It's hard reading The Scamp or the The Ad-pit and resist commenting on the work out there, so I give in.
Since wine is one of my favourite things in the world, I should have been interested in this poster persuading me to specify cork stoppers for my wine. But why the hell should I care when they only reason they give me is that Joes Mourinho thinks I should.
What makes it even worse is knowing how good it could have been. As the environment is increasingly becoming a mainstream issue, consumers are looking for ways to make changes that don't wreck their lifestyle. Imagine if they were told this fact from the Eden Project; every time you pull a cork you help maintain the habitat of 42 types of birds. It could have been that simple.
Celebrity led advertising seems oh so dangerous - it's like an ad which is constantly changing, depending on what the celebrity does.
Then, the celebrity has to be seen to be relevant to the product - like you, I remain unconvinced about Jose there.
But the worst, the very worst thing, is using celebrities who aren't well known enough that they need a super:
http://www.visit4info.com/details.cfm?adid=33351
Posted by: Will | June 20, 2006 at 01:02 PM
One thing I particularly dislike about celeb advertising is the assumption that I will like the celebrity.
The dislikability factor is multiplied many times over when that celebrity is associated with a football club. If there are 92 teams in the football league, that means fans of 91 clubs feeling either indifference or resentment towards whatever message or brand is being pushed.
I'm reminded of the Sunderland / Newcastle divide, where fans of one team will avoid buying any brand sponsoring the rival team's shirts.
Posted by: FishNChimps | June 20, 2006 at 01:10 PM
Very good point. Relevant or not, I reckon I've been put off more stuff by celebrity ads than the other way around. Espescially when it comes to Chelsea.
By the way, why do I use this rubbish pseudonym in comments? From now on I'll use my proper name.
Posted by: Northern Planner | June 20, 2006 at 01:25 PM
F&Chimps: I'm reminded of the famous Honey Monster ads which featured him in a Newcastle shirt.
This led to a 20% drop of the cereal in Sunderland. Heh.
Posted by: Will | June 20, 2006 at 02:42 PM
Ah yes, real name... erm
Posted by: FishNChimps | June 20, 2006 at 04:32 PM
Celebrity advertising can be excellent when used properly to backup/alongside a good idea. (Leonard Rossiter - Cinzano, Gary Linker - Walkers initially...) etc)
The problem comes when the celebrity (and need for celebrity) comes ahead of and often instead of a good idea.
Its the same thing that is happening to "celebrity tv".
Though admittedly id love to see Hoffmeister relaunched with David Hasselhoff doing the ads...
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | June 21, 2006 at 06:21 PM
The problem with Mourinho is he's advertising too many things.
I like celeb ads where the celeb plays against type, e.g. Gary Lineker's 'No More Mr Nice Guy' campaign.
Posted by: Scamp | June 22, 2006 at 07:00 PM
There I was wanting to admonish celebrity ads and Rob brings The Hoff into the equation. I'd do anything to see that suit with the lightbulbs again.
Posted by: Andrew Hovells | June 26, 2006 at 08:16 AM
Can't top the hoff.
While I recall, i'll find you a wonderful 70s ad with Noel Edmunds selling gas...
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | June 27, 2006 at 07:33 PM
Go to my blog now for the greatest ad of the 70s ;)
Posted by: Rob Mortimer | June 27, 2006 at 08:36 PM