The Success of the GEICO Caveman

Another vastly popular mascot for the GEICO company is the Caveman Series. These campaigns feature a caveman living in present-day society that composes himself as just another average individual, excluding the caveman physical features. Within these commercials a slogan is presented: “GEICO: so easy a caveman could do it.”, leading to the caveman becoming tremendously offended by the stereotypical tagline. The caveman is being portrayed as a brainless being that is incapable of anything but trivial tasks accept investing with GEICO insurance. Viewers see the caveman as any other individual in today’s society; although they are still being harshly stereotyped. At this moment the humorous aspect is thrown in with the irony of the situation staged in the advertisement. The slogan subconsciously provides the viewer with the knowledge that GEICO is easily accessible to anyone; moreover easily operated. The success of the caveman series has been remarkable, and in 2008, the GEICO Caveman was awarded favorite advertising icon of the year. The popularity also lead to a variety of interactive websites being created in addition to a television show deemed ‘Cavemen’ premiering on ABC television network in late 2007. In the end GEICO has once again proven to be a leading innovator in the advertising world in addition to providing consumers with a consistent brand image.

Celebrities Pump Up Proactiv.

Although Proactiv is rated the number one skincare product among dermatologists, it is well known that the product in all actuallity is what some may call a sham. The customer ratings speak for themselves and I, myself, was extremely dissapointed in the results Proactiv failed to give me when I was once a user. However, the product remains to be successful despite the fact that it really doesn’t work. The question is, why?

Well after glancing at a few commercials for he brand it becomes quite apparent, and the answer is celebrity endorements.

It’s quite the advertising technique in fact. Proactiv always chooses a celebrity with a good reputation and a girl next door look because in all honesty every young girl wants to be the girl next door even moreso like a celebrity. Recent celebrities chosen to endosre the brand have been Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, etc. At one point in time Lindsay Lohan was once a Proactiv celebrity endorser, however due to the train wreck and bad influence she has become the brand dropped her faster than a hot potatoe. The commical aspect to these advertisements is that these celebrities clearly do not have an acne problem, but the fact they are being paid millions of dollars gives them enough incentive to show a picture of themselves with a tiny pimple and claim that to be a case of embarressing, shameful acne. Low and behold these celebrities confess that Proactiv was the product which cured them of their ‘acne’  and let them truly shine and become the radiant successful star each of them are today. Katy Perry is the most recent Proactiv supporter, but the picture of her with ‘acne’ is almost laughable because it really is a minor pimple. The popular singer really shows no signs of suffering from acne, but nevertheless the brand remains to be successful. The power in which celebrities hold over consumers has gone to the extreme in this case, especially when marketing a product that really does not actually do what it promises.

O’Charley’s Provides Poor Service.

I find it difficult to sympathize with waiters or waitresses who do not right down orders. My recent experiences at O’Charley’s being a prime example. The dinner was literally doomed from the very start when my waitress took my family’s orders without writing a single thing down. First our appetizer was the not the right appetizer we ordered ,which was simply chips and salsa. Instead we recieved a very greasy order of cheese fries. After informing her of her mistake she offered to bring us the correct appetizer however, we opted to just wait for our meals instead. Next she completely failed to bring my Dad’s side ceasar salad, and at this point our  frustration levels were beginning to boil over. Nevertheless the third and final strike was when my dinner was still a bit cold. In confronting the waitress of all her mistakes she offered her apologies, but there was no sympathy from my end due to the fact that she chose to not write the order down.  Granted if she had the proficieny to memorize the complete order with no mistakes I would have no complaints; in fact I would be quite impressed. The waitress informed us that she would tell her manager about the situation and he then approached my family offering his sincerest apologies and to pay for our dinner due to our incompetent waitress.

Despite the fact that our dinner was on-the-house, the evening had been spoiled. Unfortunately this was not the last time we would deal with this issue from the same O’Charley’s restaurant. Not even a week later a different waitress failed to write the order down. Needless to say, the order was once again incorrect when we recieved it. My Dad fuming, to say the least,  informed the waitrss of her mistakes and the manager approached us yet again offering the same deal. Although we recieved another free meal and apologies were offered the fact of the matter is that the manager clearly failed to make sure the waiters and waitresses all write down the orders just as they are supposed to. Even with our previous complaints in service, the situation did not improve. Personally, I find poor service at restaurants, such as this story exemplifies, to be one of my biggest pet peaves because it really is easily avoided. Just as an F on an Exam is easily avoided with the proper amount of studying, this whole ordeal would have been bipassed by the waitress properly using her pen and order forms. What needed to occur was the manager to be more strict on waitresses writing down orders especially after recieving a customer complaint about that very issue. Now that O’Charley’s has proven to provide less than satisfactory service on more than one occassion my business will without a doubt be taken elsewhere.

