Centered on an otherwise empty wall in the lobby of the Farmington Hills, Mich., headquarters of Living Essentials LLC is a homemade wooden plaque for “2010 Runner-Up Worst Ad in America.” The plaque commemorates the company’s award from The Consumerist website for 5-Hour Energy’s “2:30 Feeling” TV ad. At the bottom, the plaque concedes, “We couldn’t even win this one.”
Manoj Bhargava, founder and chief executive officer of Living Essentials, explains that the homemade plaque for “2010 Runner-Up Worst Ad in America” sums up the company’s common sense attitude.