Funny Ads
These ads are so bad, they probably had the opposite effect on the consumer than what the advertisers had intended.
Some are old, some are new. Apparently, bad advertising and uninspired copy writing are timeless.
1. Sausage
This should be enough to turn anyone into a vegetarian, and certainly would NOT make me (a non-vegetarian) buy this particular sausage.
Photo credit: krizsa
2. Gillette
Strange.
Photo credit: krizsa
3. Cigarettes
This one is probably a play on the classic Laugh-In line: “Blow in my ear and I’ll follow you anywhere.”(1968)
Gross!
Image credit: krizsa
4. Milk
Is this a convincing argument for drinking milk? Not only is the concept not a very good one, but the copy writing is strange too.
Image credit: caffeina
5. Harry’s Bread
Harry’s Bread tagline is “Nice and Soft“, so it’s obvious what they were trying to do here. It is so soft that she can comfortably sleep on it. But does it make you want to EAT that bread?
Image credit: Tomas
6. FIM financial services
This Swedish Finnish ad for an investment company says “Sure you can smell your way to money. We’ll tell you how”. Thanks Norwegian Guy and Anton for providing the correct translation, and Silja for clarifying that the ad is from Finland.
Image credit: gruntzooki
7. Online news
According to Kate, who posted this on Flickr, this is a Sydney subway ad for online news. She adds, “I’m not sure it makes a compelling argument.” I agree!
Image credit: Kate Raynes-Goldie
8. Bursa Kebab
Bursa Kebab is a restaurant in San Francisco. I’ve never eaten there, and I can’t say that this ad makes me want to.
Image credit: Paul Schreiber
9. Capital One
Regardless of the current financial chaos, does this ad make you want to move your banking needs to Capital One?
Image credit: jarek69
10. Vintage Vitalis ad
He looks SO CUTE with his tousled hair. After applying Vitalis, he looks like a freak.
Image credit: jbcurio
More funny ads:
Seventies Fashion: Unisex Lace Pants
As Smooth As A Baby’s Bottom, But More Minty
Sexist Vintage Ads: Women Are Stupid
Vintage Soda Ad: Real Or Fake?
Sexist Vintage Ad: Heinz, 1950
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J.D. Meier responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 10:10 pm →
I always love the pics you find. I heard green beans make your hair nice and long, but I never knew milk could grow a stache like that. And that bread looks so comfy.
J.D. Meier’s last blog post..Label What is Right with Things
Vintage Mommy responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 10:18 pm →
Strange and funny stuff! I think the bread one is perfect; it depicts exactly how I feel after eating too much white flour and/or sugar!
Vintage Mommy’s last blog post..Happy Birthday Vintage Girl!
Hunter Nuttall responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 10:23 pm →
This is going straight to the front page of StumbleUpon.
Evelyn Lim responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 10:30 pm →
I laughed when I read about you said about the bread ad. Nope…I don’t think I want to eat it!
Totally agreed with the tousled hair look for ad#10. It says “greaseless grooming discovery” in small print but his hair sure looks very greasy to me!
Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..Building The Businesses Of Our Dreams
Da VIKE responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 10:45 pm →
i just don’t get the Bursa kebab ad…what’s that supposed to mean?
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 10:46 pm →
@ J.D.: “green beans make your hair nice and long”? Never heard that one.
@ Vintage Mommy: so true. Sluggishness!
@ Hunter: Thanks.
@ Evelyn: his hair does look greasy. It’s just gross!
@ Da VIKE: I wish I knew! I don’t get it either.
Marelisa responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 10:55 pm →
Vered: These are definitely 10 ways not to sell your product. Did these people flunk out of business school?
“Blow in her face and she’ll follow you anywhere” ????
“After dinner you can stab your date” ???? If things don’t go well don’t go on a second date, but please don’t stab your date.
What were these advertisers thinking? And I dislike any commercial that animates food you’re going to eat, but that pig with the knife . . . I won’t be eating pork for a while.
This definitely needs to get stumbled.
