The Brands We Know

Sporcle.com may be one of the best or worst websites to visit for procrastination or just to pass time depending on how you look at it.  Do not visit the website if you have a significant amount of work to complete because 20 minutes will fly by before you realize.  Sporcle provides engaging trivia games in a variety of different categories.  Personally I enjoy playing the games under the entertainment tab.

Some of the popular games include listing car manufactures based of their logo or listening to a cound clip of an organization’s jingle and then writing down the name as quickly as possible.  It is amazing how companies have developed brand recognition in America.   Even though I am not an expert in cars or even have the income to purchase one of my own, I can look at the logos of the car manufactures and name a majority of them.  Through advertising brands have molded an image into the consumer’s head.  Within seconds people can look at a logo and make a connection to the company.

Visit Sporcle.com and see how well you can compete but I warn you, it may become addicting…

Boston Starbucks

At the beginning of the semester I traveled to Boston to visit one of my best friends from high school who attends Boston College.  I had never been to Boston so I wanted to see as much of the city as I could in one long weekend.  We decided to go on about a 15-mile bike ride so I could get a true feel for the historical city.

            One of the many sites I visited on our journey was the Steaming Kettle in Government Center. The Steaming Kettle periodically has steam rising out of the spout. The kettle was built in 1873 for the Oriental Tea Company. Hicks and Badger, the city's largest coppersmiths, built the kettle for the company. In 1875, a contest was held to have people guess the capacity of that kettle. More than 10,000 spectators filled the square that day.  A city inspector carefully checked each amount poured into the kettle. A judge was present to observe the process to ensure the contest was fair. A large blackboard was updated after each measure, and it took more than an hour to fill the pot. The answer is engraved on one side: 227 gallons, 2 quarts, 1 pint, and 3 gills. The Oriental Tea Company lasted in the location until the 1940s.

            When Starbucks bought the location it was an excellent decision for business.  The legendary teapot attracts numerous tourists each year and even though it an ordinary Starbucks that sits below the kettle consumers feel the urge to step in for a cup of coffee.  During my visit, which was in late September the coffee shop was packed.  This golden steaming teapot has provided Starbucks with phenomenal advertising. 

International Advertising

For my media writing course I have been paired with a young women who lives in Lebanon to discuss different social issues and learn about each other’s cultures.  It has been fascinating to discover the different stereotypes she has of America.  She has taught me a significant amount in only a few weeks and I would like to think I have broadened her knowledge as well. 

One exercise we conducted was sending each other advertisements from one another’s native country.  It was interesting to hear her perspective on the American Ad I shared with her.  She explained she does not see many emotional commercials in Lebanon.

Here is the Lebanese advertisement she shared with me…

The commercial is very humorous and I could see it being successful in American if it were in English.  The old couple is quite endearing and they capture the emotion of the audience.  It is funny the old woman does not understand that she cannot bring the dairy through the security.  When she was young that most likely would not have been issue. 

It is also funny how the security is so relaxed and laughing about the situation.  If this were real life those employees would be taking their job much more seriously.  It is interesting that my partner in Lebanon mentioned this is one of the only emotional advertisements she could think of when she sent it to me.  I wonder why that is the case.  

Holiday Mayhem

As you may all know the day after Thanksgiving is historically known for sales that attempt to blow the consumers’ minds.  Target has developed an advertising campaign with comedian Maria Bamford to act as a Target super fan looking to take full advantage of the two-day sale. 

Target has done well with these commercials using humor while addressing the key points about the sale. Using the Rocky soundtrack and dressing the actress in a Christmas themed jump suit adds a nice touch.  It is also smart they show her preparing her workouts inside the store just to make the connection.  My favorite part of the commercial is when the spokesperson is doing crunches on the red ball outside the store.  As far as I am aware those red balls are placed outside every Target store and it makes a direct humorous association.

I found this advertising campaign interesting considering a week ago on the radio I heard Target is enforcing a no running policy during the two-day sale.  It is amusing that such rules need to be put into effect, however due to past incidents they should be legally obligated to address the issues.  I do not know how Target plans to stop people from running but it sounds like they will need to hire some lifeguards similar to my childhood swimming pool.  This being said, it is interesting Target portrays the woman running and training for the sale but it is most likely just for comedy.

