If advertising didn't work, don't you think those companies who spend $2 million a minute for superbowl commercials would have noticed "No Increase" in sales by now?
The businessman who doesn't believe in advertising uses advertised products for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He drives an advertised car to work and back, wears advertised clothes, talks on an advertised cell-phone on an advertised network, buys advertised products for his home and business and when he's about to go under, advertises his business for sale.
Go figure.
As far as subliminals go, remember the book about subliminal advertising back about the 1970's? Take that method and go look at the great masters in museums to find hidden messages in them. They're there.
Then again, those guys didn't even speak english!