Winter Brings Long Lines to Starbucks.

I found myself quite alarmed today when I was unable to obtain my caffeine fix from my preferred Starbucks due to another obscene line of customers. I would classify myself as a fairly devoted consumer to Starbucks coffee, being that I am rarely ever seen without a cup in hand most days. However, after taking a glance at the ridiculous number of people in today’s line,  like those that Starbucks becomes notoriously known for during Winter, I took my business elsewhere. Unfortunately, I was not quite as satisfied with the coffee I opted for instead. I seem to find myself in this very same predicament each Winter season, and wonder why so many people are willing to put up with the hastle of waiting in line. At times the lines are so long they have the potential to prevent students from making it to class on time, yet there they stand.  As much as it pains me to admit it, I sometimes find myself amidst the swarm of people in these lines mainly because during these frigid months a hot Starbucks coffee seems like the only thing that will get me through the long walk across campus.  It would seem appropriate for a few or at least one more Starbucks to be scattered around campus in order to keep the crowd at a reasonable level. I’m sure that the student population would be more than delighted by this, moreover they would be able to provide enough business. Until then I guess customer devotion speaks for itself when it comes to Purdue students and their love for Starbucks coffee.

Another one bites the dust…

Over the past few years I was once a devoted consumer to the Bose brand. Their in-ear headphones came recommended to me by a friend after realizing my iPod set had seen better days. Although the headphones were a steep price of $100 I figured a decent pair was worth the extra money, figuring they would last me quite some time. To my dismay, I found that they headphones were more trouble than they were worth. The headphone tips that came with the headphones would fall off regularly if I was the slightest bit rough with them, which became a reoccurring problem while I was exercising. Without the tips the headphones would barely stay in my ears, and although they came with spare sets they would constantly be getting lost or fall off. I was then forced to buy a new set of tips from the Bose store; now what is more irritating is that they were only sold in the store at that time. This proved to be an inconvenience especially when the nearest Bose store was an hour away from where I live.  Although I was quite frustrated, I ultimately chose to put up with the inconvenience and continue using the headphones. I then came across a new problem, the wiring in the headphones somehow became defective and the sound quality became very poor and only worked in one ear. This dilemma occurred about a half a year after purchasing them, and when I took them into the store they gave me a new pair for half price. They informed me that  this seemed to be a problem with many other conumsers. The store employees also informed me that the new headphones had new and improved tips that would actually stay on. I felt pretty satisfied with the new headphones I bought with the promise of them lasting longer and better than my recent pair. Shockingly enough the same problem with the tips continued on despite the ‘new and improved design’. Also the same wiring problem started about a year after use once again. I was truly disappointed with the in-ear headphone product by Bose, and though I tried to continue my customer loyalty I was then forced to search elsewhere for headphones. So in this case, another Bose headphone set bites the dust, and I am now fairly content with the Skullcandy headphones that are now my brand of choice.

Black Friday Madness.

It baffles me that actual people resort to these measures on Black Friday. I personally have only ventured out once for Black Friday, and that was enough to last me a lifetime. Granted, I am an avid shopper who loves a markdown, but even I just can’t seem to muster up the patience to deal with an immense mob of blood thirsty shopppers. Everyone loves a good sale, but at what lengths are people willing to go in order to get it? Clearly trampeling others is not out of the question for many people on black friday due to the number of cases that have been recorded on videotape. I would rather pay full price for something than go through the aggravation Black Friday entails, not to mention the bodily harm it could potentially cause me. Nevertheless, each year sale-driven shoppers are waking at 3am to stand in line for the madness to commence once those doors open.

Twenty Ten Boutique Comes to Wabash Landing.

This year I was a little skeptical hearing that a new apparel retailer would be opening a store in the wabash landing. I do the majority of my shopping either online or in Indianapolis due to the lack of higher quality  retailers residing in the Lafayette area. To my surprise the boutique named Twenty Ten proved to be a real diamond in the rough. When I enetered the brand new boutique I was stunned by the chic layout and design of their floor plan. I felt as if I were in a trendy boutique in the heart of manhatten; moreover the clothes were actually peaking my interest unlike the unkempt  racks of merchandise at Charlotte Rousse in the Tippencanoe Mall. I was truly impressed. As I perused through their trendy designs I was once again shocked to see a few brands I was familiar with. These brands are usually featured on the websites I shop at, which feature higher end designers and pricier merchandise (not something you typically see in West Lafayette). The designs were fairly edgy especially for Lafayette retailer, and on their Facebook page they even say they offer LA’s newest trends and celebrity favorites to the fashionistas at Purdue. The fact that an edgier more trendy retailer has come to Lafayette in order to offer apparel many of female Purdue students aren’t able to find in the area shows there is a market in need of targeting. With Twenty Tens new arrival, this may forshadow other edgier apparel retailers following suit in the future. Although I usually turn my nose up at many of the apparel retailers in Lafayette I find Twenty Ten to be a unique store I will be returning to on a regular basis.