Marelisa’s last blog post..27 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life
Carla responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 11:03 pm →
I *was* hungry, but these ads totally killed my appetite, especially the pig one. Its 11:00PM anyway so it just as well.
In terms of my bread: if I ate that, I would be up all night in pain!
Carla’s last blog post..Alternatives to fabric softeners
Irene | Light Beckons responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 11:24 pm →
Vered, you always amaze me with all the funny things that you dig up, LOL! #1 was absolutely gross - OK, I’m going meatless today. #3 is a nightmare - yeah I’ll follow him anywhere, that’s because I’d passed out from inhaling that smoke and he’ll have to drag me. #10 was hilarious - not because of the ad, but because YOUR tagline was funny.
Irene | Light Beckons’s last blog post..Beverly Takes A Break
Max Forlani responds:
Posted: September 28th, 2008 at 11:25 pm →
Again a nice and funny compilation, Vered. I wonder how long you search the net for finding those every week?
I showed some stumble love as a token of my appreciation.
Cheers,
Max
Max Forlani’s last blog post..6 Functional Facts about the Umbilical Cord
Barbara Swafford responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 12:52 am →
Hi Vered - Great finds. I agree on the bread one. That slice would have to be tossed.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Strike While The Iron Is Hot
Davina responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 1:08 am →
Hi Vered. Verrry entertaining specimens. “I always drink it. It is something I like to do - I want to be loved by the mothers!” Oh puhlease! I don’t see no milk moustache… I’m stumbling after seeing that piggy.
Davina’s last blog post..Free Spirit My Ass!
Avital responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 1:38 am →
Good job on this post! I guess sometimes copywriters wants to express their “creativity” and “wit” without really doing any good for their clients… Kind of reminds me of lawyers, doesn’t it?!?
Lance responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 2:15 am →
These are very funny Vered (and some, in a disturbing way)! The old, chubby guy from Capital One - yep, that really convinces me to move my money to them!!! I’d run away from them as fast as I could…
Lance’s last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Scott McIntyre responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 2:20 am →
A very strange collection of ads indeed, Vered.
I wonder whether any of them were run past focus groups in their day? Nowadays, hardly any ad sees the light without first being shaped by market research or a consumer panel.
The image of the ‘Gillette’ baby takes me back to an incident involving my brother, who was 6 years old at the time.
Day after day, he’d innocently watched as my dad shaved without any hint of the copycat instinct at work…
I’m sure you can imagine my mum’s reaction when she caught him one day with razor in one hand and a bar of frothy soap in the other, emulating what he’d seen.
Thankfully, there was no blade in the razor- which is just as well!
MizFit responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 3:47 am →
HOW HILARIOUS IS THAT BREAD AD!
never seen it and laughed out loud even imagining it being used today—–2008 is more likely to get ous the IT WILL KEEP YOU AWAKE BREAD! CHOCK FULL OF LUMPS AND BUMPS AND GRAINS AND FLAX!
and show the girl grimacing in healthyingredient pain.
MizFit’s last blog post..What? Me worry?!
Kim Woodbridge responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 5:43 am →
Hi -
I don’t care for the use of animals in advertising in the first place and the pig cutting himself up is just disgusting. I am a vegetarian but even if I wasn’t this ad would disturb me. I can imagine the hundreds of questions my daughter would ask me about it too.
The guy in the Capital One ad reminds me of Mr. Potter in It’s A Wonderful Life - so I would definitely want to avoid that company.
The last one doesn’t bother me as much. Style and fashion was different then and they probably didn’t think the messy look was a cute as we do now. But he does look creepy with his hair slicked back.
I’m impressed with your research. It must take a LOT longer to find the ads then it does to put the post together.
Dave Jones, CPA responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 6:20 am →
#1 with the pig is a classic, they probably did a spin off of that for bacon too. #3…Now I no why I was never good at picking up women. I would just buy them a drink, I didn’t know they wanted to breathe a bunch of second hand smoke and smell like an ashtray.
