-empty auditorium smells of failure.
office people curiosity
When someone is made the head of an office in the Ogilvy & Mather chain, I send him a Matrioshka doll from Gorky. If he has the curiosity to open it, and keep opening it until he comes to the inside of the smallest doll, he finds this message: If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.
memorable brilliant ifs
If you can’t be brilliant, at least be memorable
jobs character hard-work
We admire people who work hard, who are objective and thorough. We detest office politicians, toadies, bullies, and pompous asses. We abhor ruthlessness. The way up our ladder is open to everybody. In promoting people to top jobs, we are influenced as much by their character as anything else.
wife insult shock
A consumer is not a moron. She's your wife. Don't insult her intelligence, and don't shock her.
faults worst bores
The worst fault a salesman can commit is to be a bore. Foster any attempt to talk about other things; the longer you stay the better you get to know the prospect, and the more you will be trusted.
important colleagues ifs
If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it,
business writing mean
If you have all the research, all the ground rules, all the directives, all the data - it doesn't mean the ad is written. Then you've got to close the door and write something - that is the moment of truth which we all try to postpone as long as possible.
business advertising instinct
Why should a manufacturer bet his money, perhaps the future of his company, on your instinct?
writing guy want
If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want.
fire fire-extinguishers
When you advertise fire extinguishers, open with the fire.
ninety-nine advertising percent
Ninety-nine percent of advertising doesn't sell much of anything.
men office kind
Our offices must always be headed by the kind of men who command respect. Not phonies, zeros or bastards.