Best Buy Holiday Ad Controversy

Every year around this time, Americans are bombarded with holiday advertising messages.

Oh, whoops, I used the word holiday and not Christmas. I'll probably be hearing soon from the American Family Association that I'm anti-Christmas and get written up on their "Naughty or Nice Christmas list." On the naughty side, naturally.

Best Buy sent flyers out last week promoting Thanksgiving sales and included what seemed like an innocuous message saying "Happy Eid al-Adha," a holiday of sacrifice for followers of Islam that occurred on Nov. 27 this year - the day after Thanksgiving.

Apparently not so innocuous, according to some, but decide for yourself. The image below is the full page of the flyer, and the second image is a close-up view of the message under fire:


Close-up:
The AFA was already upset that Best Buy was going to use the phrase "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas" for it's December advertising and sales promotions, and it's not the first time for THAT either...

Karen Datko at MSN Money writes:

The Mississippi-based American Family Association targeted Best Buy Inc. in 2006 after a company spokeswoman said it would favor “happy holidays” in its ads in recognition that several holidays occur at that time of year. Meanwhile, Christmas themes did NOT disappear from Best Buy ads.

Sure, it's fine to say "Merry Christmas" to all those who celebrate that holiday, but we're not allowed to celebrate the multiple other holidays that occur around the same time? And sure, the shopping this season may be mostly for Christmas, but I don't think we need to be freaking out about this. Who cares what holiday someone is buying presents for? Shouldn't we be happy that consumers are actually spending some money?

You'd think the AFA would be pleased that so many parents are able to provide gifts for their children on Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, etc. and in turn create happy family holiday moments.

But wait, I forgot, the AFA doesn't like it when other holidays are even mentioned in advertising, because the organization is calling on consumers everywhere to boycott Gap, Inc., and it's other properties, including Old Navy and Banana Republic:

Randy Sharp, a rep for the AFA, said that a Gap rep sent the group an e-mail alerting them to this year's campaign, via Crispin, Porter + Bogusky, that does use the word "Christmas," but Sharp said the ad, which features the line "Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, Go Kwanzaa, Go Solstice," and beckons consumers to "86 the rules," is offensive. "It looks like an attempt to patronize people," he said. "What they did was almost make a joke of it."

A Gap rep, however, said the advertising mentions different holidays because the brand "is and has always been an inclusive, accessible brand in which everyone can participate and we embrace diversity across all of our customers, and more importantly respect their beliefs as individuals . . . We focus our marketing on the joys of the holiday season as a whole."

If you ask me, the AFA is sucking the joy right out of the season. The HOLIDAYS are about family and togetherness, no matter your religion.

If anything I think Hanukkah should be getting more advertising airtime - they have 8 whole days of presents! Think of the advertising opportunities there!

(Courtesy of AdWeek, Brandweek, AFA, and MSN Money)

Happy Turkey Day!

Hope you and yours have a happy holiday tomorrow! :)

More than 8.6 million Households Obtain Coupons via Text Messages and/or E-mail

Providence, RI, Top City for Text/Email Coupon Users

New York, New York (Vocus/PRWEB ) August 19, 2009 -Americans continue to watch their spending and to look for good deals in the sluggish economy, and coupons are an important method of saving money. Consumer and media research firm Scarborough Research released an analysis highlighting the ways households are obtaining coupons. The study found that text messages and/or email are an emerging method for households to obtain coupons. 8.6 million (eight percent) of U.S. households currently acquire coupons via text messages and/or email. While not the leading medium for household coupon obtainment - the Sunday newspaper holds this distinction, and other means such as in-store circulars and regular mail still surpass it - couponing via text messages and/or email is gaining a following among American consumers.

"We began measuring text/email coupon usage in our most recent Scarborough study, and I am not surprised to see that households are taking advantage of this new couponing medium," said Gary Meo, senior vice president of digital media and print services, Scarborough Research. "Coupons received via text messaging are typically sent only to consumers who have opted-in to receive them. This increases the relevancy of the offer and the potential for the consumer to act on that offer. An additional benefit is the mobility of cell phones and other personal communications devices, which allow consumers to access the coupon at the point of purchase."

Those consumers who obtain coupons via text messages and/or email tend to be young, affluent, educated and female. Scarborough data shows that they are 14% more likely than the average adult to be ages 18-24; 51% more likely to be a college graduate or have an advanced degree; and six percent more likely to be female.

Where do these consumers live? The top local market for text message and/or email coupon users is Providence, RI. Twelve percent of households in Providence typically obtain coupons via text message or email. Washington D.C., Atlanta, San Diego, Austin and Chicago, where 11% of households get coupons via this medium, are also among the leading markets for this activity.


