Advertising News South Africa

Some recent ads that demanded my attention

These are some of the latest ads that made me sit up and take notice. After all that's what advertising is all about isn't it?

LG Electronics has a great print ad out at the moment punting their 22" FLATRON LCD. The picture shows this mean piece of electronic engineering sitting on the desk with the punchline, "Eye candy."

This product has the requisite sharp resolution and multi media options but the ad focuses on design and funky minimalism. The truth of the matter is that aesthetics count for just as much as electronic detail, sometimes more.

Totalsports are focusing on the part time runner with their current print ad. It features an unshaven guy tying his running shoes while sitting on the bed. It's him vs the pillow and this is something I can relate to.

When you are not getting paid to run it's impossible to forsake the pillow and extra sleep for pounding the pavement trying to be Sebastian Coe. I don't know whether I will regularly go back to running but the ad sure got my attention and I may just buy the running shoes.

The next ad was Prohep showing pictures of snacks at a cocktail party then snacks with beer at the cricket and finally steak and chips with a glass of orange juice and probably alcohol. "Make Prohep a part of every occasion."

All of us have been to those bashes where the morning after is a nightmare of headaches, nausea and heartburn etc. Prohep has made a difference albeit not totally eradicating the symptoms but it helps. Good ad focusing on the core factors and target market.

SuperSport have an interesting ad that reminds viewers that their coverage of Formula 1 is uninterrupted. "The difference between world champion and nobody's-ever-heard-of-him." is in the angle of the drivers' head. This angle governs the airbox behind his head and 20hp can be lost if the drivers' head is 1 mm too high.

Good ad that focuses on the target market who appreciate that attention to detail is what wins and every millimetre counts.

The focal point of the ad is quite amusing though as Marlboro is the sponsor on the helmet directly above Michael Schumachers face and the reader cannot avoid eye contact. Wonder if Marlboro paid for product placement?

About Richard Clarke

Richard Clarke founded Just Ideas, an ideas factory and implementation unit. He specialises in spotting opportunities, building ideas and watching them fly. Richard is also a freelance writer.
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