After looking through everyone’s blogs I noticed nobody took the chance to look at the PR crisis that Michael Phelps has created, however A-Rod did get touched upon. So I decided to read an article in the NY Marketing and PR examiner stating that Kellogg’s has dropped all ties with Phelps.
Unless you have been living under a bridge smoking doobies you probably already know by now that Michael Phelps was photographed smoking marijuana out of a bong at a University of South Carolina frat party. This picture was published in Britian’s News of the World newspaper. When the picture hit the web, Phelps was hit by a barrage of PR “pot shots”. Soon after the photo was revealed to the public, Kellogg’s cleared Phelps from their cereal boxes. However, Speedo is still a very proud and stout supporter of Phelps’.
The question is this a good public relations move for Kellogg’s? It certainly is. I think it was an easy decision for Kellogg’s to drop its association with Phelps because Kellogg’s target market has predominantly been children ages 5-18, whose cereal is purchased by their concerned parents. The last thing those consumers want is a figure who validates the use of marijuana on their children’s breakfast table each morning, no matter how many gold medals he won. Phelps has suffered some damage to his image, but only time will tell whether or not he can put this incident behind him (as he did with a drunk driving conviction six years ago). Other sponsors such as Rosetta Stone, IBM and Speedo are willing to look beyond the indiscretion, and focus on the future. These corporations reflect the idea that the people of America have a very short attention span. When 2012 rolls around and Michael Phelps wins another heap of gold medals, everyone will forget all about these matters. The only time it will be mentioned in the future may be at the beginning of the 2012 Olympics right before Phelps wins his first gold medal.
I also think Michael Phelps handled this very well unlike Alex Rodriguez. Phelps addressed the public said it was a mistake and that he will never do it again and that was his statement. A-Roid on the other hand is in the process of dragging his Personal PR staff work for a long time.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Oh no! I just blogged all over!
Looking around on different sites on the net, I found an interesting story about the famed infomercial product the Snuggie! Apparently, it is selling like hot cakes with over 4 million orders all ready sold throughout our great nation. This makes me wonder how Shamwow is doing. But anyways, I thought for my first blog ever,I would try to figure out how this is selling so well and look at the Snuggie groups PR tactics.
After reading the article from http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-27-snuggie_N.htm and seeing the commercial on the TV a number of times and laughing at the product, I couldn't believe from reading the article that it sold around 4 million. This thing is ridiculous. It's a blanket with sleeves, but for some reason a moron like myself can't come up with a better invention than the snuggie. Putting that aside, lets dive deep into the PR realm of the Snuggie.
How did they sell 4 million already? Its only been on TV for less than three months. Here is how I see it, they say one size fits all, everyone in the family can use it, and on top of all that you get a free reading lamp at an incredible 15 dollar value!
Ok, lets figure this out. Who is always cold and loves to read? Well, in my family it's my 95 year old grandma Betty. Snuggie is targeting old people because they are always cold. Every time I go into any old person's place the thermostat is cranked up, summer or winter.
Not only is the snuggie targeting old people, it is also targeting people who are too lazy to through a blanket on and off of themselves (this includes me). Now, lets go over this snuggie's target audience. Old people, readers, and lazy cold people(I like to call these people couch potatoes in the fridged Midwest).
Another reason I think the Snuggie is doing so well is because the economy. I now blame everything on the economy, just like every one else. I failed my first chemistry test this semester. Guess who's to blame....THE ECONOMY! People buy the Snuggie because there heating bill is so expensive and with the horrible economy the Snuggie saves bundles of money on heating cost.
The Snuggie's commericial is pretty lame, but funny. Everyone looks so happy doing various activities on the commericial. The truth is everyone wants to be warm and happy, especialy around our parts. What other Public Relation tactics do you think the snuggie is using to get people buying it?
After reading the article from http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-27-snuggie_N.htm and seeing the commercial on the TV a number of times and laughing at the product, I couldn't believe from reading the article that it sold around 4 million. This thing is ridiculous. It's a blanket with sleeves, but for some reason a moron like myself can't come up with a better invention than the snuggie. Putting that aside, lets dive deep into the PR realm of the Snuggie.
How did they sell 4 million already? Its only been on TV for less than three months. Here is how I see it, they say one size fits all, everyone in the family can use it, and on top of all that you get a free reading lamp at an incredible 15 dollar value!
Ok, lets figure this out. Who is always cold and loves to read? Well, in my family it's my 95 year old grandma Betty. Snuggie is targeting old people because they are always cold. Every time I go into any old person's place the thermostat is cranked up, summer or winter.
Not only is the snuggie targeting old people, it is also targeting people who are too lazy to through a blanket on and off of themselves (this includes me). Now, lets go over this snuggie's target audience. Old people, readers, and lazy cold people(I like to call these people couch potatoes in the fridged Midwest).
Another reason I think the Snuggie is doing so well is because the economy. I now blame everything on the economy, just like every one else. I failed my first chemistry test this semester. Guess who's to blame....THE ECONOMY! People buy the Snuggie because there heating bill is so expensive and with the horrible economy the Snuggie saves bundles of money on heating cost.
The Snuggie's commericial is pretty lame, but funny. Everyone looks so happy doing various activities on the commericial. The truth is everyone wants to be warm and happy, especialy around our parts. What other Public Relation tactics do you think the snuggie is using to get people buying it?
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