ABSOLUTly NOT!

This is part of the worldwide information flow that is going on and points out an issue that is larger than just this specific Absolut advertisement. That is, “What political anti-American overseas advertising is being done by corporations that generate a significant amount of sales revenue in the domestic U.S. market?”

The past few years I spent living in Asia. I remember very well, some time back, that a Nokia commercial characterized the U.S. as a terrorist state. This was a soft commercial. It was a man-in-the-street format where someone in one of the Asian countries, supposedly not an actor, was asked a question on a current topic. The person would give an answer and then, at the end, there would be a message that it was sponsored by Nokia. Nokia put out a series of commercials like this.

I remember very well that in one commercial, where the question had to do with the possibilities of world peace, the answer described the threat to world peace as coming from “terrorist countries” like the “United States”. The commercial was put on the CNN channel I believe. I was shocked. I remember thinking that it is unfortunate that American consumers, who I am sure purchase many Nokia handsets, didn’t have an opportunity to see it. It might make them think twice about what mobile phones they purchase. Unfortunately, at the time, I had no way of recording it. And of course, Nokia would never run that commercial in the U.S.

These companies can deliver whatever marketing message they like, but it would be interesting to see how much political courage they would have if it affected their sales revenues in the U.S market. I, for one, will never drink Absolut again and I would be happy if more examples of this kind of advertising would be presented to the widest possible American audience.

Beyond the politics, it’s not a creative ad for Absolut. One of the rules is the shape of the bottle has to be a big part of the ad. here the bottle is a little thing and not even placed in Mexico, but rather in Venezuela. I think it would have been smarter to have Mexico’s map done in cubism so that Mexico (with its modern boundaries) looking like an Absolut bottle.

Maybe they should call their campaign, Absolut Disaster.

Excellent Texas Fred!
Also cheers to you Mike for bringing it to us here!

#4

Needs some Auto-turrets.

I came up with an idea after hearing that the Teran/TBWA firm that came up with this ad campaign was based in Mexico City, and that: “The campaign taps into the national pride of Mexicans, according to Favio Ucedo, creative director of leading Latino advertising agency Grupo Gallegos in the U.S. Ucedo, who is from Argentina, said: ‘Mexicans talk about how the Americans stole their land, so this is their way of reclaiming it. It’s very relevant and the Mexicans will love the idea.’”
It’s a plan for Absolut to boost their sales in Spain, and I’m sure the Teran/TBWA folks and Mr. Ucedo from Argentina will both “love it” too! In this new “Absolut World” we have a map of the good old “Greater Spanish Empire” of yesterday. You know, back when Mexico, Central America, and South America (including Ucedo’s Argentina) were all under Spanish Viceroys. I’m sure that the people of Spain will love the idea!
Absolut’s response to this controversy has been weak and weasel-like at best; typical non-apology type apology. Let them reap the economic consequences of their decision, and see whether or not that changes their tune and marketing tactics…

Could someone do an ad with the Britsh Empire still intact?

Flopping Aces — Here’s more related news related to the link in the comment above: On April 3, I launched an effort calling upon New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson to PARDON PETER LYNCH immediately. I encourage you and your readers to join the effort today!

GRINGOS KKK USTEDES PUEDEN ARRASAR CON PAISES ENTEROS Y HASTA APLAUDEN PERO UNA PUBLICIDAD LES SACA TODO SU DOLOR,RECUERDEN,SUS ABUELOS SON INMIGRANTES TAMBIEN!!! Y AMERICA ES UN NOMBRE ITALIANO!!!!MF!!!