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Archive for Happiness

Apr
27

Tropicana Brighter Mornings

Posted by: Christina Castaldo | Comments (6)

On January 8, 2010, Tropicana, with BBDO, brought sunlight to the town of Inuvik, Canada for the first time in 31 days. The Florida orange juice company lit up a helium balloon with 100,000 lumens over the entire town, creating an artificial sunlight. The event coincided with Tropicana’s new campaign “Brighter Mornings for Brighter Days”.
This commerical is inspiring. Being from sunny South Florida, I can’t even imagine what it would be like to live in a place that goes without sunlight for months. The reactions on some of thes people’s face are uplifiting and it brings about such a great feeling about the brand.
Such an awesome idea, and I’m sure Tropicana brightened the lives of people from Inuvik, Canda.

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Apr
27

Whopper Face

Posted by: Christina Castaldo | Comments (4)

Burger King’s tagline- Have it Your Way was brought to the next level when Ogilvy in Lisbon, Brazil set up a security camera and a printer behind the ordering station at the fast food restaraunt. When customer’s gave their order they would take a picture of the customer and put their face on the wrapper of the burger. Very cool!

All the customer’s were surprised and excited when their personalized order came out with their face on it. This was a really cool way to reiterate Burger King’s tagline and philosphy. It gives the customer a good feeling about the company and the food, and puts a personal touch on the fast-food process which is always rushed. In pretty much all fast-food restaraunts you are given a number that corresponds to your order. With the Whopper Face campaign, it puts a personal touch on the experience that I am sure that Burger King’s customers will not forget.

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While saving trees and promoting charities and good causes is all virtuous, I believe that just making people smile is also virtuous. This VW ad, playing off of their punchbuggy fad of the ’60s is a well done, cool commercial that brings a smile to my face and really sheds a great light on VW. I think its one of the best ads VW has ever come out with because it just shows the fun in people.

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Since this is a social media course, I found this very neat. While playing on facebook, I went to the dogbook I created for my dogs. Then, I noticed at the top of the page a perfectly positioned ad for the Honda Element…. which they have made DOG FRIENDLY!? Of course, being a dog owner, I clicked on the ad which took me to Honda’s website  for the Element. What a great concept. They have dog proofed the car with ruber floor mats, and have added a kennel in the back, along with a ramp, a fan to keep your pooch cool, and a water bowl that fits into the car and won’t spill.

This is a great example of how social media can be such a great tool for marketers. I also think Honda did a great job with this concept. In a world that shouts at consumers to demand luxury vehicles… Honda appeals to the consumer’s love for their pets, and their reasonable side. Well done Honda.



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Insurance is a bland product that usually competes by showing lower insurance rates and a wide variety of discount packages. Geckos and Cavemen are one thing, but Liberty Mutual takes a better more virtuous stance that really gives insight into what the company is all about. The two ads below are two of the best insurance ads that I have seen. The idea of seeing people doing good things and passing it on is virtuous and responsible. I think they do an excellent job.




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Dec
04

“Today’s the Day” at JCPenney

Posted by: kelly | Comments (3)

This is an example of using advertising as an effective sales tool while not being too in your face. JCPenney shows their wide range of products without reverting to the cliche “car salesman” technique.

The simple concept of having an item for every room in your house is combined with promoting family values and reminding consumers to stop and appreciate the little things in life. The simplicity of the spot is beautiful and the lack of a voiceover is a welcome change from the usual commercial.

It also uses vignettes from everyday life that the target market can relate to and see themselves in. Using this technique of self-referencing creates an affective involvement with the consumer and helps them to remember the brand.

The virtuous aspect of this ad comes into play with the potential impact it could have on society and family “norms.” This is a great example of how advertising can “mold” society in a positive way. By promoting family togetherness and a general sense of love, this commercial projects a slice of reality that should be more celebrated.

Since it’s the holiday season, maybe this spot will convince you to consider JCPenney’s for your holiday needs. And don’t forget, “Today’s the day” to start living your life, because “Everyday matters.”

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Nov
28

Daddy Dearest

Posted by: Kelli Naylor | Comments (5)

This is one of a series of media ads that encourages fathers to be a part of their children’s’ lives. Sponsored by the Advertising Council, the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Office of Family Assistance, and the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, these ads were launched coinciding with Father’s Day. The reason this campaign was launched is because millions of children live without their biological fathers and are more likely to be poor, use drugs, experience educational, heath, emotional, and behavioral problems, among other things.



The series of television spots created through this campaign applies to people through humor and depicting a diverse range of family types. I found this ad to be my favorite because the ad depicts a father helping his daughter in ways not many fathers would. The other spots can be seen at http://www.fatherhood.gov/media/tv/index.cfm.

