Tag Archives: advertising

Oct9

NO one sleeps like that

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NO one sleeps like that

You know, I feel bad for mattress and pillow companies.  The products that they sell are immediately covered up and forgotten about.  No one enters a house and says, “Where did you get that mattress!?” Once the sheets go on its like the mattress doesn’t exist.  So I could see those companies having issues with advertising.  You can’t tell how comfy something is on TV or how good you will sleep.  So what do they do?  They have beautiful couples snuggle on uncovered mattresses.  Uh, who sleeps on a bare mattress? Not me.  And I definitely throw a pillow case on my pillow.  Imagine sleeping on one of those foam pillows (as advertised)?  It just wouldn’t be a pleasant experience. And NO one looks like those happy little couples when they go to bed.  In 9 out of every 10 bedrooms I’m pretty sure the women are in tees and scrubs or actual PJs and not in the idealized silk nighties that mattress companies put on display.  Nor is their hair beautifully swept to the side so not to disturb the woman’s makeup.  And not every guy is hairless, toned and smiling.  Why not show people that eat doughnuts once in a while in some nice comfy clothes with a poufy comforter sleeping…no smile..no mask of makeup and WITHOUT the light on.

Take a note from the Nyquil people who showed under-the-weather Olympic athletes with tissues stuck to their faces sleeping soundly.  I want a mattress that will let me sleep like THAT, sprawled out, deeply breathing and dreaming sweetly, with just a touch of drool.

I bet you don’t even know what color your mattress is!  So why do we pay extra for matching mattress sets? If it will be cheaper for a nice mattress and a fugly box spring, sign me up.

Just think of a made bed like underwear.  The clothes (sheets) can be comfortable and nice looking but sometimes having support on the top (mattress) and coverage on the bottom, even if they don’t match, is all you need.

Feb17

The irony is deafening

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The irony is deafening

Let me set the scene. I drive home via the same street every night from class. When you are familiar with a certain route, some details of your surroundings tend to get lost. I remember seeing a certain billboard a few weeks ago, but I don’t think I read it or at least I didn’t pay attention to it. So color me surprised when I was stopped at a red light and re-read the billboard.

Billboard: a large sign-like display to promote goods

So whose bright idea was it to put an advertisement for the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library on a billboard. The promotion is neither in braille nor is it talking! Plus, blind people shouldn’t be driving, let alone driving AND being distracted by a billboard. It’s like advertising DEAF on the radio…it doesn’t make sense. You might be saying well someone will see it and tell a blind friend about it. Hardly anyone pays attention to billboards (except if you are at a red light) and by the time the person gets home, there is barely a chance they will remember the billboard, let alone any of its information. Maybe the advertisers at DEAF should hire the marketing manager from Perkins!

Dec1

Blink and it will be Christmas….

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Blink and it will be Christmas….

Already it seems like Thanksgiving was 300 days ago and that Christmas is in 3 days. It’s sad really. What happened to the time when we couldn’t wait for Christmas to come? When the anticipation for the tree and gifts and feast seemed too much to bear? Would we make it? Now all of that wonder has been replaced by stress, anxiety and packed malls. But here is my theory. Time is not moving faster. Try wrapping your mind around that one! But seriously….information is moving faster not time.

Ads are everywhere. It seems that Christmas trees are in the stores on July 5th and out of the store on Dec 20th, that fruitcakes have gone the way of the dodo (not that anyone misses THAT tradition) and that instead of the thought you put into gifts what really matters is the price. But I digress…five years ago there were no phones with ads on them, no video billboards on (and IN) cabs and we were all a little happier. So in the spirit of recapturing the childhood joy of Christmases past (and in honor of a Dr. Seuss themed baby shower over the weekend), here is my view of the ad infestation…

I will not view them on a train
I despise to see them in a plane.
I will not have them on my cell.
I wish they all would go to hell.
I mute commercials all the time,
to make every politician be a mime.
I would rather ride a bucking bronco
Than see one more Lexus with a bow.
I’d rather have back my Christmas cheer
Than stand in line for Uggs footwear
I miss when Santa did exist
cuz now traditions are dismissed.
To these feelings I hold steadfast
Oh how I miss Christmases past…

Sep22

I don’t get the bathtubs?