GEICO: advertising at its best.

It truly amazes me every time I see a GEIC O commercial simply because of the brand’s staying power in pop culture. Although I am not a person who buys insurance, I am always familiar with the GEICO brand due to their ever prominent characters dominating advertising across television. The initial character that begun this was probably the GEICO Gecko.  The company basically humanizes itself in order to relate more with customers seeing it as a working class portrayed character with the working class Gecko. The Gecko appeals to viewers mainly because of the ‘cute and cuddly’ factor along with the comedic aspect to each commercial. The success of the GEICO Gecko has exceeded the expectations of many, by launching this mascot into celebrity-like stardom. A recent GEICO Gecko commercial included an actor playing the role as the ‘boss’ who continually interacts with the Gecko mascot. Within the mailroom commercial the supervisor figure discusses GEICO facts and accomplishments mentioned subtly, in turn persuading the viewer that we are a reliable and exceedingly successful company. The conversation then leads to the Gecko reiterating these ‘impressive’ accomplishments, which due to the humanizing factor of the Gecko viewers are reassured by his consensus. Coinciding with these factual references the Gecko is brought in for the comedic aspect portrayed as an employee that has worked his way up the ladder from the mailroom of GEICO. The irony of the tiny Gecko working in the mailroom conveys to viewers that starting out in a miniscule position leads to great achievement just as the Gecko has worked his way up to a more esteemed position with the company. This provides viewers with encouragement not only to be successful but be successful with GEICO insurance. With commercials such as the one previously discussed the success rate of GEICO insurance is primarily based on commercial video advertisements.  Personally, I know nothing about insurance, and when it comes the time to purchase insurance for whatever reason I would probably go with GEICO.  However, while writing this blog I became curious about the actual ratings on GEICO insurance, which, to my astonishment, after researching they turned out to be less than satisfactory with most customers. Although, due to the unparalleled advertisement campaigns their marketing department provides consumers, the GEICO name still generates the popularity and success necessary to remain a chief contender in the insurance industry.

Old Spice: The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

This Old Spice commercial is advertising at its best. Although a shallow advertisement, the marketing technique proves to be successful for comical reasons. Sex sells, and Old Spice stuck to this idea. The actor in this commercial is “the man your man could smell like”, goodlooking, well spoken, and ‘buff’. After viewing the commercial what woman wouldn’t want their man to look or sound like that? Additionally, what man wouldn’t want to be this guy? Tapping into sex appeal was Old Spice’s first technique. Cleverly the brand pokes fun at men who use their girlfriends’ body wash. The comically smug actor informs male viewers that if they stopped using ‘lady’s scented body wash’ and use Old Spice body wash he could smell like this suave handsome actor, thus recieving more female attention. By mentioning the lady’s body wash men instantly feel the need to be percieved as the typical manly man by using Old Spice body wash. When the actor is shown on the yacht boasting his diamonds, tickets to the show ‘you want to see’  this targets a stereotypical woman who wants these exact things. Lastly, by showing the actor on his ‘white horse’ the advterisement offers its last attempt at targeting women by referring to the age old cliche of the night in shining armor on his white horse, which every woman dreams of. In the end, the commercial states that if a man smelling like Old Spice has all these things to offer and will be more manly and attractive to women.

Prices to Pay Being a Skier

With winter quickly approaching the time has come to purchase my new ski equipment. Extreme sports never fail to be an expensive past time, and skiing is quite the investment to say the least. This year, my plans to replace skis, boots, and poles will leave my bank account dwindling, however there always comes the time for any extreme sport participant to update their equipment.  When talking with fellow skiers or snowboarders expenses are always brought up, and not with fond sentiments. On the other hand, we all make the sacrifice to enjoy our passion. Big spending goes hand in hand with skiing and snowboarding, whether it be on the actual gear, lift tickets, or the cost to travel to different resorts. The consumer spending seen when arriving at a ski resort or entering any equipment shop proves that the industry is quite successful and continually growing. It goes to show that despite the vast amounts of money put into these sports it really doesn’t affect skier consumers’ decisions on investing in such a costly past time; mainly because these sports are worth the price we pay for them. A consumer will pay for what is important to them; moreover what they’re passionate about. In my case, although my bank account now looking rather slim, the money put towards something I get a great deal of enjoyment out of was money well spent . It is always a bittwersweet experience when making the hefty payment, yet it always proves to be worth it when you hit the slopes.