In a sign of the times, FedEx has announced that it will not be running any spots in the upcoming Super Bowl. The company, which has delivered many of the more memorable and intelligent spots over the years, has had a presence in 18 Super Bowls since 1989, but has just announced it is definitely out this February.
They claim it has nothing to do with the fact that blowing $3 million for thirty seconds when your target audience might be getting rid of all that Bud Light in the loo, has never made sense in the best of times, let alone in the middle of the current disaster... No, they say, it's the PR effect. An investment of that size now, running FedEx's typically humorous spots, could send the "wrong message" to employees, and the target audience.
They claim that times have changed. As a country, we are in unprecedented economic waters ... there is a time to justify such an ad spend and a time to step back. Oh dear... Why can't these buggers just admit, income is down, they are laying off people and closing down facilities. In common with many clients, the ad budget is the first thing to get hammered. We all know that.
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In the interests of staying on top of the cultural scene, I should point out a news item just hitting the wires over here... Professional cockney tough guy Vinnie Jones was arrested last night after getting in a bar fight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota... Where was that?
Instead of doing his usual and smashing someone's head repeatedly in a car door, it appears he got hit in the face with a beer glass after throwing a couple of punches at a complete stranger. All because he got offended when someone asked if he was "that guy from X-Men."
The way his career is going, he might be glad of that kind of notoriety in a few years. I seem to remember him having a drunken punch up with some women on a plane last year! Where's Guy Ritchie when you need him?
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Cashing in on the post election euphoria of Obama supporters, we are now being deluged with all kinds of Barack Obama-related commemorative crap. Top of the list is stuff from VictoryPlate.com, "commemorating the day the world changed -- forever!"
Here's the pitch: It features the president-elect with confident smile and kind eyes... Yes indeed... Kind eyes. Included with your plate is a bonus display stand and Certificate of Authenticity from the American Historic Society, which is actually a division of the National Consumer Marketing company.
A Google search show that this company is best known for being the subject of numerous complaints by unhappy customers. Anyway, if you want one, be warned, in the words of the Web site...Due to the unprecedented demand, there is a strict limit of 2 Victory plates per order. Better hurry.
George Parker
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