Land’s End, in partnership with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (MCH), the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), and its retailer Sears, has begun an initiative they dubbed “BigBostonWarmUp.”  It began in Boston and has spread nationwide. With its goal to provide coats to keep the nation’s homeless warm in the upcoming freezing winter months, especially in Boston, Sears has asked consumers to bring in their lightly-used coats to its Land’s End Shop at Sears. In return, Sears will grant a discount of 20% off any new Land’s End coat purchased by the consumer. The website, available at http://www.bigwarmup.com/, tracks how many coats are donated per store, per state, and how many homeless are in that state. A heart, which is a motif they have used recurrently on the website, is placed next to the store in which most coats have been donated. Once you donate your coat, you can track where it is and where it has finally been donated. The site also provides statistics of the steadily increasing size of the homeless population (11% increase in Boston last year alone), and the fact that most of them are families is very sobering.

The commercial Land’s End Shop at Sears has created to promote its initiative is extremely creative! The commercial begins with a drama–a story unfolds about a mother who gives her son a red, Land’s End coat for Christmas. She sews on his name, and the commercial follows him through milestones in his life: college,, first kiss, marriage, children, moving, etc. Finally, it’s time to dispose of the coat that has been with him his whole life. The next screen shows a homeless man receiving the coat. The incredible twist to this online commercial is that at the end, we see a woman leaving the shelter holding a coat; when she looks down to see the name of the past owner, it’s your name! It ends with: “[Your Name], your gently used coat can help one of our nation’s many homeless people stay warm this coming winter.”

The commercial (featured above) inspires affective involvement from its viewers–it is both touching and surprising in that it really drives the point home that social responsibility is not just a lofty idea, it is a something YOU can do for one another. It makes social responsibility relevant to each consumer, on a personal level, literally by name. This ad demonstrates shared values we strive for in our culture, namely the importance of family, greater social unity, and generosity towards the less fortunate. The drama that opens the ad hooks us in with its relevance to the life of any average American. And that is the point–every average American can make a difference. The company is also uniting altruistic motives with profit-based motives, in that in addition to donating, it also sells it products (new coats) and promotes positive associations of the Land’s End brand. Moreover, it is using social media and optimizing on the current trend of internet advertising and user-generated content. It also targets the disposition of the product in the consumption behavior tripartite model, and reducing the buyer’s perceived risk and hesitation of buying a new coat and  having to dispose of the old coat–we are instead recycling and not wasting. Additionally, the music aids in this perfect example of transformational advertising–it is touching, yet simple.

Enjoy the commercial, and have fun sending it to others!! And remember, only 12 more days to donate a coat (the campaign ends in November).

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. 

I came across this commercial (above) on www.adland.tv, which features an interesting visual by Halifax (U.K.) on how their business is “teaming” with customers to provide superior service and reward customer loyalty. It’s not by nature the most virtuous of topics by category (banking) but it does reward personal savings, and I think this particular ad conveys a positive company image to their consumers and the general public. Plus, it’s just an interesting and creative visual. What do you think? Virtuous ad or just a persuasive visual for selling financial services? Check it out and post your comments!

This is one of my favorite commercials. I love how coca cola took a notoriously violent video game like grand theft auto and turned it into something positive. I think its clever, and the words of the song send a really great message to the public. They took a video game about violence and destruction and changed it to promote kindness and giving back. I think associating your product with such an uplifting, and funny, message is definitely beneficial. I kind of want a coke now.

While looking for another VISA ad, I came across this one. I remember seeing this commercial during the Olympics last summer and really felt it captured the spirit of The Games… celebrating what we all have in common rather than allowing our differences to divide us. I loved this message! I remember rewinding it for my kids and expounding on it. (Of course, I wasn’t nearly as eloquent as Morgan Freeman. )

Although The Games are over, the message is still important… and this ad still gives me chills!

I saw this commercial earlier today, and it sure made me want to go register for this. For those of you who do not know, this breast cancer walk lasts for 3 days and 60 miles, and the volunteer walkers raise money and awareness to try to find the cure for breast cancer. At the walk, everyone is there for the same purpose: they believe in a world without breast cancer. I love the idea that so many people volunteer in many cities nationwide to help with this valid and wonderful cause, and I also think the advertisement preaches a valuable message: do something that matters. Women that have either personally suffered or no someone that has truly understand that the virtues of life become much more apparent in your life when in a time of need. If you look closely in the advertisement, women are holding up signs saying “optimism”, “love”, and “hope”. I think that the most remarkable line in this ad is saying that this walk is a “celebration of life”, what a positive and encouraging way to look at this dreadful disease. Let’s all join this cause!

I am an American

This is from a campaign that GSD&M in Austin came out with after the attacks on September 11, 2001.  This campaign was launched to help Americans realize that being American doesn’t have a single definition, and to help lessen prejudices people had on people of other races after the 9/11.  This ad was used to help unite fellow Americans after the terrorist attacks, and to show the diversity that is America.

E Pluribus Unum, or “Out of Many, One.”

This spot aired just 10 days after the attacks of September 11th.