Dot responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 6:32 am →
Stumbled it (before I read the comments and saw everyone else did too). The pig is the grossest thing I’ve seen in a long time. The white bread — using it as a pillow is probably its best use.
As for the Vitalis — you had to be there. Messy hair was not sexy, as it is today. All the hot guys had every hair in place. And Vitalis wasn’t greasy because it contained only oil, not grease. Ha!
I think the ugly banker was supposed to be your current banker, and Capital One would be better. As for the smoke blowing and the shish kebab, that was “dark humor” in those days. I am SOOOOOOOOOOO glad those days are over.
Shevonne responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 7:15 am →
Wow, those are pretty bad. It makes you wonder what they were thinking.
Suzie responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 7:20 am →
Thank you for everything. You’ve been an amazing friend.
Those adds are pretty funny poor pig whats wrong with him?
Suzie’s last blog post..Valium Please
Pink Ink responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 7:36 am →
The pig one takes the cake!
- a short comment since I am laughing so hard over here
Pink Ink’s last blog post..Please, No Lies
Daniel Richard responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:05 am →
Woah. The first one with the ham was already a shocker of a start. Kinda in a sadistic way but ewww… its still an interesting list of totally bizarre ads! Lol
Daniel Richard’s last blog post..What Does 22,691,665 Mean To Me?
Nathalie Lussier from Billionaire Woman responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:37 am →
I was especially disturbed by the first one, being a vegetarian. But knowing that it was written in French made it even more troubling, since I also speak French.
I thought the bread one was funny too, since it really doesn’t make me want to eat any bread.
Great work pulling all of these together!
Nathalie Lussier from Billionaire Woman’s last blog post..Self-Sabotage: How To Turn Resistance Into Momentum
hyrcan responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:38 am →
Ahh, marketing…
I agree with the “great book“, in that some marketing departments are… “a bunch of mindless jerks who’ll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes”
1. Suicide Food. This is something that happens a lot. In fact, Suicide Food is a whole blog that explores this. I think many people don’t even realize how this sort of thing disconnects us from the food we eat. It’s not just “suicide food” message, but the other common marketing tactic used for food, which is to paint a picturesque pastoral image of Ol’Mac Donald raising your food, complete with red barn and all. This hides that the imagery of a automotive plant is much more closer to the truth than any picture book farm scene is.
2. Shaving early… I actually know of someone who, as a child, did that… Tried to do what Dad does in the morning… and well you can guess the outcome. Freaked his mom out pretty good, all superficial… but cuts on the face bleed -a -lot- haha
3. Cigarettes. I’m almost willing to bet that cigarettes have the largest collection of absolutely absurd marketing ads of any single product type. Some of which I’d be hard pressed to believe that they weren’t viewed as ridiculous by people when they came out the first time.
4. Milk. For the Freud in you. Nothing like selling a product as a solution to deep psychological disturbances. And am I the ONLY person that thinks drinking the lactation of a different species utterly disgusting? (must resist pun… must resist pun…)
And is having a guy who’s last name is “Spitz” promoting something you drink really that great of an idea? (juvenile I know… but it’s all about word association.)
5. Bread. Mmmm…. slober sandwiches… My favorite! Eat the bread? No. This makes me want to call Social Services. Why’s this girl so tired she falling asleep while she’s trying to feed herself?! “Sooo hungry… all we have is white bread! Ugh, I need food…. *zonk* *zzzzzzzzzzzzzz*”
6. ugh. I can’t imagine they have very many female customers. They probably assume women don’t invest because of that.
7. News. Wow… that’s… I’d say uninspired, but that would be over stating it.
8. Kebab. Ok, I giggled a little about that. But… Worst. First. Date. Ever.
In a world of violence should we use it in marketing ads? I’m torn on this topic, what sort of impact violence in movies, TV, Games have on us… It’s a complex question. The one thing I do know, cutting it all out isn’t the answer though, but reducing it, and not using it needlessly certainly can’t hurt. (Can you spot the irony?)
