Ads That Didn't Quite Make It
75This Bad Ad Concept, "More Is Better," Did Not Get Off The Ground
We see them all of the time . . .
Ads. Newspaper ads. Billboard ads. And the always-present, television ads. To be fair. Honest. And upfront, not all television ads are award-winning productions. Although the ad client and ad agency had great ideas. Dreams. And drive. For some reason, maybe consumer disinterest, the ad never quiet caught on. Leaving the ad client. Ad agency. And probably some focus group with a truckload of egg on their faces. Sad. Not a position to be envied.
What this story is about is, Ads That Didn't Quite Make It . The headline suffices me going into elaborate details on why the ad failed. Why the copywriters didn't write the catchy ad theme. And quite-possibly why the public turned a blind eye to the ad to begin with.
I will let the pictures I am providing, tell the story for me. Hope that you are not one of the 'victims,' well, a television viewer who is caught blind-sided by one of these ads that turn your stomach. Gives you a monster-migraine headache. Then causes you to suddenly to have a desire to go to bed. And pull the covers up over your head.
"Eating Is Big Fun,"
was the ill-fated ad concept for this ad that didn't quite catch on. The National Association of Restaurants allegedly spent a huge amount of greenback to launch this counter-ad that was set directly-opposed to restaurants teaming with healthy-eating special interest groups to make America a healthy place to live. Everyone knows that food tastes good. And human beings do not eat necessarily for the healthy benefits, but for the great taste of food. You can easily see why using a photo like this didn't help the 'Eating Is Big Fun,' ad campaign.
"Good Food Doesn't Have To Be Sour"
did not help this (bad) ad campaign become popular. In daytime. Or overnight. What made this ad campaign 'sink like a stone,' was the photo of a girl. A non-model. A generic person who, according to the copywriters, who asked to remain anonymous, was 'caught,' behind her house devouring a melon-like fruit that the produce people swore was sour. The only thing sour was the response to the ad slogan, "Good Food Doesn't Have To Be Sour."
"Our Tires Are Loved By Everyone"
was cute. Cuddly. And made many members of this tire company's focus group smile like a kid on Christmas morning when they saw a new bike under the Christmas tree. The ad would imply that even aliens. ET's cousins. Would stop at nothing to gear their spaceships with this tire company's products. I can assume that most people, when viewing this 30-second ad, had trouble fusing the flying saucer with radial tires. I would have too.
"Get Together With Uni-Clothing"
that would be great if anyone, including the hipsters who this ad was aimed at, understood what 'uni-clothing' stood for. Later, the ad agency who was responsible for this clothing ad, realized that not all men and women love to dress alike. When this ad was launched, there was this 'spirit of independence,' being birthed in women across the country and seeing themselves, the liberated women, dressed like their male companion, was a huge 'bummer,' or 'turn-off.' Now, in 2011, looking at this ad, I can see why the women didn't 'get into' this ad campaign. The ad might have sent some subconscious message to these modern-minded girls suggesting that if their male friends wore the denim, farmer-type, Liberty overalls, the women would be expected to do the same. Just a 'shot in the dark.'
"Granny's Fries Without The Granny"
a real product. And the hands of a real granny. Plus the face of a real ad-kid. But one problem. No pay-off. No meteoric-rise to the french fry company when this ad was launched. Focus groups, God bless their hearts, saw right-off that people would be put-off. Offended. Upset. At seeing a child's face being used like a blob of Silly Putty. They must have been right. I haven't seen any fries by this company. Anywhere.
"Got It Covered--At Both Ends"
was a terrific idea for the product: DOG LAXATIVES. Don't you think? And to let 'Fido,' eat his favorite dog food while 'going,' was a stroke-of-genius in creative advertising gimmicks. But there was just something about seeing a pet dog 'eat like a dog,' and having his behind sitting in a bedpan, of sorts, was not something you wanted to have implanted in your mind. So, needless to say, this bad ad did not quite make it in the market place.
A FEW MORE PHOTO EXAMPLES OF BAD ADS THAT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT
"Bear It All"
I hope that you have enjoyed
our tour of "Bad Ads That Didn't Quite Make It,' for I really wanted you to see a truthful-side of advertising that people in our country seldom get to see.
Not all ads, understandably, are successful as the Wendy's huge-hit, "Where's The Beef?" burger campaign of the 80's. No. Not all ads are award-winners. And this makes me sad to confess this truth to you. I personally, would love to see MORE of these "Bad Ads That Didn't Quite Make It," for let's be honest . . .
