Bin-targeting real estate agents not first to get it wrong

Susan Edmunds 2018-10-23 22:10

DAVID WHITE/STUFF

Evangelia Henderson has had to back down from a campaign calling breast cancer “contagious”.

A real estate agency marketing campaign that upset Aucklanders is just the latest in a long line of advertising missteps.

The Barfoot & Thompson effort involved putting flyers in Aucklanders’ recycling bins, suggesting that neighbours’ bins had been overflowing with champagne due to their successful property sales.

It prompted some households to complain that the salespeople needed to “stay out of the bins”.

But history shows the agents are not the first to misjudge their audience, and probably won’t be the last.

Breast cancer is (not) contagious

The Breast Cancer Foundation came under fire earlier this month for a campaign that claimed that breast cancer is contagious because “it touches the whole family”.

The organisation was forced to change the campaign after complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority. People complained of having to reassure their kids they could not catch the disease.

Breast Cancer Foundation chief executive Evangelia Henderson said they had taken the feedback on board.

HANNAH PETERS/GETTY IMAGES

All Blacks replica jerseys are now about $150 from Adidas – but they were more expensive in 2011.

Moa prospectus makes investors mad

In 2012, Moa issued a prospectus for would-be investors detailing its business plans and how it would use the capital it was raising via an NZX listing.

But its Mad Men-inspired style ruffled feathers.

Photos showed the company’s directors in suits and a young woman in a mini-skirt, business shirt and tie sipping Moa suggestively.

Another page depicted the woman kneeling before Moa’s cigar-toting general manager Gareth Hughes with an ash-tray held above her head.

SUPPLIED

Perhaps not the message Coke intended.

Adidas overcharges for All Blacks jerseys

Adidas copped it over the price of its All Blacks replica jerseys in 2011.

An All Blacks replica jersey, manufactured by adidas,was available for $220 in New Zealand retail stores, but listed for sale at $US79.99 on the website worldrugbyshop.com.

Rebel Sport and Briscoes general manager Rod Duke slammed it as being “not damn fair”.

Bacon misfires

Beehive Bacon had to pull a billboard that made a joke of statutory rape.

The billboard near an Auckland motorway exit read: “I’m 15. He’s 27. My parents love him. Wake up and smell the bacon.”

It was part of a “wake up and smell the bacon” campaign that also included “My kids do swimming, French, piano, ballet and tennis. But we’re not competitive”; “The boys will love a vegan fry up”; and “There’s an innocent reason he deletes his browser history”.

STUFF

Animal-lovers were not impressed with this effort from Hell Pizza, made up of more than 500 rabbit pelts.

Coke courts death

Coke was recently criticised for its “kia ora, mate” signage.

The language mash-up was potentially embarrassing for the soft drink giant because “mate” means death or dead in te reo Maori.

Dove turns white

Dove had to apologise for a Facebook ad that was criticised as racist because it depicted a black woman apparently changing into a white woman after using a Dove product.

“An image we recently posted on Facebook missed the mark in representing women of colour thoughtfully,” Dove said on Twitter.”We deeply regret the offence it caused.”

Hell Pizza – take your pick

Hell Pizza is known for its controversial campaigns.

In 2006, it came under fire for giving out condoms wth its “lust” pizza. In 2014, it put up a sign featuring more than 500 rabbit pelts during Easter. In 2014, it held kangaroos “hostage” in a campaign in Australia.

Stuff

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