9. Fat Cats. What do political mud slingers do when it’s not an election year? Make Capital One ads it seems. First, disparaging your competition is a poor reflection on your own business. Second, hey way to break away from stereotyping there Capitol One….oooh… wait. Third, the only thing I take away from this ad really, (as I bet most people would) is Passing huge kidney stones, and Capital One. Just the image they were going from I’m sure.
10. Hair Tonic. Yet another example of how our natural selves are a heck of a lot better looking and attractive than the artificial ideal they keep pushing on us.
hyrcan’s last blog post..Where am I?
Christina responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 9:38 am →
The Pig Ad freaks me out. That’s the most crazy ad I’ve ever seen!
Christina’s last blog post..Treasure [pic]
Mike Goad responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 9:39 am →
Another interesting post.
The last one, for Vitalis, was from when I was about 5 years old and the guy on the right was the norm! The guy on the left was more like a “rebel.”
Little did the know what was coming in the next decade.
I never used Vitalis. Butch Wax was my brand — at age 5!
M responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 10:43 am →
Yikes ! The ham? Those are definitely interesting!
M’s last blog post..Stock Market’s Down–So’s My Scale! Yessss!
Chris responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 10:58 am →
Mark Spitz’s add should be an add for a porn flick and the FIM Financial is justr plain insulting! I do like the bread add.
Chris’s last blog post..I Don’t Get It
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 11:02 am →
@ Marelisa: “Did these people flunk out of business school?” Haha probably.
@ Carla: That sausage ad is one of the grossest things I’ve ever seen.
@ Irene: Well, he DOES look like a freak in the “after” photo.
@ Max: Thanks for the stumble! A post like this takes me about 2 hours – as opposed to my “regular” posts which take me about 30 minutes – but searching for funny stuff is FUN, so I’m not complaining.
@ Barbara: Agreed on that particular slice.
@ Davina: Thanks for the stumble. That pig is amazing, and not in a good way.
@ Avital: “Kind of reminds me of lawyers” – it does!
@ Lance: I agree about the Capital One ad. It’s a really bad one.
@ Scott: “Thankfully, there was no blade in the razor” – thankfully indeed! I love your stories.
@ MizFit: True… I thought about it too – the promise of a very white, soft, processed bread – not that intriguing these days.
@ Kim: Indeed, it took me about 2 hours to put this together. But I’m really enjoying these posts. They’re fun to write.
@ Dave: that cigarette ad is highly disturbing!
@ Dot: “I think the ugly banker was supposed to be your current banker, and Capital One would be better.” – you’re right. Still… using this ugly image in an ad just doesn’t seem like a good idea.
@ Shevonne: Exactly!
@ Suzie: WELCOME BACK my friend.
@ Pink Ink: It sure does.
@ Daniel Richard: I started this post with just the first ad, meant to publish it for Wordless Wednesday, then decided to look for more bizarre ads. You’re right: the first one is the most shocking.
@ Nathalie: I am not a vegetarian, and still found that ad to be HIGHLY disturbing! Seriously, what were they thinking??
@ hyrcan: haha @ “Worst. First. Date. Ever.”
Agree that disparaging your competition is a poor reflection on your own business.
Sigh.
I love your comments.
@ Christina: Me too!
@ Mike: wow, putting wax in your hair at age 5. Amazing.
@ Mark: I know, it’s disgusting.
@ Chris: The bread ad is sweet… but it doesn’t make me want to buy that bread.
John Rocheleau - Zen-Moments responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 11:07 am →
I love seeing these old ads. We’ve come a long way in our thinking since most of these. Wouldn’t it be a hoot to go travel back in time to the fifties? Or perhaps it would just be frustrating (thalidomide comes to mind). Either way, if anyone has the time machine, I’m ready to travel
Cheers,
John
John Rocheleau - Zen-Moments’s last blog post..Desire and Seduction: 7 Ways to Turn Your Life Around
David "CrazyKinux" Perry responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am →
I’d be curious to see the cigarette close-up. When I was in college I remember a marketing class where we looked at several ads to see if there were suggestive images or text in them and I remember a Grand Marnier ad where the word S-E-X was clearly seen (upside down) in the smoke.
