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At an Industry Event, a Sense that the Gloom Is Lifting

The New York Times, 9/27/09

Abstract:

Here is a look back at some of the highlights, lowlights and sidelights of the sixth annual Advertising Week, which took place from Monday through Friday in New York.

Despite the severity of the recession, and the gloom that has pervaded Madison Avenue, Advertising Week seemed like a throwback to a more upbeat, robust time.

Events were crowded. There were lines to get into many sessions. And the Mixx Conference and Expo, held during the week by the Interactive Advertising Bureau, had about 2,400 attendees, said Randall Rothenberg, president and chief executive at the bureau, an increase of about 150 from the 2008 Advertising Week.

“One of my board members said, ‘It’s bad,’ ” Mr. Rothenberg said, referring to the economy, “ ‘but it’s up from horrible.’ ”

“People started feeling an uptick in business a couple weeks ago,” he added, and that was reflected in how the week unfolded.

Andreas Combuechen, chairman, chief executive and chief creative officer at Atmosphere Proximity, said it seemed as if attendees had decided after hunkering down for the last year that “it’s time to shake it off.” Atmosphere Proximity is part of the BBDO Worldwide unit of the Omnicom Group.

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