Questionable but Effective

Check this video out.

Maybe romance does sell after all. From what I've learned about the advertising world, men predominantly respond to sexual themes in advertising more than women. And conversely women respond to emotional ads.  Taste varies a bit, but sex is a useful tool for sparking interest in certain products. It's undeniable. Even if it's just sparking controversy. While sex is not appropriate all the time, just when you thought it wouldn't sneak up on you in an ad targeted towards women, it does. But can a hybrid of sex and romance fool women into buying this product. 

In this spot for a minivan they were specifically targeting moms. It's sexual because he's shirtless for the majority of the ad. But it's clearly romance novel based in its delivery. Clearly the typical man isn't an adonis with the urge to keep the house spotless, iron his own shirts, and even clean the toilet. It's kind genius. If they can't have the man that does more than he's supposed to, then they can at least have the minivan. 

So here is yet another example. It's disgustingly effective. 

Story Board

Storyboard VIC3002

"Hand" me the sales paper.

Ok, so one of my tourist pictures snuck in here. (that's my friend
Kristy) I am in Boston and on Newbury street are some of the best
sales of the season. (Or so they say) Most of the signs were ordinary
and plain but not this one. This one caught my eye. This sale sign is
made almost entirely of dishwashing gloves. Louis of Boston is an
upscale store with a simple and effective approach to advertising. I
love it. It proves that expensive advertising isn't always the most
eye-catching.

Advertising Audacity: Before intelligence and after common sense.

I believe this item is the most blatant piece of puffery I've seen in
advertising in a long time. I found this in a D.C. publication and
thought it was worth a chuckle. How did this man lose weight and years
all at the same gym? If I found a gym that could take years off of my
life I'd be a very rich man. This is a prime example of bad
advertising. Way to take us down a notch Fitness Together. I think one
of the main problems with the advertising world is that amateurs are
allowed to print such idiotic ads without any real creative merit or
credibility.

Opening Sooner than Later

This sign I thought was just interesting. You almost can't plan
something so visually surprising. I wouldn't dare to say it is funny
because vandalism is deplorable. But It just has such symbolic irony.
I would call it symbolically serendipitous. The sign says opening soon
and the window is wide open because some one or some thing shattered
it. This was in D.C.'s Chinatown, down the street pictured below.

Subway Advertising.

(Peanut Ad)
With the rising price of gas and food, our friendly Peanut farmers
remind us of a healthier alternative. This as is clean and informative
and simple. It reinforces the idea of the simple alternative to
chocolate and candy.

Appropriateness in Advertising

This advertisement for a "Big Ass Sale" is only appropriate as a
storefront in a neighborhood where kids would not be likely to roam.
But it is nonetheless effective in this instance for the store Shake
Your Booty. This jab at the clientele vernacular might work for some
customers but I doubt it appeals to people's better senses. Next time
I'll pop in and ask them how their sales have improved since adorning
their door with this sign.

Site: Washington D.C.

Welcome to D.C. : Yes You Can

I found myself strolling down 17th street in Washington D.C. and
caught sight of an ad for Obama's Presidential campaign in the window
of a D.C. Resident. I stopped to take a short photo. The design for
this ad I thought was pretty nifty. The use of color and shape all
lend itself to a Super Hero-like persona. The red and blue are so
prominently patriotic and the white background make the colors pop.
(Yes, I know the stripes and stars are also white on the American
Flag.) But you really recognize the importance of color when
arranging a layout. If you think about this ad conversely and white
had been substituted for Silver or Black the ad just wouldn't work. As
it is, this ad provokes such feelings of patriotism and national
pride. I still kind of think it makes Obama look like a Super Hero. I
think this also goes to show the power of symbolism in advertising.
Granted, the presidential election is a little more important that
maybe a Tide Commercial but good advertising resonates to an audience
and inspires them to display it. This is the power of visual
advertising is iconic.

Noel Walter

Welcome to Huckster Advertising Avenue

Greetings readers. I've been traveling the East Coast and plan on collecting a few interesting trends and treats that might entice the average Ad Huckster. Hopefully I come across some interesting to show you all.