Goldstar reads our minds

This Goldstar ad, and others like it, have been making the rounds. One of my students sent it to me because the ads are humorous and accurate... and "kind of go along with 'sex in advertising.'" While certainly deemed sexist in some quarters the ads do evoke a knowing nod. From what I've seen the ads are credited to McCann-Erickson, Tel Aviv, and can be found in pub/club bathroom stalls and urinal walls. The ads ask "What goes through your mind when someone says 'Let's go for a drink?'"

CTV bans infidelity ad

As posted by David Kiefaber at Adfreak, Canadian viewers of this year's Super Bowl will not see a spot for AshleyMadison.com, the online dating service for married people seeking affairs. As Kiefaber notes, the spot is fairly tame. But what Ashley Madison represents is likely the issue. Click here to see the firm's related media efforts. Reportedly, a print ad in the NFL game program was rejected as well.

PETA too hot for NBC

Victoria's Secret and GoDaddy aren't the only marketers pushing the limits on Super Bowl advertising. NBC rejected (no surprise here) PETA's commercial "Veggie Love." The spot features beautiful women undressing while getting especially close to their vegetables (definitely a twist on "veggie tales"). The message is that vegetables are good for you which means you'll have more love to give.

One NBC exec said the spot "depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards." NBC asked PETA to cut the following shots before reconsideration: licking pumpkin, touching her breast with her hand while eating broccoli, pumpkin from behind between legs, rubbing pelvic region with pumpkin, licking eggplant, etc.

The move by PETA is a smart way to get high levels of publicity without forking over $3 million for a 30-second spot. It also is in line with recent PETA ads featuring sexed up imagery to get its message noticed.

Jim Beam's "Perfect Girlfriend" ad

Adrants reports that Jim Beam is hosting a new contest to update its "The Girlfriend" spot. A perfect girlfriend is attractive and doesn't care about flowers, endless hours of football, strip-club visits, fat, hairy backs, etc. Enthusiasts are encouraged to upload their versions of the perfect girlfriend for $25k and a trip to Vegas; how appropriate.

Victoria’s Secret offers unique coupon

To highlight its “Vintage Victoria” efforts, Victoria’s Secret is once again offering the ultimate in sales promotion—a “free panty.” Brochures with coupons were recently direct mailed to past customers. No purchase is necessary and customers can also get $10 off a new bra.

Sales promotion, such as coupons, sweepstakes, and free stuff, is designed to stimulate action; to move merchandise. These tactics drive prospects or lapsed customers into the store. In this case, Victoria’s Secret is using sales promotion to get women into stores to see the new line.

Victoria’s Secret is known for its sexy Super Bowl ads and network broadcast fashion shows. But VS’s status as a leading intimatewear brand is largely built on its direct marketing efforts. It’s catalogs are ubiquitous, reaching millions of customers each month. One study found that 88% of male Stanford MBA students read the catalog on a regular basis.

Joe's Seafood offers "last shot"

This ad for Joe's Seafood, Prime Rib, and Stone Crab implies a bold claim, but I'm still trying to figure it out. "When you've only got one shot" is the headline. I'm posting the ad because the implicit message appears to be something along the lines of "Hey, if you're a Tony Soprano-type guy doing lots of business on your phone, Joe's is the place when in Vegas and Chicago to pick up women." So it's a restaurant-pick up bar? I need help with this one. Because the ad appeared in a recent issue of Maxim, I'm fairly confident my interpretation is in the right direction.