Comparing these 'bad ads,' to those being shown 'round the clock in 2011 . . .
these 'bad' ads, for the most part, are much-more entertaining.
These are only a few examples
of bad ad ideas that never made it off the drawing board. Remember the 'bomb,' from Ford Motor Company, The Edsel? I could easily label this bear photo and the ones below, as 'Edsel's,' for the ad concepts, although appealing to the ad agency executives, didn't impress the money-spending public. Those are the people who should have watched the ad before it was broadcast.
See More Advertising Information
 | Amazon Price: $306.04 List Price: $29.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $7.59 List Price: $14.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $192.92 List Price: $39.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $11.93 List Price: $39.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $58.49 List Price: $39.99 |
Just What Is Being Sold In This Ad?
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CommentsLoading...
very interesting hub
I loved the bear one too...must have just not went with the product, otherwise it does get attention. Voted up and across.
Business Time, hello. I loved your comment. And as soon as I do some investigative hubbing, I will let you be the first to know what is being sold in the 'bear' ad. Deal? Kenneth and yes, Merry Christmas to you.
I LOVE the Uniclothing !!! That ad rocks! You are so funny.
Hello, My Dear Friend, shea...thank YOU very MUCH for your encouraging comment. That ad is a REAL ad that I plundered websites to get. I was amazed at it also. And thanks for your friendship, talent and following. Glad that you are one of My Valued Followers, shea. Kenneth
Hi, Ken!
You're simply awesome!
OMG! That hamburger...well, I guess I wouldn't have to eat for another month...hahaha! I like the vacuum cleaners ad. Seems stronger than shot guns...hehe
Keep smiling, Ken. Take care.
Love, V
Great finds here of misfits of ads. "what were they thinking?" I was laughing all the way through it.
so funny... I want to thank you for keeping me laughing..
12/16 . . ."Dear" V., hello. Thanks so VERY MUCH for the kind remarks. I not only appreciate you for saying them, but for YOU being such a wonderful friend. And follower. May you have the BEST weekend ever. And you can visit with me anytime. I LOVE my Followers. You included.
Hello, jeubouka, I do not know what the ad people were thinking when they set forth to advertise some of this stuff. But now, its very funny. Thank YOU so MUCH, for your warm comment. Have a great day!
Hey, Deborah,
you are very, very welcome. I feel lots better at knowing that someone else has benefitted from these hubs. I love doing them-when Im up to it. And I want to thank YOU for being so loyal, friendly and supportive. God bless you.
Oh, you're so right, ken - this is such a great and endless subject. Lately there have been a lot of TV ads that make me cringe or hurt my ears or give me nightmares. The latest is that one with the young woman climbing the sandstone pinnacles in Utah - and who knows what they're advertising, but it is just so WRONG in so many ways - first because those pinnacles are protected and nobody is supposed to climb on them - the whole thing is probably contrived and not real - and then the helicopter photographing her swirls around so that for someone like me who has vertigo - well I could lose my supper! The other ones with guns going off and loud cars colliding and stuff like that also make me want to slap, or even shoot! someone. One can never tell what the hell they're advertising because the ads have nothing to do with the products ususally. We'll have to start and Anti-Advertising Group to combat their crazy and stupid and wrong ads! There. I've said it!
DEAR MEGA . . .Amen, girl! Im with you 100%! Let me know what I can do. Oh, YOU could start the ball rolling by publishing a hub inviting hubbers to join...then we could have our own page, wow, we could maybe change some ignorance in our advertising. Mega, Im serious. And thanks so much for your sweet and appreciated-comment. Have a fun weekend and a Merry Christmas, my dear friend.
brilliant stuff here!
There certainly are some unusual ad concepts here! Thanks for this compilation.
12/17, afternoon
Hey,bagsofwater, thank you for your comment. And visit. This hub, believe this or not, WAS work. I am not used to this much mental labor in writing and publishing hubs. The artwork was a challenge. And 'these' concepts do not scratch the surface, but I felt that this amount was sufficient. Merry Chrismas to you.
Dear Friend, Giselle, haven't heard from you in a while. Guess you have been busy with writing, holiday festivities and such. I have just missed you. A lot. Thank you for reading my hubs. And taking time to comment. And I wish I could publish a few current, "successful" TV ads of 2011 that I WISH wouldn't have made it. Maybe next year. Have yourself a safe and happy weekend, Giselle.