I’m pretty sure we could find something in that one!
David “CrazyKinux” Perry’s last blog post..Setting the right example
Aunt Becky responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 11:30 am →
Marketing is so strange. Do you think they actually worked on people?
RC - Rambling Along... responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 11:51 am →
I feel the need to go get some Tipalets. (Totally joking!)
RC - Rambling Along…’s last blog post..We didn’t purchase the sleep accessory
BC Doan responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 11:59 am →
You’ve found the most bizarre ads for sure! They are not enticing at all!
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm →
good heavens, that post took ages to load!
I’m thinking ‘this had better be worth the wait’ and ye gods it is.
Stab your date? Blow in her face and she’ll follow you anywhere? I feel like I’ve stumbled into the Twilight Zone
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk’s last blog post..Which superhero are you?
Mia responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm →
It seems clear that the advertisers just were not thinking! Makes you laugh though…though I have to say, the pig one turned my stomach!
Robin responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 2:27 pm →
Hi Vered - they’re funny.
Some ads are more about the creator’s’ ego than the thing they are meant to be advertising.
Robin’s last blog post..Love Song To Planet Earth
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 2:40 pm →
@ John: I would love to spend a year in the fifties… as long as I can return!
@ David: I tend to agree.
@ Becky: I’m guessing these particular ads didn’t!
@ RC: Haha
@ BC Doan: I agree – not enticing at all.
@ Tara: Really? It takes ages to load? Sorry. I hate when that happens. Glad it was worth it!
@ Mia: I know, the pig one is horrible.
@ Robin: “Some ads are more about the creator’s’ ego than the thing they are meant to be advertising.” – very true.
grace responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 2:44 pm →
Those ads are crazy! They would work out so well for flyers for shows here at our coffee shop/music venue
grace’s last blog post..Cafe Education Series-Part 1-A Whole Lotta Latte
Chase March responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 4:22 pm →
Man, that first one is a bit disturbing. The rest are just kind of weird.
I don’t know who pays these people to come up with this stuff. And then who approves it for production.
I have seen toy razors before so kids can pretend to shave with dad. But I’m not sure that ad was for that.
Strange, that’s all I have to say.
Chase March’s last blog post..Chase March - on a podcast!
Ellen Wilson responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 4:38 pm →
Number 4 is toooo strange! “I want to be loved by the mothers.” He is drinking milk? Bizarre. It reminds me of breast feeding.
A shrink would have fun with this one. I’m having fun and I’m not a shrink.
Advertising is interesting. It’s all about psychology that manipulates the masses.
Ellen Wilson’s last blog post..The Tree of Life
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 5:46 pm →
@ grace: They are crazy.
@ Chase: “a bit disturbing” would be putting it mildly.
@ Ellen: “A shrink would have fun with this one. ” Ha. True. Advertising is definitely about manipulating the consumer’s emotions.
Tracy responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 6:05 pm →
I am scared of bread that is too soft, it’s just too waddable. You do not want anything that could be described as a wad in your belly, trust me.
Tracy’s last blog post..The Cruelest Cut
NaTuRaL responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 6:13 pm →
Vered, you find some of the greatest pictures. I was grossed out by the pig, blah, and the little girl sleeping on the bread was just cute. I’m so glad no. 4 didn’t have a milk mustache.
NaTuRaL’s last blog post..Do Excuses Negate Responsibility?
10 Bizarre Ads | Unbelievable Pictures, Funny Pictures, and Videos - pagog! responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 6:19 pm →
[…] MomGrind Stumble it! Get RSS Be Nice. Leave A […]
Andre Kibbe responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 7:11 pm →
That hara-kiri ham is outrageous! What’s bizarre is that these were circulated ads, not just some lone ad exec’s temporary lapse of reason in his office. You’re going to have to do a post on your image research strategy one of these days.
Andre Kibbe’s last blog post..Using Po to Generate and Restructure Ideas
CK Lunchbox responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:13 pm →
Bursa Kebab, ya, I think I got OJ’s autograph there?