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I don’t get the bathtubs?

Here is a question for you…why do Cialis commercials ALWAYS show people in separate bath tubs in random locations?  ALWAYS.  I am no marketing or symbolism guru, but I like to think that I “get” advertising.  I know why in car commercials the ground is always wet (to make the car seem shinier) and why in grocery stores the store/cheaper brand is on the low shelves (people are more apt to buy items at eye level) but I don’t see the meaning of two claw foot tubs.

Since it is an ED commercial (sorry for the sore subject guys) why not show a couple snuggling in a blanket or sneakily creeping away to their room or a tent, something close to realistic.  I’ve been in neighborhoods with all types of things in the yard: cars on blocks, playhouses, HUGE sculptures and even a human size checkerboard, but never have I seen two claw footed bathtubs with running hot water.  Because when you think about it even if you did have those tubs in your yard, soaking in cold hose water isn’t very tempting and not good for guys anyway.  Why not, I don’t know, use a hot tub…or would that be too risqué for a commercial urging people to do the horizontal tango whenever “the moment hits”?  But let’s go imagine a likely scenario….you look out your window and “oh gosh golly” there are your middle aged neighbors buck naked in their backyard in his and hers clawfoot tubs. But the car crash effect takes place and you can’t get yourself to look away because now one of them is moving.  [Feel free to imagine the male or the female].  As Neighbor A (now referred to as A) starts to get out of the tub you realize how not sexy getting out of a tub can be  (that and A is completely pasty white).  A’s feet keep slipping in the tub, water sloshing everywhere, hands slipping on the sides of the tub…totally not sexy or subtle for that matter.  Then comes the transfer to Neighbor B’s tub just a few inches away.  There’s slippage, more water sloshing around, and a very unsexy pose when A has one foot in each tub and once A is in the tub all the water is pushed out….one breeze and well…it gets chilly.  Yeah, sounds like a very “productive” evening, woo freakin hoo.  All I’m saying is….a hot tub or even a kiddie pool would be more believable! lol

I dont get it!

I don't get it!

Apr21

Dunkin gives back…but not a lot

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Dunkin gives back…but not a lot

It’s no secret, I love DD. So I was psyched when I heard that they were offering small iced coffees for $.50. I thought sweet, I’m hitting up every one in MA (I only went to two though).  When I went in to the store, there was ONE tiny ad tent on the counter advertising the special.  When I finally reached the counter I was able to read the ad.  Only then did I find, in VERYsmall print that some of the proceeds are going to Home for Our Troops, an organization that builds and modifies homes for severely injured veterans.  Only 10% of each sale is going to the charity.

I think it’s great that a large corporation is drawing attention to a worthy organization and cause, but nonetheless I think they went about it the wrong way. First of all, it seems that they are being greedy but with a sugarcoated facade.  I would think, or at least hope, that if more people knew that proceeds from this special were going to a special cause, people would make a special trip to contribute.  Or maybe even putting out a collection bucket on the counter would draw even more contributions and create more awareness.

Let’s remember that in 2006 DD made $4.7 BILLION in regular day to day sales.  My thought is that they could spare more than 10% of sales from this one day promotion if they wanted to do better things.  I would guess that they clear a pretty profit from each coffee sold, so why not suck it up and shave off a little of the profit, let’s say half of their $.50 special, and contribute that?  I sincerely doubt that they would have to close up shop the next day. 

I’m not going to preach about how veterans need help, the war, the effect the economy has on everyone etc. and I don’t like to speak negatively about my precious dealer, nonetheless everyone needs a little help, both financially and emotionally.  So I applaud DD for it’s efforts in helping people do a good deed, I just think they could have done more.