Happy Halloween from SPAR!

Posted on October 29, 2010 | Permalink

New SPARtian!

Posted on March 9, 2010 | Permalink

By Lane Casteix

Mom and "Jack".

Our own Erin Graham just had her first baby, John Edward Graham, and he will be called Jack. Eight pounds seven ounces. Born March 6. Momma and daddy (Chris) are doing well! Congratulations!

The SPAR, Inc. Christmas Card

Posted on December 15, 2008 | Permalink

Outtakes and Bloopers from the SPAR Christmas Card

Posted on December 15, 2008 | Permalink

By Keith Maresma

More Outtakes and Bloopers from the SPAR Christmas Card.

Posted on December 12, 2008 | Permalink

By Erin Graham

Rain Vodka Gets Write-up in Packaging Digest

Posted on September 25, 2008 | Permalink

By Lane Casteix

Rain Vodka's new redesigned package got a write-up in Packaging DIgest. And of course SPAR was mentioned as the designer of the package.

Hurricane Gustav Update

Posted on September 8, 2008 | Permalink

By Lane Casteix

Monday September 8 and SPAR is back in the office. No damage to speak of. All SPARtians are well and so are their homes.

Monique Bush Joins SPAR as Art Director

Posted on January 4, 2008 | Permalink

We are pleased to announce that Monique Bush has joined SPAR, Inc. as an art director. Monique’s background as creative director for Harrah’s Brand Marketing Studio and Cannery Casino Resorts in Las Vegas and as art director for Harrah’s New Orleans Casino and Andrews Sport Company of New Orleans gives her a broad range of experience that will be a great asset for SPAR’s clients.

Monique can be reached at 504-849-6413 or at mbush@sparadvertising.com.

Erin Illg Joins SPAR as Account Coordinator

Posted on December 17, 2007 | Permalink

By Lane Casteix

We are pleased to announce that Erin Illg has joined SPAR, Inc. as account coordinator. She will be working mainly with Lisa Wells and Keith Maresma, assisting in servicing our clients. Her position was created to enhance our client’s experience by providing even better and faster responses to their advertising and promotional needs. With Erin's considerable previous experience in account services, we were excited to find and hire such a highly qualified candidate.

Erin can be reached directly at 504 849-6420 or email at eillg@sparadvertising.com.

"Mad Men" - The Season Finale

Posted on October 19, 2007 | Permalink

By Lane Casteix

The bad news is the season is over. The good news is it was received well enough it will be coming back. The bad news (again) is it is not coming back until the summer of 2008! Now I will suffer withdrawal!

When this series first started I wrote about it very cautiously and even came down rather hard on the opening episode. I have since warmed to it and even have become addicted to it. It is the one show I actually go out of may way to arrange my schedule to watch and when I can't it gets recorded. I also like "The Dog Whisperer" but haven't yet recorded missed episodes. This is a big deal for me, as I do not watch any other regularly scheduled programing on TV!

The series is quite well done and written. Yes, it has some technical flaws, some of which were mentioned in previous posts. I have warmed to the characters and their human failings, which, considering the outstanding writing, is easy to do.

The season finale left you hanging with enough loose ends so you will be drawn back for season two just to find out what happened. Will Don Draper, now that he has realized what he has in his family, quit sleeping around? Has Betty taken the kids and left Don now that she "knows" he has been unfaithful? Will Rachael, who obviously loves Don, yet at the same time hates his values, return from her European trip and stir the pot? Will Peggy, newly broken through the glass ceiling to junior copywriter, become a working single mom or put her baby up for adoption? (If you missed the last show, she delivered a baby she did not realize she was carrying - denial?) And poor Pete Campbell, is he the father of Peggy's child? Will he really be forced to accept Peggy as copywriter on his father-in-law's Clearasil account?

The best part of the last episode was Don's presentation for the Kodak account and the Carousel projector. That alone was worth watching the episode. It was the catalyst that made him realize the value of his family and how he had put that at risk with his carousing. It was moving and so well done we wish we could present like that.