Response to Janelle's Post- Car Advertising

Car advertising is a clever way of portraying a product to the consumer. It is unique in the fact that people actually drive a real life billboard around when they go from point A to point B. I think the first car billboard I saw was in the 90's when soda was the big craze. I remember it was a red Ford truck with Coca-Cola bottles on it. Now more then ever people are using advertising such as by means of cars to try and gain profit from selling a product. Many companies such as Amheiser Busch in Keene use this marketing tactic I have seen a budlight lime vehicle and shocktop vehicle cruising through Keene from time to time giving out promotions and trying to suede consumers towards their products. Most of the time you will see these type of vehicles at events such as ski mountains or programs like the x-games. Many companies sponsor events and when they sponsor the event they distribute their product to the general public and what a better way to advertise then to bring the vehicle right on site and sell the product to the new potential customers.

How do you feel about vehicle advertising? Ever see one before?

Response to Cote's Post on Flavored Cigarettes

First of all, I would never consider cigarettes to be healthy. It is a huge marketing ploy by the tobacco industry to try and draw in new smokers daily. By adding schemes such as "flavored" cigarettes is pure desperation. On average the tobacco industry looses 5 million smokers a year. So in order to regain business they need to draw in new tobacco users, younger smokers. To draw in the young smokers they choose "fun tactics" such as "flavored cigarettes and they attempt to make smoking look cool. What is a huge factor that many need to take into consideration is the media's role on smoking also. Especially in the 80's and 90's smoking was always seen on movies. Who would not want to smoke if their favorite beautiful and good looking celebrity does it? Smoking is glamorous and makes one look cool. That is exactly what the tobacco industry wants new smokers to think but really it is far from it. The serious effects of smoking may not be considered and mostly uneducated consumers are the ones who actually choose to light up and have a smoke. I have never smoked nor do I fall victim to the ads portraying smoking or do I think it is sexy for celebrities to smoke either. Lung cancer, wrinkles and tar in my throat do not seem too appetizing to me, no thank you.


Do you think that smoking is attractive? What about flavored cigarettes? Yummy right?

We Are Boston Strong T-shirt Campaign

      Recently this past week the city of Boston, Massachusetts fell victim to an unexpected terrorist attack. Innocent civilians were killed during the finishing of the world famous Boston Marathon. In wake of the attack many were taking to Facebook and especially twitter with hash tags relating to #BostonStrong. This campagn led to a marketing phenomenon and now shirts are flying off shelves to benefit a good cause.
"The combined efforts of Abby, Kevin, and Alia have led to a campaign to raise money for The One Fund. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The One Fund Boston, set up by Mayor Menino and Governor Patrick in the wake of Monday's tragic events. The shirt makes a statement- one that many have after this personal attack. It expresses what we feel without saying a word. It's more than just a shirt. It has the capability to create community, to link us together as one. Why not donate to help families affected by the tragic events andup your wardrobe by purchasing our shirt. Our city is only as strong as we are." 
    I watched the Red Sox game yesterday on television and it moved me seeing all the blue and yellow shirts in the stands and everyone representing the wonderful city of Boston. This form of contribution marketing represents a good cause. It also provides awareness to the general public of what happened last Monday and how united we as New England and mainly Boston residents stand as one and come together during tragedy. Many may get confused with the statement BostonStrong and LiveStrong. I even read a few articles that people had the audasity to say that it is a direct rip off of the LiveStrong campaign aimed to help cancer victims. But this is a campaign that was launched through social media and it was so successful that it essentially marketed itself and now Boston Strong is a name and a shirt that people feel proud to wear knowing they are representing a good cause. 

What do you think about the Boston Strong campaign? Would you wear a Boston Strong T?