CK Lunchbox’s last blog post..The Sting
Shamelle - TheEnhanceLife responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:14 pm →
Hi Vered,
Entertaining post. It reminded me of the Ellen DeGeneres show
Shamelle
Shamelle - TheEnhanceLife’s last blog post..Over Spending & Impulse Buying: 8 Reasons Why You’re Not To Blame
Patricia responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:23 pm →
Vered,
I so needed a laugh today…thank you so much. I came back three times just to read the comments and have a good chuckle…thank you
Patricia’s last blog post..I Need to Tell You This
Jamie | WiredParentPad responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:23 pm →
“Blow in her face and she’ll follow you anywhere.” This tag line could simply no longer be used in today’s world. Period. That one is truly a classic.
Jamie | WiredParentPad’s last blog post..One Parents Perspective on Teen Text Messaging
Bamboo Forest responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:26 pm →
This is really hilarious.
And I would say, bickering couples should not frequent the kebab restaurant.
Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..7 Ways to Settle a Dispute
Shilpan | successsoul.com responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:29 pm →
I’m ceaselessly amazed at your uncanny ability to craft such an interesting article with a touch of humor.
Shilpan | successsoul.com’s last blog post..How to Take Control of Your Life Now
Friar responds:
Posted: September 29th, 2008 at 8:42 pm →
That’s a VERY accomodating pig!
Friar’s last blog post..Travels with the Bear: Poland, this time!
Norwegian Guy responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 12:50 am →
Stumbled it.
The Sweeidsh ad says: “Sure you can smell you’re way to money. We tell you how.”
And under FIM it says: “Fit to invest”
Tricia responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 3:40 am →
Oh these are just horrible. I started cringing with the sausage and didn’t un-cringe until the end. I work in marketing and I never can figure out how this stuff takes on a life and actually gets printed.
Leanne Magraith | Forever Change responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 3:55 am →
Wow Vered what a strange collection of ads. I am amazed at your seemingly endless supply of ads you use in your blog. I guess if marketing is about being noticed and memorable then the pig wins hands down.
Leanne Magraith | Forever Change’s last blog post..A Story About a Major Business Restructure
Anton responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 6:41 am →
At ad nr 6.
Its a very rough translation and not quite correct.
It should be “Sure you can smell your way to money. We’ll tell you how”
Big difference
GET IT RIGHT!
MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 9:17 am →
@ Tracy: Haha I believe you.
@ Natural: “I was grossed out by the pig” – me too!
@ Andre: “You’re going to have to do a post on your image research strategy one of these days.” Hmmm I might, though I think it would be a boring post PLUS I don’t want to reveal my secrets.
@ CK: Sounds about right.
@ Shamelle: Glad you liked it.
@ Patricia: I love my comments too, they are often better than my posts!
@ Jamie: Very true.
@ Bamboo Forest: “bickering couples should not frequent the kebab restaurant.” Ha true.
@ Shilpan: Thanks Shilpan.
@ Friar: It is!
@ Norwegian Guy: Thanks for the translation! I will edit my post accordingly. Also, thank you very much for the stumble.
@ Tricia: “I work in marketing and I never can figure out how this stuff takes on a life and actually gets printed.” – I know, you’d think that someone would have been able to stop some of these before they were out there.
@ Leanne: Marketing fascinates me. The way it manipulates our emotions. Also fascinated with vintage ads because I think we can learn a lot from them about how things were in the past.
@ Anton: Thank you! As I told Norwegian Guy, I will edit my post so that it has the correct translation.
Top 10 Fashion Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs | MomGrind responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 10:46 am →
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Karl - Work Happy Now responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 12:48 pm →
Great ads. It reminds me of a quote:
“What really decides consumers to buy or not to buy is the content of your advertising, not its form.”
David Ogilvy
None of their content made me want to buy.
Karl - Work Happy Now’s last blog post..My Work Happiness Week in Review – Grand Plans, Aha, and ACL
Hicham responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 2:07 pm →
O my GOD; those ads have succeeded at least in on thing; do anti-goal of advertising which is ‘Not Convinced’! For example:
- ADV 3 ‘Cigarate’: what if she hate smoking?
