Holiday advertising gone wrong
Ask any child, what day is Christmas? And they'll tell you, December 25. For kids, Christmas cheer begins on the afternoon of the last day of school before winter break and ends the morning after Christmas.
Meanwhile, ask today's marketing folks when Christmas is, and they'll tell you that the holiday season begins shortly before Halloween. That's why you can't shop for Halloween candy without red and white blinking lights blinding you from across the aisle.
Last night I was catching some rare television time, and I saw it—the first Christmas commercial of the year. It was November 4. At first, there was just one commercial for Garmin GPS. Then another for Hallmark. Then a third for Target. ARGH!
Television stations obviously love the advertising blitz that begins just after Halloween. But consumers—for the most part, I think—are pretty well done with the hype before the holiday even gets here. And how about those folks celebrating Hanukkah or celebrating nothing at all? It's bad enough to subject holiday-goers with the fluff, but those poor folks really must wonder what we see in our obnoxious "traditions."
I just wonder what the advertising world would be like if holiday commercials were actually held off until, well, the holiday season. This is a luxury those in my generation may never know.
Meanwhile, ask today's marketing folks when Christmas is, and they'll tell you that the holiday season begins shortly before Halloween. That's why you can't shop for Halloween candy without red and white blinking lights blinding you from across the aisle.
Last night I was catching some rare television time, and I saw it—the first Christmas commercial of the year. It was November 4. At first, there was just one commercial for Garmin GPS. Then another for Hallmark. Then a third for Target. ARGH!
Television stations obviously love the advertising blitz that begins just after Halloween. But consumers—for the most part, I think—are pretty well done with the hype before the holiday even gets here. And how about those folks celebrating Hanukkah or celebrating nothing at all? It's bad enough to subject holiday-goers with the fluff, but those poor folks really must wonder what we see in our obnoxious "traditions."
I just wonder what the advertising world would be like if holiday commercials were actually held off until, well, the holiday season. This is a luxury those in my generation may never know.
We live in a made for TV world. Independent thinking is not in style. TV and mainstream culture tell us what to do and when to do it. Forget about deciding what is important and acting on it no matter what the calendar says.
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