Get our RSS feed
Search BizReport
News by Topic
Marketing
- Advertising
- Search Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Loyalty Marketing
- Mobile Marketing
- Social Marketing
- Viral Marketing
- Trends & Ideas
- Internet Marketing 101
Beyond Marketing
BizReport : Viral Marketing : December 23, 2008
Parachute jumping topless women - the best commercial ever made?
Does sex sell or distract from your campaign message? Controversy is spinning over a brave online video campaign featuring dozens of topless sexy chicks parachute jumping to form a sky message "Siemens washing machine only 4999" or about $900.
by Sasha Puhova
The ad belongs to a Danish advertiser Fleggaard- a small chain of supermarkets on the German - Danish border that expanded to a webshop about a year ago. The text at the end of the commercial reads "Lige over grænsen" ("Just over the border") - an irony, a play of words as the shops are on the German side close to the border. Just as their sales pitch, the ad itself takes it to the other side of the conventional borders and norms of advertising. The Danes have done it again and placed Denmark as pioneers of taking it a step further.
The online video is part of a larger campaign shown on the Danish television where the central figure of the commercial is surrounded by the sexy beauties cleaning his office. Meanwhile he is telling the audience about his new commercial that is not suitable for television, directing people to see the video online.
Michael Arrington, one of the most influential people on the internet as claimed by the Forbes and Wired magazines, put it this way - "quite simply the best commercial ever made". Others viciously disagree. The ad has been called offensive and brainless by a female blogger on bitchbuzz while another male blogger added that such "sexist ads cheapen men as well as women."
A Danish marketing specialist Lars Pynt Andersen, who wrote his PhD on development of Danish TV-advertising, says that using sex in commercials can be a two-edged sword. It has to flow with the rest of the content or it will distract and ruin your message.
According to Fleggaard's marketing chef Nanna Harder, Fleggard was trying to reach the 700.000 individualistic men who are interested in over-the-border trading and online electronic goods. The popularity of the ad is hard to dispute as it now has been viewed all across the globe reaching hundreds of thousands more. Fleggaard.dk now attracts some 30.000-40.000 people per day instead of the usual 2.000 to 10.000.
Judge for yourself whether it's demeaning or brilliant. Be aware though that it is strictly not office material.
Tweet
Subscribe to BizReport
Please enter your e-mail here:
-
Aggie
-
Mike S
-
arqpgl
-
Paul Shishis
-
magu
Latest Headlines
- uTest's Apphance shows 10 times more sessions
- New social network to connection non-corp types
- Elance: Remote hiring sees 60% jump
- Engajer integrates to LinkedIn
- JiWire: Mobile engaging travel consumers
- Drama, inane ramblings and parents turn teens off Facebook
- Survey: UK consumers re-think loyalty to brands
- PPA: Digital magazines boost demand for print editions
Featured White Papers
- Learn How to Increase Traffic, Leads and Sales By Reaching More Than 11 million people on Pinterest
Pinterest isn't just another social media network. What appears to be the fastest-growing social media site ever has become a... - Improving ROI with Marketing Optimization
The requirement to juggle multiple constraints and considerations is an inescapable part of the marketing equation. Marketing executives need a... - Top 10 Online Brand Protection Strategies for 2013
Whether stealing web traffic, pirating digital content or selling counterfeit goods, online scammers are sure to continue highjacking brands for... - Get Serious About Email Marketing
Small business success starts with a solid email foundation. If you're a small business with limited resources, you need an...