Teleflora is immediately changing the name of our “Non-Mom” category to “Adopting Moms”. After closer examination, we can see how this may have been offensive to moms who have adopted children — moms who are indeed real moms to their children in every sense of the word. In fact, many of us at Teleflora are .adopting. parents ourselves, including our president and owner. The essence of this category still focuses on a grandparent, neighbor, step mom, or mom to adopted or foster children, each one raising and loving a child.

This show of insensitivity on our part was in no way intended and we deeply apologize for any concern or distress we may have caused. It was always our intent to salute and celebrate all moms.

As your assignment, pretend <em>you</em> were the director of this ad campaign. What would your response have been when concerns about the message was raised? Would you react as soon as you realize bloggers are discussing the issue or not until it gets wider play? How would you win back customers who’d been offended by your initial campaign? What have you learned in this class that could have helped you prevent such problems in the first place?

In the “WANTED” womans marine ad (#10) you can tell that this ad is directed toward women with the lady marine above the other men as she looks like she is in command and leading the group.  Some easy secondary research could have been used to see how many woman are in leadership positions in there jobs.  Since this would be just an ad for a magazine it would have to placed in the correct magazine to reach the target audience, but if it were in the correct magazine i think this ad could be effective because of how superior it makes the woman look.  When woman enrol in the marines it could be noted if they want to sign up for leadership roles and where they want to go in there marine career to see which ads are effective.

In the “Holliday Pleasure” ad my Newport cigarettes white males seem to be the target of this ad, with the white male being the focal point of the diverse group.  The ad agency had to do some priamary research to find out that only one in four white smokers prefer menthol, this ad would be trying to increase menthol sales to white people.  To see if this ad was effective, after the ad campaign the agency could have studied the increase of white customers to menthol cigarettes.

Choose three advertisements from either of the slide shows and discuss what specific audience is being targeted in each and how you can tell. Make some guesses about what kinds of strategic research could have been used in obtaining that targeting data. Analyze how well you think the advertisements would have reached people in the target groups and what strategic research could have be done to test this effectiveness.

When I first saw this ad I couldn’t believe that it was ever aired on national television. This ad can be seen as very offensive not only to the obvious which is the black population but also Italian man. First black people can see it as being inappropriate because it separates their race from another. The subject of racial difference is all ready an sensitive topic for many people, to just post up a commercial like this one can start many disagreements on both Italian race and the black race. Second, Italian man can see it as offensive because it makes all Italian males look like dorks that can not satisfy their women, that wear their “tightie whities”, and have no sense of style.

To make this commercial more sensitive I think the company would have to throw away some of the racial stereotyping that’s in it. Having the black male pop up of the laundry and right after it saying “black is better” can be seen as humorous to some people but very offensive to others, therefore taking it off the ad might make it a little more appropriate. Rather then having that statement out there they could use other techniques to make this ad funny and appealing to viewers. Advertiser should have been able to see how this ad would race problems. It is not ethical to stereotype if the first place but to make it that obvious is a little out of hand.

In addiction to make this ad more proper the company could have compared something different like a woman doing here laundry in a black and white scene and as she is doing that, she looks unpleased and disappointed. In later scene the same girl doing the laundry in a colored scene looking very happy and pleased with her man right next to her. There are many way this commercial could have been successful without using racial differences like the difference between “colored race” and “Caucasian race”

An ad that I think could have been seen as problematic is the ad that Britney Spears had for her perfume. The ad was looked at too sexy and promiscuous. It had Britney rolling around bed with barely any cloths with this guy. Many people can find it as offensive because of their religious believes or values. A lot of people talked about it and thought it was inappropriate. Personally I did not have any problems with it because the channels and the time this ad was played did not really reach young audience.

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The target audience for whiteners is anyone from late teen to 50’s.  I think it targets a huge range of people simple because most people want a bright, white smile.  I can tell because the girls in the ad have amazing straight white teeth that a lot of consumers want.  I am apart of the demographic user group because the young women on their advertising make it apparent.  This product is a necessity to fit-in our materialistic lives.  

I am a consumer of Gatorade but I do not feel as though I’m the target audience.  I think the target audience is athletes that need to get re-hydrated quickly.  Although I’m not an athlete I still need my hydration.  Most ads for Gatorade are athletes winning a game or finishing a race.  I choose Gatorade even though I’m not in the target audience because I like it and it helps my headaches.   It fits my needs as a consumer and even though I am not targeted I am still a buyer.