The series shows a diverse range of relationships between father and daughter or father and son. With the popular belief that money equals happiness, this campaign serves to portray the value that family is happiness. The variety of the roles depicted through these television spots also serves to reverse gender stereotypes where the father practices cheerleading with his daughter (commonly believed to strictly be a girls’ activity) or the father makes lunch for his son (believed to be the mother’s job).

One of the main reasons I believe this campaign to be socially responsible is because it wants to fight community evils like theft, drug abuse, educational issues, and much more by showing how father child relationships can make people happier. Yes this campaign mainly endorses father children relationships, but it also serves to encourage healthy marriages. Culture, background, and life experiences all influence consumer behavior and buying decisions. The campaign for responsible fatherhood serves to promote the health and happiness of consumers and their life experiences.

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Nov
26

Toll House is Spreading the Love

Posted by: kelly | Comments (4)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Perhaps it’s the holiday spirit, but something about the new Toll House cookie commercial almost moved me to tears, and I think it’s safe to say that was the advertisers intent.

Check it out:


In this spot, Nestle Toll House, a relatively low effort processing and decision-making product is presented as the hero.  Since attitudes formed under low-effort processing are often not stored to memory, Toll House uses  emotional appeals and unconscious influences to affect the attitudes and beliefs of the target market and aid the consumer in recalling the brand later.

One of the techniques this ad uses is transformational advertising in which the goal is to create an association between the experience of using the product and certain psychological characteristics. Specifically, Toll House is increasing emotional involvement by creating a richer experience with the product as opposed to just highlighting product benefits.

Additionally, Toll House is increasing relevance to the consumer by using self-referencing, a common strategy used to increase the extent to which a consumer is engaged in relating the scenario or  message in an ad to their own experiences– such as coming home from college to fresh-baked cookies, or providing yummy treats for a granddaughter’s soccer team.

In sticking with the theme of virtuous advertising, I’d also like to point out the genuinely positive message of “paying it forward” that the commercial uses by creating a chain of inspiration between the actors in the commercial to bake some love and pass it on.

A truly great message and utilization of persuasion theories– what more could you ask for on this day of family togetherness? Now I have something to use as an explanation to show my family what advertising is all about, because we know the inevitable topic of conversation at dinner will include asking me what it is that I am doing/plan on doing in the future.

Gotta love family! Happy Thanksgiving!

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http://www.adweek.com/aw/content_display/creative/new-campaigns/e3ifc258f6318477ab031e7a2e66ac2774a

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2606029/

I saw this new Kodak campaign “It’s time to smile” which is Kodak’s first brand campaign since 2005 along with a couple of interesting articles above talking about it.  ”The campaign aims to focus on the moments and relationships that define folks’ lives. The effort is a direct result of the “Future of Reconnectivity” report commissioned by the Eastman Kodak Co.” (Ad Week 2009).

I like this campaign and the whole Kodak initiative very much, because the company is trying to go back to the basic human values of connectivity and togetherness in a highly materialistic society. This campaign reminds me of  the Mastercard campaign “Priceless” which was also hugely successful due to the basic values in it. I think that society needs to see ads like that along with the millions of luxury ads we see every day to remind us that there is something else besides products and money – there is family, friends and these magnificent moments we are lucky to spend with them. Thus, I believe that Kodak’s ad definitely breaks through the clutter and consumer notice it due to its emotional connection with the consumers.

Furthermore, I think that Kodak is making a very strategic decision in terms of capitalizing on the trend in society of going back to the family values in the times of economic downturn, which can actually be a critic against the company. And critics will elaborate to say that after all Kodak is also trying to sell products and make money. Although that is a valid argument, Kodak is still doing good to society by reminding all of us of the human values of sharing moments with the loved ones through pictures. And who doesn’t like looking through photo albums with friends and family? Those are the cultural values Kodak is promoting which definitely places Kodak on the list of socially responsible and ethical companies.

What do you think?

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I am Second

‘I am Second’ is a great example of cause marketing intended to promote God as the source of a purposeful life. Norm Miller, CEO of Interstate Batteries initiated the campaign with the help of partners from e3 Partners Ministry in Dallas. Rather than pushing religion on people who may see the ads, Miller and partners from e3 say that the campaign uses personal testimonials to offer direction and choice to those who may be seeking God’s help. Iamsecond.com features personal stories from well known athletes, actors, celebrities and regular people who each believe they are second to God and stronger because of the strength they seek from Him.

‘I am Second’ specifically uses testimonials in a way that influences others through the use of celebrity as well as normative influence from regular people sharing stories. I think the campaign shares a fundamental message in a unique and highly interactive way, giving active and interested consumers a way to initiate change and gain insight into the important message the campaign stresses: put God first. In my opinion, an effective and truly virtuous example of advertising for a solid cause. 

On another level, could more campaigns like ‘I am Second’ affect what society thinks about advertising as an institution? Yes. Maybe with more campaigns like this, people would view advertising in a more positive light. 

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