Read 'em and reap: 50-year history of outsiders outrageous ads available at 15 bucks a pop

Advertising guru Stan Cotton has concocted the most courageous and outrageous sales campaigns ever committed to paper, film, billboard or bumper sticker.

Thinking the unthinkable has fueled his efforts. Hitting a mark that no ad agency guy would even consider has also paid off for the ad man who continues to ply his trade.

Cotton has never backed away from a cause – though he has sometimes been told to by timid corporate types who felt his work might stomp on the wrong toes. The king of the ad game doesn't believe in wrong toes. Often, it's those digits that most need to be crunched.

After 50 years of bringing truth and justice to the America way – not to mention mentioning the unmentionable – Cotton has opened his library of advertising gems to the public. You may remember some of them. Like how Cotton urged people to rent golf balls. Or how an unorthodox campaign to promote a Black-owned savings and loan in Washington, D.C. nearly got trashed, were it not for the intervention of Washington Post owner Katherine Graham herself. (The little S&L went on to prosper.)

Cotton's work has been posted online at www.pickcotton.com. Case histories are categorized by content – and can be purchased for $15 an article.

Case in point. Look around at stores or on the Internet and you'll find an infinite variety of Mother Teresa merchandise being sold – posters, canvas bags, coffee mugs, mouse pads, bumper stickers, T-shirts, blessed shoes, magnets, caps, coffee mugs, key chains, aprons, stickers and book markers.

But who was the first to consider using a visage of the holy Indian nun to promote an effort? Stan was the man. And it was not just for any old cause, but for one designed to help the poor, homeless and hungry kids for whom Mother Teresa brought hope.

It was in 1987 that Cotton got the call to come up with a way to sell champagne made in India.

The call followed the discovery that the soil at the foot of the Himalayas was excellent for growing grapes suitable for quality, high-grade champagne.

It was a tough sell for Cotton – to make the world want, even appreciate, champagne made in India – and to make the locals in a nation where alcohol is banned proud of the product.

It was obvious he had to tie his ad wagon to the most treasured of India's icons – the famed nun herself. Armed with a deal that would financially help everyone involved – and a bottle Mother Teresa-labeled champagne – and headed for the office of India's Economic Development Minister.

The rest, as they say, is history. History you can lay your hands on. Case histories of real clients. Visit www.pickcotton.com, with $15 that can be charged on a secure line via PayPal. Your case history will arrive on your computer in a PDF format.

Read these case histories – and learn how outrage pays in increased sales and good will.