- ADV 4 ‘Milk’ : What’s the role of (Mothers) in such ad; didn’t he grow up yet?
Jamie Simmerman responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 7:02 pm →
I like the Capital One ad. that guy reminds me of my grandfather. Talks like him too.
Jamie Simmerman’s last blog post..Pick the Brain of Harrison McLeod of Men With Pens
Bob the 10 foot wizard responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 10:36 pm →
Haha! i like the one with the pig, I think I’ll have porkchops today, and tomorrow, and the day after that
mmm delicious
Maya responds:
Posted: September 30th, 2008 at 10:48 pm →
I just HAD to tell you that I scoured the internet for almost an hour trying to find the connection between Mark Spitz, a mom and milk …and came up with NOTHING.
It is simply a very very bad ad!!!
These were fun indeed
Maya’s last blog post..The key to happiness and balance is right with you, just learn to use it - Part 1 of the thinkmaya framework
hank responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 8:22 am →
My fave is the shaving baby - how funny and ridiculous at the same time. Who gives a baby a razor in the first place???
hank’s last blog post..Do You Delegate Your Workload? Why Or Why Not?
Jonathan Mead responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 9:06 am →
That first one was enough to make my stomach turn. Damn.
I think the worst one is the stab your date. WTF?
Computer Addict responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 10:19 am →
These are indeed weird…but I think it’s possible that they do work. The Bursa Kebab ad is bizzare, to say the least, possibly even distrubing, but I live in the Bay Area, and I’m intrigued enough that I might go and check it out next time I’m in the City.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 1:05 pm →
@ Karl: That’s a great quote, Karl. I agree with you – these ads do not make me want to buy any of their stuff.
@ Hicham: Agree about the milk ad. It’s disturbing.
@ Jamie: Ha. Your grandpa sounds like a fascinating guy.
@ Bob: Thanks for the laugh.
@ Maya: I agree! It IS simply a bad ad.
@ hank: The shaving baby is one of the weirdest things I have ever seen.
@ Jonathan: “I think the worst one is the stab your date. WTF?” I know, I don’t get that on either. Apparently SOMEONE thought it was funny.
@ Computer Addict: Well, if you end up eating there, you will have to email me and let me know if the food was any good and if people stab each other when they’re done eating.
Chanel responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 1:29 pm →
Oh… my… goodness. That first picture of the pig is just so wrong and so disgusting on so many levels. What a fail attempt on behalf of the meat industry to try and make it seem like animals enjoy dying so we can eat their flesh. =\
Chanel’s last blog post..Such a good model
Rita responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 2:05 pm →
Vered,
All great, but I must say that “Bursa Kabob” had me rolling. To paraphrase Hamlet: “To be terrified, or NOT to be terrified - That is the question!”
Rita
Rita’s last blog post..Kana Hara
Dave Fowler responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pm →
Vered, I’m just about to end my blogging day and this has been a fantastic way to finish. This collection is so funny. I can’t believe what we were willing to put up with in times gone by. Thank goodness we all woke up…or did we? Hehehe.
Dave Fowler’s last blog post..Why I Want To Feel Hungry
SpaceAgeSage responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 7:18 pm →
It just goes to show you that selling an ad campaign to some companies must be a lot like the story of the Emperor’s New Clothes.
SpaceAgeSage’s last blog post..Fall’s memories, melancholy, and magic
Stacey / Create a Balance responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 7:24 pm →
I think the Gillette and Cigarette ads are the most disturbing to me. Thanks for the good laugh!
Stacey / Create a Balance’s last blog post..Two Truths and a Lie
I. Cant responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 9:42 pm →
You are amazing! What a mind you have!
and, uhm, I just have to say…I have NO IDEA how that Vitalis got in my medicine cabinet!
I. Cant’s last blog post..Ambient Love
MomGrind responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 9:48 pm →
@ Chanel: It IS disgusting. I agree.