For all of you looking to take advantage of sales this holiday season, have fun and be safe!

Falling Roses

     While the NBA is disappointing fans everyday Derrick Rose among other athletes are still finding ways to make extra cash.  Considering I am a Chicago Bulls fan I may reveal some bias but I think this advertisement by Adidas is extremely clever and well thought out.  As Derrick Rose enters the stadium he takes the characteristics of a bull in a bullfight. Unlike a traditional bullfight the crowd appears to be cheering for the bull. The matadors attempt to catch Rose as we dribbles through the arena.  Derrick Rose could be considered the best ball handler in the NBA and he is fascinating to watch as he gracefully moves in this commercial.

When Rose successfully dunks the ball in the end the audience begins to throw Roses which correlates to a traditional bull fight as well as the athlete’s last name.  The camera focuses in on the shoes they are attempting to sell, however I believe the only mistake Adidas makes is not mentioning the name of the shoe.  Consumers should be able to watch this commercial and say I want Derrick Rose’s adiZero by Adidas.  It provides a link to the company’s Facebook page, which is cleaver because they keep the audience engaged however they still should mention the shoe name.

Hopefully these shoes will be shown in the spotlight this year and we will not miss an entire year of basketball.  After a wonderful, exciting season last year the NBA needs to get things rolling before they lose too many fans.

Google: Bringing it all Together

                                                                                                        

After watching numerous Google Chrome commercials I was impressed by the collection but “Dear Sophie” stood out as my favorite.  Although this may insult my manliness, I cannot watch the commercial without a smile on my face and getting chills through my body. The advertisement touches every emotion from when the little girl is smiling ear to ear to sobbing crying.  It is heartwarming to view the father’s love and care for his daughter as she grows older.

Google does a wonderful job of portraying how easy it is to use chrome as they literally illustrate the appropriate buttons to press.  As they chronologically show Daniel Lee create his account and discover more aspects Chrome has to offer the audience becomes more intrigued in how much the program has to offer.

Google makes everything very simple and is continually growing in multiple different aspects.  They express the tagline “the web is what you make of it.”  Google Chrome offers the ability to use other websites and bring it all into one.  Through this specific “Dear Sophie” ad I believe Google demonstrates how anyone can use the site.  It is inspirational and certainly pulls at emotions.  I believe the target audience would be parents ranging from about 25-45.  Many young adults may be more familiar with using different computer networks such as youtube, gmail, blogspot and iPhoto and Google wants to show the older generation how easy it is to develop new projects and ideas.

Sexy Burger

                                                                                   

What is Paris Hilton Doing in a Carl’s Jr. advertisement? I could not think of a more bazaar celebrity to try and sell a hamburger.  I understand trying to use sex appeal in an advertisement, however in this commercial the technique did not work. 

            Within the 30 second commercial the hamburger is shown minimally.  Until the final seconds when Carl’s Jr. reveals their logo the audience could mistake this ad for selling a Bentley automobile, a line of Paris Hilton products or possibly selling the song being played.  Not only is this video inappropriate and should be censored to particular age groups, everyone knows Paris Hilton would never put in the manual labor to wash a car. 

            As a fast food chain with significant competition one would think Carl’s Jr. would try to develop a target audience consisting of family values or children’s humor.  If I had children I would turn the channel when this commercial came on the television.  With this commercial the fast food chain appeals to a limited audience consisting of males 15-25 that would enjoy the sex appeal of Paris Hilton.  With that in mind, it is even difficult for Paris Hilton to make eating a hamburger look sexy. 

            Looking at the commercial further, how do washing a car and eating a hamburger mix appropriately?  These tasks seem as if they would be proven very difficult to do together.  The only connection that makes sense is Carl’s Jr. is trying to sell their Spicy BBQ Burger and Paris Hilton’s intellectual tagline is “That’s Hot.”  I personally believe this commercial should not be allowed on air and Carl’s Jr. needs to reevaluate their advertising strategies.