As Carmi says:
We're surrounded by never-ending pressure to buy stuff, with advertisers and marketers finding ever new ways to get ever more aggressive messages in front of our eyes, around our ears and even inside our heads.
Yes, it’s inside our heads! Well here’s my contribution for this week. I hope they don’t burn too deeply into your sub-conscious.
My lovely daughter proudly displays her purchase from her favourite store on Lanzarote, and demonstrates her above average intelligence by ‘reading’ an intellectual magazine.
Alcohol is probably one of the most successful items in the product placement world. It’s not the chef who is the star here. nor is it his barbecue, but the powerful logo emblazoned cleverly on the outside so that you can’t miss the message whichever way up you are! Whilst the name of the beer on the picture on the right is very much in the foreground, my husband is also sporting a brand of a different kind and demonstrating his proud association with the aero industry.
This picture sums up the power of branding, when a successful computer game spawns a whole legion of spin-off toys, and other items, which become ‘must-haves’ for an entire generation. My Dad was merely acting as guardian to my grandson’s two treasured toys. I wonder what 32 year-old Blue Bunny is thinking of his angry red companion. Whatever happened to 'sweet and adorable’ in the soft toy market?
And for a bit of nostalgia, here’s me thirty six years ago, just back from my honeymoon and getting down to the business of papering the walls of our new house. That plastic pinny got quite a lot of use as I remember, as the house was in need of a makeover, but did it make me want to buy Camp Coffee essence? Now, that is the question.
For more top-brand pictures why not visit other participants to see how they’ve interpreted Carmi’s theme?
Interesting. I'll be thinking about this, the next time I'm carrying or wearing something with a brand name on it. By the way, Camp coffee is still popular with us, especially when made with hot milk, after a Winter walk. I blame my grandparents.
ReplyDeleteWell of course it's the only thing to use in coffee cake and to pour over ice cream. My mother-in-law once asked a waitress for 'some more of that delicious sauce'; the waitress happy complied and trotted out with a bottle of Camp! When I was a child my mother always made elevenses with Camp; in fact I don't remember 'instant' coffee granules or powder in the fifties and sixties - I suppose it existed.
DeleteOh you did a perfect job of unleashing the branded sense, with lovely family photos actually. I have to laugh at the beloved Angry Bird though, that we too have treasured dearly, from a not so long ago invented game, using up precious phone charges, and imagine seeing that it's right there in your lovely Lanzarote, but then that is how great marketing works right?! Thanks for such great photos (I love that apron!) and the stories you shared, quite fun!
ReplyDeleteYou have given me and my wife a nasty turn. The photo of you Dad could be an older version of me. The likeness is uncanny! Now I have forgotten what I was going to say about your brands - perhaps it was the sight of a cool beer on the hottest day we've had this year.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant post! I loved this glimpse into your photograph archive - simple yet clever and captivating. Every picture tells a story, but I must say, the Angry Birds photo really had me sold!
ReplyDeleteHi Nell, first of all, I sure did enjoy seeing you and your family in this post. You are right on with your article too. I remember when the sugared breakfast cereal ads were all over the place on Saturday morning, though we probably didn't have tee shirts for Tony the Tiger back then.
ReplyDeleteI'll be back to see you soon, we are getting ready to take off. I still need to read your feature article and this week's SS.
Take care,
Kathy M.
I will take a pint of Dorada over a pint of Frothy Fosters any day.
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to 'sweet and adorable’ in the soft toy market?
ReplyDeleteANGRY BIRDS, that's what!
Nice essay, Little Nell.
~
I remember the Camp Coffee pinny when we were kids. I also remember drinking a lot of Camp Coffee!
ReplyDelete