@ Rita: I have no idea how that ad got approved.
@ Dave: I’m not so sure we woke up… some of these are fairly recent.
@ SpaceAgeSage: EXACTLY.
@ Stacey: The Gillette ad is very, very strange.
@ I. Cant: Haha but I’m sure your hair looks fabulous.
Ricardo Bueno responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 10:06 pm →
Ok, how horrible am I? Number 8 really made me laugh :-/
But in all seriousness, I’m nodding my head thinking ’tisk, tisk’ as I sifted through these. And as for the soft bread, nope, I wouldn’t want to eat it. Ever try to put peanut butter on a piece of really soft bread? It’s a nightmare!
Ricardo Bueno’s last blog post..Read, Read, Read, and then some…
MomGrind responds:
Posted: October 1st, 2008 at 10:45 pm →
@ Ricardo: “Ever try to put peanut butter on a piece of really soft bread? It’s a nightmare!” Indeed it is.
Busymama Kellie responds:
Posted: October 2nd, 2008 at 5:23 am →
I’m still trying to decide which one is the most bizarre. Holy crap, there’s a lot of ad execs on crack out there.
Busymama Kellie’s last blog post..Easy Recipe: Skillet Spaghetti
D responds:
Posted: October 3rd, 2008 at 12:32 pm →
Whoa… that pig has issues. And probably tattoos and piercings.
I wish my dad had had a Gillette Safety Razor when I, as a young child, decided to start shaving early. Not that I remember it, but I’m told it gave my mother quite a scare.
I think the Bursa Kebab ad is funny. Likely to turn a lot of people off, but I don’t know who their clientele are… college kids would eat that up.
And Capital One’s “small business” ad campaign is brilliant, IMHO. The idea is that the fat cat with the cigar is an exec from “other banks” who couldn’t care less about your small business.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: October 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm →
@ Kellie: I guess that could be one possible explanation.
@ D: My problem with the Capital One ad is that I suspect many people will end up associating “Capital One” with the image of that ugly greedy man. So while brilliant on theory, it could backfire.
Octamom responds:
Posted: October 5th, 2008 at 7:44 am →
Loved this! Great collection!
Blessings!
Octamom’s last blog post..Sunday Selah
Silja responds:
Posted: October 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm →
Stumbled my way here and…
#6 is actually a Finnish ad in Swedish (both Finnish and Swedish are official languages here), you can tell for example from the Finnish flag, not to mention the company the ad was made for.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: October 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pm →
@ Octamom: Glad you enjoyed this post.
@ Silja: Thank you for this info - I have edited the post accordingly.
ryan responds:
Posted: October 6th, 2008 at 7:46 am →
the capital one ad, the fat man is representing other baking companies, to show that capitol one is NOT like that. I think it is actually a great ad!
And the kebab one, it’s a pun on “date” the edible, and “date” l;ike your mother.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: October 6th, 2008 at 11:27 am →
@ ryan: Thank you for joining the discussion. The Capital One ad is indeed a clever ad, but it runs the risk of the consumer making a connection between an obnoxious man and Capital One. Re the kebab ad, I didn’t realize that’s what they were going for. Interesting… but still not a very good ad, in my opinion.
Ryan G responds:
Posted: October 7th, 2008 at 3:51 pm →
Blow smoke in her face! Tried it, got a kick in the nuts.
D responds:
Posted: October 8th, 2008 at 7:52 am →
@MomGrind: The danger of “backfire” would be great with respect to consumers who have only seen the print ads in this campaign. I can see how, at a glance, it could be misinterpreted. I think the television commercials in this vein are pure gold, though.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: October 8th, 2008 at 10:15 am →
@ D: I agree.
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adam responds:
Posted: October 31st, 2008 at 10:40 am →
The Vitalis hair guy looks like Richard Beymer (Tony from West Side Story)…
Ariel responds:
Posted: November 13th, 2008 at 10:29 pm →
haha, that first one is hilarious!
I had to disable firefox’s adblock to see most of these. :p
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