Is Walmart Worthy??

I have seen this advertisement a few times and every time I see it the ad gives me goosebumps, makes me smile, and brings tears to my eyes all at the same time.




Every time I see this ad, I get the same reaction and I really wondered why that happened. I knew this was a good and effective ad because it was real and relate-able and emotional, but I really thought that there had to be something more as well. In order to find out what that 'more' was I decided to rate the ad on its stickiness factor:
Simplicity: Very straightforward and easy to follow
Unexpectedness: The mother showing up at the end, the 'reveal' that the mother was a soldier
Credibility: The U.S. soldier, it was a way to say thank you
Concreteness: Well developed beginning, middle, and end
Emotions: ummmm...YES! Happiness, sadness, hope
Stories: Beautifully told story with a pleasant end. It pulls you in and you need to see the whole thing.
This ad, based on the factor, is remarkably sticky and I can't forget it. I am so moved by this ad, but every time I see it I wonder if Walmart is worthy of it. Walmart is about saving money and living a better life, but I don't know if the power that is found in this ad is equivalent to the feelings I have about Walmart. Personally, I think that Target would be better suited for this ad because Target, to me, links to the same emotions and has the same power. Regardless, this put Walmart in a more favorable light because I am not getting bombarded with Walmart deals, but rather, they spent the money to thank the troops. I respect Walmart for that because the troops need to be supported and I think this ad reminds people of all they sacrifice in both a lite and moving way. I love this ad, but I still wonder: Is Walmart worthy?

As I was perusing the Internet the other day I came across this advertisement...





This advertisement is a good example of some of the creative concepts we were discussing in class. It is interesting because the product being advertised (Doritos) is not the center of the ad. When I watched the ad, however, I really wanted Doritos. I wondered why this happened and I realized that it was because the advertisement was not saying buy Doritos, but was using Doritos to make a point. I thought a lot about reversal and how this ad addressed the question: What do consumer's dislike about traditional advertisements? In general, we dislike ads that are saying BUYBUYBUY and ones that are completely unrelateable. This ad, however is highly relateable because many of us have been in situations where someone looks to us for an answer and we don't always have one. Additionally, the ad reflected on outsourcing, which is a big issue today. Though it seems as if they made light of the issue, they did it in a way that demonstrates the negative effects of outsourcing - it is not always successful or a good idea (the player getting tackled). The issue was also presented in a humorous light because they took something that is 100% American (football) and outsourced it, which adds to the creative aspect. They took a risk, but not one that would bite them back since football will never be outsourced. In all I think that ad is well done because it is relevant and does a good job at presenting both Doritos and current concerns in a humorous light.

Interestingly, this ad reminds me of the Twix ads, especially in the sense that the product is saving a dire situation. An example is presented below.

Creativity Lives!

Today, I went to the craft fair at the World Trade Center in Boston. At first, I did not know what to expect, but I figured it would be fun to try it out and I went with Ivanka so it also allowed for some bonding time. The craft fair was amazing. There were lots of vendors, like the few pictured below.

There were so many creative people that were showcasing their work. From jewelry to clothes to food, the whole place was a creative wonderland. Seeing the hand made items and the thought that went in to each piece made me so happy. It was refreshing seeing creative people embracing their work and sharing it with others. I was lucky enough to be part of their creativity. This experience gives me something to aspire to. I can be like those vendors and part of me wants to be. They are not afraid to fail. They are not afraid that they will be judged for their beer can airplanes (yes those exist). They just want to showcase what they can do and share it with others - the true beauty of creativity. Creativity is not about being the most unique or the coolest, it is about sharing ideas and building relationships through clever designs. This fair was a community of creatives and it was so enjoyable to go there and see some of the craziest things I have ever seen (Jack Daniels wind chime anyone!) Pictured below are two ginger-bread houses that were for sale at the craft fair. They are so cool and really emphasize how creative you can be with graham crackers and candy.

                        Whoville House

                                           Inside the Whoville house (they designed a dining room!!)