When A Company Confuses Condescending Twaddle As Help …
23 Comments
November 15, 2018, 6:15 am
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Brand Suicide, Communication Strategy, Corporate Evil, Marketing, Marketing Fail
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Attitude & Aptitude, Brand Suicide, Communication Strategy, Corporate Evil, Marketing, Marketing Fail
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1936/44675996164_54e897c44b_c.jpg
I saw this at Fulham tube station.
What were they thinking?
Oh I know what they were thinking … they thought this made Aviva look like a company who wanted to help ‘the little people’ be like the successful pin-stripe suit brigade.
But the fact is, when it comes from a company run by the pin-stripe suit brigade, not only does it lose any sense of authenticity, it feels patronising, condescending and as judgmental as hell.
And if you think I’m being a dick, the fact the last line is a cold, hard and harsh ‘capital at risk’ … you know the real goal of this ad is to get more commission than to spread the wealth.
Or maybe that’s just me.
23 Comments
I do love your anti banking posts.
Comment by George November 15, 2018 @ 6:28 amAnd your hatred of this poster is limited to just you. Horrible and patronising.
How was your Google talk? Can I show my face in the office tomorrow?
Comment by George November 15, 2018 @ 6:28 amPlease don’t have negatively affected my upcoming annual review.
Comment by Pete November 15, 2018 @ 6:48 amI assume you were great as usual. The slides I saw on insta certainly seemed entertaining.
Comment by Pete November 15, 2018 @ 6:53 amI probably have to be honest Pete.
The talk was OK. I don’t think I was great [not being fake humble, I really don’t] but it was an interesting evening, especially with the performance [and that is the right word] of one of the other presenters.
And you can sleep tonight in the knowledge that my talk ended up only lasting 12 minutes so there is only a limited amount of damage I could do in that time, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.
Probably.
Comment by Rob November 15, 2018 @ 8:34 amIt was disappointingly short but not disappointing. I didn’t yawn once.
Comment by John November 15, 2018 @ 10:53 amBut if you guys can do something about the catering budget that would be appreciated. I enjoyed the sushi they provided in the early days and would welcome its return. Think of the message its absence is sending.
Comment by John November 15, 2018 @ 10:55 amYou only didn’t yawn because it was short. It would have happened. George. Pete. Seems you need Apple to send you some money to improve catering over there.
Comment by Bazza November 15, 2018 @ 11:19 amIs there somewhere I can see the presentation Robert? Was it filmed?
Comment by Lee Hill November 15, 2018 @ 11:48 amsomeone must have really fucked you over to use a campbell prez as punishment.
Comment by andy@cynic November 15, 2018 @ 1:46 pmwait. doddsy saw campbell and didnt boo him off stage. what the fuck were you not thinking?
Comment by andy@cynic November 15, 2018 @ 1:47 pmIf you checked your email, you’d see I asked you days ago for suggestions of the best questions to ask him in the Q&A.
Comment by John November 15, 2018 @ 2:42 pmwho the fuck sends emails anymore.
Comment by andy@cynic November 15, 2018 @ 3:28 pmWhat makes it worse is the attempt to make the copy sound low key man of the people conversational when every other part of the ad shouts uncomfortable corporate.
Comment by Pete November 15, 2018 @ 6:52 amYes … good point, that’s why I hate it so much I think.
Comment by Rob November 15, 2018 @ 8:34 amSays the firm who paid their CEO 4.4 million pounds last year. I suppose when you earn that much you don’t have to wear a pin stripe suit because you can wear anything you want.
Comment by Bazza November 15, 2018 @ 8:03 amIs that the salary? Hahahahahaha … yeah, they’re really the brand of the people aren’t that. Genius.
In other news, I saw John Dodds yesterday and he said you guys in California are ruining this blog by commenting when no one else is up then staying quiet till the morning. Well, he didn’t say exactly that – more that the time I post has screwed any arguing – so I’ll maybe start posting later soon … so be warned.
Comment by Rob November 15, 2018 @ 8:31 amSo you have just tried to push the blame of something in your control on to me? If RGA doesn’t work out, you’re made for politics.
Comment by Bazza November 15, 2018 @ 8:44 amOr working in an American corporate again. Ha.
Comment by Rob November 15, 2018 @ 9:06 ami fucking love you fucks get in early. its even more fun to kick the shit out of your fucked up planner bollocks.
Comment by andy@cynic November 15, 2018 @ 1:50 pmI thought you’d like it more when you could see the hurt you inflict on them in front of your eyes.
Comment by DH November 15, 2018 @ 5:45 pmive broken you fuckers so many times i just like smacking you down for kicks.
Comment by andy@cynic November 15, 2018 @ 7:21 pmThank goodness you’re not working in a company anymore Andy. The HR department would be even busier than R/GA London.
Comment by Pete November 15, 2018 @ 11:04 pm