Thursday, April 21, 2011

The Power of the Cuteness Factor

This commercial was shown to me a few weeks ago and I couldn't help but feel happy when I saw that adorable white ball of fluff and watched the romantic proposal unfold.




This commercial for Fancy Feast featured the events leading up to a marriage proposal and we saw the preparation that the man went through to get ready to propose. He designs an entire room for the kitten with ramps, play toys and new paint and rug. Finally, we see an adorable persian kitten with a silver heart charm collar inscribed with "Will You Marry Us?" on a pink ribbon. Aww!

Fancy Feast is a gourmet cat food brand designed to be an expression between owner and pet as "a way to say I love you." According to Fancy Feast's Facebook site, "For more than 25 years, Fancy Feast® Gourmet Cat Food has created exquisite expressions of devotion, inspired by the love you have for your cat." This description is similar to a marriage or romantic relationship. It also represents the serious dedication that Fancy Feast has to provide high quality ingredients to the consumers, the cats. This message becomes clear in this engagement commercial when we see the new kitten given as a surprise gift during the proposal and after the woman sees the "marry us" tag, the kitten is given a big serving of fancy feast in a glass dish. The couple is eating from chinese food cartons and isn't moved in yet, hence the boxes all around, but they manage to find a "fancy" dish for the kitten!!

Do you think the idea of a marriage proposal involving a kitten is a good marketing strategy for a cat food brand? Do you think targeting the emotions of consumers can be an effective strategy? Any other thoughts?

Monday, April 18, 2011

The Magic of the iPad 2



Apple's second generation tablet the iPad 2 has been a hit since its debut in mid-March. What is so intriguing about the product isn't what it can do, but what it represents. The magic, beauty and experience all integrated into one unit emits a type of experience that only Apple can claim. The iPad 2 is a mediocre upgrade to the original iPad, which now boasts front and rear facing cameras, thinner and lighter hardware, as well as a faster processor. But Apple wants you to forget everything about the technological aspect of this device, focusing only on the experience, design, and "magic" it creates.

Apple's marketing is something unmatched by its competitors. What once was a "niche" and elite status symbol now represents millions of people on a global scale. The goal behind Apple's success is it's constant mindset that makes you believe you have something so different, so advanced, yet so delightful it attracts customers and makes them believe they are more than simply the owners of a piece of technology, but the owner of something delightful. Although the iPad 2 boasts the same iOS software as the iPod Touch, despite the larger screen it doesn't seem to be hurting Apple in any way.

Has Apple's marketing had any effect on you as a consumer? What makes Apple's products so delightful to you? I would love to hear your input on how Apple has kept you loyal, happy, or dedicated to their products, as well as any negative experiences you might have had!

Friday, April 8, 2011

Musical forest



What a fantastic commercial! At first it seems just like a YouTube video, some guys who went into the forest and are creating this xylophone for fun. And to be honest I thought it was just a YouTube video until the very end when they show the cell phone. And because it uses music notes instead of words, it can be understood by all languages, another bonus for them. Great commercial, only negative is that it is a little long. I don't know how it would work for tv or if it's soley for YouTube. Any thoughts on international commercials?