UPDATE: Just before posting this blog tonight, I put a few puzzle pieces together and figured this out, which helps all of the post make a little bit more sense:
The “screaming” commercial, along with a host of other marketing pieces for jcp, was designed by Mother NY, who does work for Target. The cover of the February jcp catalog and the “good” commercials were created by PMH, the same agency that worked with Target for nearly a dozen years until May 2011. PMH also does work for GAP (see logo reference in first paragraph) and is now the Agency of Record for Sephora, which has their retail locations inside jcp stores. I am not sure who did the new logo for jcp, but I can tell you that it is their THIRD logo in THREE years! And honestly, I am hoping there will be a 4th within the next year, because I am not a fan of this one.
So, “things are changing” at jcp today. You may have seen their new logo, or a TV commercial about the “change”. Maybe you noticed something was shifting from their Facebook page. For me, I first noticed something was happening with their marketing campaign when I saw the new logo (and I instantly thought of the horror that was the GAP logo mishap) and then received a catalog in the mail (and was pleasantly surprised by how “nice” it was, although very Target-ish looking). Next, I happen to walk through my living room when one of their TV commercials was airing – and it kinda scared me. Seriously. There were lots of women (and a couple of men) screaming. It definitely wasn’t a TV commercial that made me want to continue watching it and then go shop at jcpenny.
Last night, while checking my email and catching a glimpse here and there of whatever my husband was watching on TV, the screaming commercial came on – and reminded me again, that I didn’t like it. Since I had the computer on my lap, I decided to do a little research and see what other people thought about it. According to the jcp YouYube channel, apparently more people like it than don’t. Hmmm. Guess I am in the minority there.
However, I actually really DO like some of other new jcp TV commercials (I am not sure if they are airing yet, but you can see them on YouTube). Again, they are very similar to Target ads, but hey, mimicking is one of the best compliments someone can give, right?
So, I have two thoughts that I want to post here about the new jcp marketing campaign. One is, that I am surprised by the inconsistency of the campaign as a whole. I like to live by “consistency is king” when it comes to marketing campaigns, but I actually believe the INconsistency of this campaign might actually work for them.
Second, the more I think about it and the more I watch the “screaming” commercial, the more I don’t like the way it is portraying women that shop for deals & discounts. This spot makes women look absolutely crazy – which is insane in itself. Nearly every woman that I know – wealthy or living paycheck to paycheck – uses coupons. It is almost a way of life nowadays with the way our economy is. In this commercial for jcp, it is making women who clip coupons, look like total freaks.
Below are a few of the new spots – along with the one I don’t like. What are your thoughts on this new campaign? Do you love it? Hate it? Don’t care?
Not-so-good TV commercial:
Good TV commercial:
Another good TV commercial:
By the way, does anyone else find it interesting that Target is a CIRCLE and jcp is a SQUARE?
It’s no secret that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is struggling financially. It’s also not a secret that most consumers hate junk mail.
The USPS, beset by historic losses and a plummet in first-class mail, is running promotions, easing rules and planning television and radio ads to encourage more businesses to send pitches by standard mail, the official term for bulk mailings used by marketers to prospect for customers.
“What we want to do is to make standard mail more interesting for customers so we can grow the total volume,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in an interview. “We don’t call it junk mail—it’s a lucrative avenue for anyone who wants to reach customers.”
The postal service is trying to promote advertising mail that “matches up digital and hardcopy” mail, as a way to show companies that physical mail can drive consumers to their websites, Mr. Donahoe said. In July and August, the agency gave a 3% discount to any piece of advertising mail that had a special code that could be read by a smartphone.
Consumers received 82.5 billion pieces of advertising mail through the postal service in 2010, down 20% from a 2007 peak of 103.5 billion pieces, but far more than the 63.7 billion pieces they received in 1990.
