Which Advertisement Do You Like?
I really enjoy advertising these days. Don’t laugh…but in my opinion, creative directors are being very creative these days–much more creative than they have been in the past. Here are 5 different creative advertisements.
Life-size images were stuck on glass doors at shops and airports in South Africa for the advertisement of I.C.U. glass and window cleaner. The expression on the face is priceless.
This one is a very cost-effective advertisement for a yoga school in Hong Kong. It showcases the prowess of a yoga practitioner on the flexible stems of drink straws. A surge of enquiries and enrollment went up after this promotional stunt.
Here’s a creative idea by The Fitness Company. Heavy-looking weights were placed at various subways in New York City. This creates an illusion that the person holding the safety bar is lifting weights.
The likeness of a cup of Folgers coffee was placed on top of manhole covers in New York City. Holes on the print allow the steam to come out. Wording around the cup reads ‘Hey, City That Never Sleeps. Wake up." from Folgers.
Here is an advertisement by Jung von Matt/Alster for watchmaker IWC. Bus straps have been fashioned from images of IWC’s Big Pilot’s Watch to allow bus travelers near the airport in Berlin to "try before they buy."
I really like all of the ads — starting with the I.C.U. glass cleaner. This one made me laugh and reminded me of so many times of guests going face first into our doors at our house in Cape Cod. The Yoga School is very clever, but I think because I don’t take yoga regularly it didn’t have the impact on me as it would on others. The Fitness Company is great but probably wouldn’t make me join. The Folgers Coffee is fantastic. I like how it integrates the steam from the manhole covers. The IWC watchmaker ad is a cut above the rest. Not only is it really the only product that you are sort of testing — it is also a product that other people can see on your arm while you are holding onto the strap — for me that is the most creative ad.
Which one is your favorite?
Which one had the most impact on you?
Was it the:
- I.C.U Glass Cleaner
- Yoga School
- Fitness Company
- Folgers Coffee
- IWC Watchmaker
January 4th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I like the Folgers’ ad, too. I am curious how they went about adhering the sticker to the manhole cover and pavement. Very effective. This has made me think about some ideas for a potential client. Thanks.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Personally, I love the Folgers ad. It takes a nasty looking man hole cover and turns it into a great way to draw attention. Not only is it providing a cleaner looking street, it’s probably triggering some spontaneous coffee purchase. In fact, it made me want go pour a cup.
January 4th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I love the Folger’s ad. I think it is a very ingenious way to use everyday “stuff” that usually is ignored.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Like all the other responses to date, I’m a big fan of the Folgers ad. They’re all great, but none shows the unbridled creativity evidenced by the coffee maker. The use of the steam is fantastic. My one concern is that someone is going to get run over because they’re not paying sufficient attention to traffic. It pays to marvel at NYC’s wonders from the safety of the sidewalk!
January 6th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Merrill - all are fabulously creative. I must admit tho Folgers gets my vote too.
Would love to have been the reactions of people walking by.
Now the next step would have been sampling with coupons. Add a site where people could upload photos showing how they start their morning, create a Flickr account, add a user generated contest for the best with a great prize and you have a fun social media strategy that could have far reaching viral impact.
January 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Yeah, the Folger’s ad is creative, but would you want your product to be associated with the odor that can arise from a NY sewer?
January 8th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Call me odd, but I have to disagree with everyone on this one.
The Folger’s ad is a creative use of the steam that comes from the NYC manholes. But, does Flogger’s really want people to associate their coffee with the New York sewer system? It makes me think of Ed Norton mucking about in the sewers. While it is funny, I wouldn’t want to drink it. I mean, I have really seen brown foamy steamy liquid coming out of New York City manholes. I wouldn’t want to drink it.
I think that I prefer the glass cleaner ads.
Steve
January 8th, 2008 at 10:36 am
I 100% agree with Steve. Coffee is an important part of my life :-)….why would I want it associated with a sewer? Yikes! I personally loved the yoga one; I thought it was an a very smart and effective ad and it definitely made me visualize the flexibility that yoga could offer to my otherwise…perhaps…not so flexible self!
January 9th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Thanks for everyones thoughts. It sounds like Folgers is a slam dunk!
Still surprised no one picked the IWC Watchmaker as I did.
Merrill
January 9th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I reacted to each of the images, mostly with a laugh. I thought of my son’s yoga instructor when I saw that straw–great marketing idea! However, the one that really made an impact on me was Folger’s. Maybe it would be different if it I saw it in person and smelled sewer, but from the posted pic itself I was definitely moved to go pour another cup of coffee for myself, so it did provoke an action. I didn’t and wouldn’t be moved to make a cup of Folger’s though. Fair trade, organic beans only in this home!
January 10th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Maybe I have a thing about Folgers ads. When I got engaged we celebrated at Tavern on the Green, where coffee was (in 1992) $5.00 a cup. Then they had this ad where they approached diners at Tavern on the Green to tell them that they were drinking Folgers Coffee Crystals. All I could think was that for $5, they better not serve me instant Folgers.
I wonder what coffee costs at Tavern on the Green today?
February 5th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I saw the straw before, this is not new! I love the Folgers!!!