Advertising Opinions

Godrej Consumer Products Limited recently launched HIT Anti Roach Gel. A product in this category was first introduced by Godrej Hicare Ltd. some years ago, though not in the FMCG space but was part of the pest control services offered by the company; today there are other companies offering pest control services who also make use of anti cockroach gel. Use of anti cockroach gel is relatively a new concept; it is a simple, clean and by far the most effective way of getting rid of cockroaches. The gel is applied in form of small spots at places frequented by cockroaches, it attracts cockroaches that eat them and die, and other cockroaches who feed upon the infected dead cockroach also die. This is truly a revolutionary concept and I do not think there are too many players in this category in the FMCG space. HIT Anti Roach Gel is not the first anti cockroach gel to be introduced in India in the FMCG sector as claimed by Godrej Consumer Products Limited in their ad, at least not technic...

For over the last decade or so advertising in the property market in India has been becoming increasingly vibrant; I had written a post on this subject (see Selling Property Creatively ) earlier but I felt an update was necessary. In the past print ads of properties presented only bare facts that the prospective buyer needed to know and usually carried an architect’s illustration of the building, ads of this type can still be seen but increasingly several property developers have been going beyond presenting basic facts and are addressing the various other needs of today’s buyers; thus making ads increasingly creative and innovative. However some developers’ ads merely carry stock images with cleverly written copy in the name of creativity; but there are developers who realize the importance of brand building in order to secure a place in today’s competitive market.  This article is based on ads seen in Bombay, I am sure that the story will be more or less the same in the other maj...

The above press advertisement caught my eye both at Pune and Mumbai and I decided to write about it; since I was curious to know more I contacted the ad agency ICOMO Advertising (I) Pvt. Ltd. and they were kind enough to answer my queries.   Before I begin discussing the ad let me give a brief background of Faaso’s. Two young engineering-management professionals set up Faaso’s -- a chain of quick service restaurants. Currently Faaso’s has several outlets in Pune and in and around Mumbai. Fasso’s specializes in various kinds of rolls or wraps as you would choose to call them, kababs, biryanis and few other items; these items can be ordered by phone or through the internet. The founders of Faaso’s identified a gap in the market between the western style fast foods such as pizzas and burgers on one end and local Indian street food on the other. Faaso’s offers convenience and quality of the western style fast food chains and the desi flavours of Indian street food. For more on Faaso’...

I wanted to post this article at least by 5th January 2013 if not on the New Year’s Day itself, but could not manage it; anyway better late than never so here goes. I have listed below ten of my favourite ads launched in India in 2012, they are not arranged in any order of preference; I  also wrote about one ad which has left me bewildered.  1.  Sprite:  "Uske paas car hai..." and "Uske paas guitar hai..." This ad is very entertaining and high on energy, an excellent way to get the message across that one who drinks Sprite is smart and quick thinking. I like the way the main model has acted. 2.  Voltas All weather AC: Murth y This set of three ads is one of my all time favourites despite the small accuracy with regard to Cherrapunji. I had written about it in this blog, see Murthy  Knows Best . 3. Bournvita: "Aap ko hindi aati hai? Mujhe bhi aati hai" I have no comments to make for the ad speaks for itself, the ad effectively conveys the message that Bour...

Full page ad  This is continuing from my earlier post. There are two press ads I would like to write about one is the full page jacket ad announcing the diamond jubilee of Vicco Laboratories and the other is that of Silk Museum, well there is nothing much to write about because the copy in these ads speak for themselves; the Vicco ad is quite interesting in peculiar way, but I have not understood the headline. What does 'Affluent Tradition & Opulent Heritage' mean? I am totally foxed! The above is an ad of a saree shop located in central Bombay. The copy reads ans you can see,'Enhance The Status of the wives of the Own of Private Plane,...' This according to me, as I understand strictly from the above ad, means if you buy sarees from Silk Museum you will be enhancing the status of the wives (how many wives is not specified) of one guy who owns a plane, helicopters, luxury cars and he also happens to own film stars, politicians and one industrialist; this guy, whoe...

Today happens to be 12.12.12, a unique combination of numbers; I did not plan to do a post today but the date being12.12.12 I thought why not write a few short comments on recent press ads today. All these ads were released in The Times of India, Mumbai edition. Comfort After Wash Fabric Conditioner Comfort Fabric Softener has been around for a very long time but now the positioning seems to have changed. My personal feeling is that when you call it a fabric softener you send a definite message that it softens fabric, but what is a fabric conditioner? The ad says it gives clothes shine and fragrance, “the clothes are super soft” is mentioned in smaller types. Has the brand/product proposition become a little blurred now?         Good Day Biscuits This is an innovative ad from Britannia but look at the howler; it says ‘Good Day’ right in the middle of a tragedy. Later The Times of India apologized because some readers found it insensitive. Banning Gutkha I neve...