Only 1.4% of households made a purchase, opened a checking account, or otherwise responded in 2010 to advertising mail sent to potential new customers, according to the Direct Marketing Association, a trade group. That’s down from 1.7% in 2005.
So, I know I’m a bit late on this, but nevertheless, I have to admire a fellow artist for his/ her work, however shocking or unique it may be, as I come across it… And, even if that something plays part in certain illegal activity such as destruction of the very ads that fellow execs in this industry spend countless hours creating, then re-creating, and doing all over again! I find the work of Poster Boy (NYC) to be clearly controversial but pretty darn remarkable.
Have a look for yourself of his work created with self-adhesive advertisements & a run-of-the-mill razor blade:
“I don’t have anything planned besides what line I’m going to hit up… Nothing planned, just go there, see something, get inspired and do the work”, says Poster Boy.
In light of a recent exhibition, which was scheduled for September 15th at Trinity College’s Austin Arts Center in his hometown of Hartford, CT, ARTINFO News reports on the details of STREET ALCHEMY and why they scrapped his solo show. The decision for the college to cancel said show fell on the shoulders of the vice president for finance and operations. Spokeswoman, Michele Jacklin claims, “It came to the attention of certain people at Trinity late last week that there were legal issues associated with Poster Boy and his artwork,” she said. “Chief among them was that illegally obtained materials may have been used in creating his artwork.”
Wait, wasn’t this made clear in the fact that this underground (and until more recently— anonymous) artist’s work is comprised of various advertisements spliced together to form meaningful collages & therefore (arguably) original artwork? What, defacing public ads isn’t illegal? Were they oblivious to the public knowledge that is his prior arrest(s) for said acts? I guess these didn’t spark any red flags. Regardless, of who knew what and when they knew it, it pains me as a closet artist to see another’s chance to finally shine be swept out from underneath them. Now,don’t get me wrong, I get it, it’s illegal anyhow. But I do feel for the guy.
After years — dating back to 2008 and perhaps even before — of flying under the radar to conceal his identity and still content with receiving little recognition for the unique pieces he so stealthy created, it’s hard not to be able to give proper credit where it’s (in my opinion) due now.
Though most famous for his underground work throughout the subway platforms of NYC, Poster Boy (Henry Matyjewicz) also dabbles in other forms of mixed media, including collaborations with fellow street artists on larger installations to other projects on, you know, those little things we call billboards. What began as something to simply keep him occupied — these mashup advertisements — have caused quite the stir, though still allowing him to leave a mark in his own way (as he’s been loosely compared to other more well-known street artists such as Shepard Fairey; Works include: Obama “Hope” poster).
Take a look for yourself at the collection and you be the judge. Love it OR hate it, the boy’s got skill & tact without a question.
Check out more images from his Flickr stream here.
I SO love when I come across something new and interesting and something I haven’t ever seen done before. It is fairly unusual though since “all the ideas are taken”. Tonight, while going through a few of the blogs that I try to keep up with on a regular basis, I found this – and flipped out! Because it is AWESOME!
I was flipping through a magazine last night and came across a Kenneth Cole ad.
It read: ‘Should it be a woman’s right to choose if she’s the one carrying it?’ The photo is of a woman holding two handbags.
My initial thought was ‘WOW’, gorgeous handbags! (Naturally, I’m obsessed with handbags!) But then I realized it was implying not only an advertising campaign, but also bringing to light a current and relevant women’s rights issue. Hrm…an ad that makes you stop AND think. What do you think of ads and ad campaigns such as these? Is it clever marketing or exploitation?
Digging a little deeper, I found Kenneth Cole’s micrositeWhereDoYouStand.com. The site gives users a platform to debate issues surrounding guns, pro-choice, gay rights and war. Not the direction that most clothing designers go in. Would you participate in the debate on the microsite?
attention of certain people at Trinity late last week that there were legal issues associated with Poster Boy and his artwork,” she said. “Chief among them was that illegally obtained materials may have been used in creating his artwork.”