(Courtsey of PRWeb)

Political Advertising to Surge in 2010

It will rise 11% over '08 to $3.3 billion, but still lag behind the record-setting spending of '06

Oct 21, 2009

- Katy Bachman

NEW YORK Political advertising will hit $3.3 billion in 2010, an 11 percent increase over 2008, but a 4 percent decrease from 2006, according to a Wells Fargo Securities report released today.

The ad windfall, more than 60 percent of which goes to local TV, will be fueled by the election of 37 governors, 38 senators, the entire House of Representatives and issue advertising (which could approach $1 billion) on hot-button topics such as healthcare.

The factors affecting the 2010 forecast are similar to those that made the ad spending of $3.4 billion in '06 a record year for political advertising.

"2010 political spending will most closely resemble 2006, as it was the last time a large number of governor races were held, and congressional elections faced similar conditions (i.e., declining presidential and congressional approval ratings and contentious issues)," wrote Marci Ryvicker, senior analyst and author of the report.

Broadcast TV will reap the lion's share at $2.2 billion (or 67 percent of the total), with $2 billion going to local TV, $150 million to cable and $50 million to network TV. Direct mail will get $650 million (or 20 percent of the ad spend), followed by radio at $250 million (or 8 percent) and newspaper at $95 million (or 3 percent). Outdoor and the Internet are forecast to reach $55 million and $50 million, respectively.

A robust political advertising market couldn't come at a better time for the TV business, which has been hammered by the soggy economy and a sinking auto category. Political ads are likely to be large contributors to a modest increase for spot TV between 3.6 and 6.1 percent, according to the Television Bureau of Advertising's forecast.

TV groups most exposed to hotly contested races include Disney's ABC stations at 63 percent, Journal Communications (53 percent) and CBS (46 percent).

Although political advertising has made up only 3 to 5 percent of total revenue radio also stands to gain. Radio groups most exposed to political races include Disney's radio properties (63 percent), Beasley Broadcast Group and Regent Communications (both 61 percent) and CBS (58 percent).

"Any incremental ad dollars will contribute significantly to [radio's] year-over-year top-line growth, especially given the easy comparisons of 2009," Ryvicker wrote.


(Courtesy of AdWeek)

The Eternal Struggle: Miracle Whip vs. Stephen Colbert

OK, "eternal struggle" is probably pushing it, but as sandwich condiment debates run, this is epic.

A few weeks ago on the Colbert Report, TV faux pundit Stephen Colbert picked a fight with Miracle Whip. Specifically, he poked fun at a new commercial targeted toward a younger crowd, claiming that Miracle Whip "will not tone it down."

Colbert, so offended by the so-called mayonay-sayers, created his own commercial extolling the virtues of mayonnaise. (Check it out here!)

Well, in the struggle for sandwich spread supremacy, the MW marketing team made a smart move by publishing an open letter in a number of newspapers calling out Colbert for his recent attacks and announcing they were buying airtime to run multiple ads during last night's episode of the Report:

Awesome. Not only does the BOLD MW marketing team understand the value of Colbert's quips, they see the value in engaging his audience in an ongoing mock debate about whether mayo or Miracle Whip is better.

Colbert banks on his viewers to do his bidding (as Colbert Nation has recently become a sponsor of US Speed Skating and is raising donations on the CN website) and true to form, he addressed the Great Mayo Debate on last night's episode. Here's the video:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Miracle Whip Buys Ad Space
http://www.colbertnation.com/
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

(Courtesy of Comedy Central and YouTube)

Silly Ad Wednesday

AdLab's 5th anniversary was yesterday - congrats!

Go check out some of the ridiculous advertising schemes that are posted over there, good for a chuckle on Hump Day:

Advertising on Flies - They have mini banner ads attached to them, check out the video

Armpit Video Advertising - Yep

School Exam Advertising - Just in case the kids aren't bombarded with enough ads, we'll throw this in for good measure

Branded Shadows on the Moon - You read that right, and it's just as ridiculous as it sounds

Enjoy!



(All courtesy of AdLab)

90% of Teens Disapprove of Advertisers Texting Them

The following information nuggets were taken from a Teen Advertising Study conducted by Fuse Marketing and UMass (whoop whoop, my hometown of Amherst!):

- 75% of teens believe TV advertising is an appropriate way to reach them and/or prefer to be reached this way.

- Print ads receive high approval too - magazines (50%) are second most effective medium in reaching teens

- While 79% of teens surveyed have visited a brand's official website for product information, results indicate they are not interested in interacting with brands on social networks. Only 29% of teen respondents say they have "friended" a brand on their social networks.

- While 90% of teens text, the survey found that 90% of teen respondents disapprove of advertisers texting them with product messages


Obviously social media and cell phone advertising (including texts and apps) are a great way to connect businesses with consumers, we just have to remember that once advertising becomes too invasive it can start to turn teens off.

To view the full survey results, click here (and be prepared to sift through 90 Powerpoint slides).