Hi Kenneth
"Got It Covered--At Both Ends" LOL I have seen everything now.
Thanks for another entertaining and funny hub my friend.
Voted up and away!
Dear Susan . . .Thank YOU kindly for your comment on this ad hub. Some ad concepts, although, cute, are not cute enough to push the products. I too liked the dog angle and the bear in the bear suit. Have a great Monday and be safe.////Kenneth
Hi Kenneth, you are so sweet to notice! Yes I have indeed been on Hubpages less these days. Some of it is due to some temp work I picked up for Dec and some of Jan(this is a good problem to have!), some of it is that I have indeed been busy with the holiday season. (Another part is that I have given up looking at the HP 'feed' as I have to sort through too much 'chaff' to get to the 'wheat'), so unfortunately I also miss a lot of the interesting discussions that are going on.
I very much appreciate that you have noticed my decreased hubtivity. You are the first/only hubber to mention this. I appreciate your kindness and perceptiveness.
I have noticed that you have had quite a few hubs out recently so I hope that means that the recent warm spell has worked out in your favor? Best wishes and I of course will continue to look forward to reading your upcoming hubs. Thank you for your caring comment.
12/20
Dear Giselle, THANK YOU, Dear Friend, for your sweet and caring comment. I HAVE missed you terribly, but also very glad that you were blessed to get some temp work too. But DO NOT say off HP for too long. What would I do for support? And the hubs you have read, those are the ones that was to finish before cold weather hit. Now its hit. And raining throughout this week through Christmas. Damp and cold weather do not agree with these physical obstacles I have, but when the sun warms things up again..I will be here. But do keep on reading. I am NOT leaving, just slowing down. And dear Giselle...Merry Chrismas to you and yours./////Kenneth
Kenneth:
Here's another thing that bothers me, and REALLY bothers my boyfriend - they seem to like to make men look like idiots in ads. All the time. Why is that necessary to sell something??
Daisy, I agree. And that concept bothers me as well. Factually, it is NOT necessary to sell products. I can lay the blame on the ad agency who has to design a campaign that suits the client. That reminds me. I have to write yet another email of complaint to the Best Buy company for trashing the icon of Santa in their Christmas ads. I didnt find them funny. At all. And all of my $$$$$ went to another store simply because of their demeaning ads. And for your boyfriend, tell him that I will do what I can to contact an ad agency or two, if they will talk to me, and see why the concept of making guys look dumb is being used. Thank you for the comment. It got me fired up.
Ken, I agree re: Best Buy... when did Santa become public enemy no. 1? I hated those ads. You go!!!
Hi, dear friend, shea....Best Buy update for 12/22
I called their Customer Feedback number from their website today. Turns out that MORE people than I have lodged complaints worse than mine. One said that they hated the ads so much that Best Buy was taking Santa away from their grandkids...and would NEVER shop Best Buy again. But I actually talked to a person, a young girl and lodged My complaint in a civil, clean, and sensible style. She apologized over and over and said she had forwarded my two previous emails to their ad agency. And would forward the conversation I had with her to them too. I told her thanks, but that would NOT make me spend any money from now on with them....and just tonight, I heard one of these sickening excuses for an ad, but thank God, I was in here with my PC in my workroom. Shea, my dear friend and follower, thanks for your support. Hey, reckon a hub would be okay????
Interesting concepts. Is it true that some large companies are afraid to reduce their advertising budget because they do not know what will happen?
Penny, yes. They certainly are afraid. Fact. I learned in 2001, that McDonald's spends around 11 billion a year on ads on tv, radio, magazines and newspaper...not because they need the business, but to keep Wendy's from getting into their secured markets. 11 billion. And this was in 2001. Imagine what it is now.
Very interesting! I always think seeing ads that didn't make it is very neat.
LOL, thank you, janices7! Thanks so much. For me personally, ads that didnt make it are far-more entertaining than the ones that did. Just an opinion.
Thanks for coming by.
Sincerely, KENNETH
Very funny and interesting! I found some of these ads hilarious. Goes to show you what people like and don't like. I enjoyed reading this, thanks!!
Hello, Dear EuroNinila . . .thank you so much for your sweet remarks. They, well, YOU, made my day, April 11, 2012. I hope for you, my best, in your every undertaking. Come back soon.
Kenneth
BusinessTime Level 4 Commenter 5 months ago
OK, I agree with most of these, but whatever is being sold in that ad with the bear in the bear costume, I want it. Hilarious. :)