AB | The Ad Critic

Quinta Brunson poses in front of an Abbott Elementary ad in NYC The best marketing is marketing that is memorable . The year has just begun, and these brands are proving that they are here to stay and make their mark . Hopping on trends, partnering influencers that align with the brand, and thinking outside of the box - this is why we love marketing! Let's take a look at their strategic decisions and why they work. 1. David and Victoria Beckham - Uber Eats What better way to market during Super Bowl that to use everyone's favourite sports couple! David and Victoria has always been in the spotlight, but recently re-entered that spotlight with their Netflix four part documentary series Beckham . It tells the story of a match made in heaven, and their rise to stardom. Released late 2023, their relevance is still fresh and will make the incoming ad resonate with all Beckham fans - a notable marketing effort by Uber Eats . YouTube comments praising Uber Eats' marketing 2. SKI...

Snoop Dogg "Giving up Smoke" campaign backfires - Solo Stove poor sales leads to change in CEO In November 2023, well known rapper and avid smoker, Snoop Dogg, posted on his social media accounts announcing that he'll be quitting smoking. His post went viral almost instantly, with 153 million views on Twitter and 4.7 million likes on Instagram. If the world had an ambassador for the special herb, it would be Snoop Dogg - which is why this post brought the masses to a halt. Some were in disbelief, while some showed their support. Snoop Dogg announces in November 2023 that he is "giving up smoke" A couple days later, in a new post, Snoop Dogg revealed that he had tricked us all. The post was turned a marketing stunt for Solo smokeless stoves. The revelation was met with shock, laughter, disdain, the works - but it succeeded in raising brand awareness for sure. Here are some of the social media metrics following the reveal:  1.7 million views on Solo Stove's Y...

Jacquemus' pink vending machine style pop-up store in Milan Jacquemus does luxury branding like no other. The French clothing and accessory line has positioned itself as unique, bold and stylish, with immersive experiences and playful marketing . But what makes this brand so special? Let's see what the rave reviews on social media are about, and how the brand has set itself apart in an oversaturated fashion and advertising industry. Digital 3D Art Jacquemus' "Bags-on-Wheels" video went viral early this year on all major platforms - Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. This stunt was lauded by fashion lovers, avid social media users, and tech enthusiasts, some questioning whether the video was real or not. In the age of artificial intelligence , it was a smart way to start a discussion, grab attention, and promote the brand. Now, when other brands use a similar AI strategy, they are said to have attended the "Jacquemus School of Advertising" , a term popular...

  Netflix advertising the release of French drama Lupin: Part 3  Lupin is a Netflix mystery thriller inspired by  Arsène Lupin , a fictional thief and disguise artist skilled at outsmarting his adversaries. Released in 2021, it follows the story of Assane Diop and his journey to avenge his father. To promote the release of Lupin: Part 3, Netflix's creative campaign mimicked popular luxury accessory ads. Rolex, Chanel,  Hermès   - ads from these brands usually show wrists, hands, and fingers covered in fine jewelry. Lupin ads were the same, with the only difference being that the valuable items were removed . Their removal was made evident by strategically placed  tan lines . For those familiar with the show's plot, this was a clever allusion to the models being robbed of their jewelry - the perfect way to advertise Lupin's return.   Rolex ad vs Lupin ad - the clever use of tan lines to portray the removal of jewelry A similar strategy was employed by...

Barbie (2023) movie poster   Barbie's marketing will be in the history books! The movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling was directed by Greta Gerwig and is one of the most marketed movies of all time. This strategy will be discussed in every marketing class and by every agency. Persons would tweet asking, " What's their marketing budget? " or make jokes to say that the marketing team hasn't seen their family in months. Why? Because they went HARD . And while Barbie is already an extremely popular brand, they took over the world to promote this movie. From the trailer released at the end of May, all we've been seeing is pink!  The campaign ranged from a Barbie meme generator to a life-size replica of Barbie's dreamhouse, a World of Barbie traveling exhibition, and even a collaboration with Burger King Brazil to create a pink burger. The list goes on, but here are my favourite brand collaborations used to promote the movie: 1. Krispy Kreme  2. Crocs...

Krispy Kreme is the latest addition to Restaurant Associates’ portfolio of brands which includes Burger King, Popeye’s and Little Caesar. "The first 100 people at the official opening of Krispy Kreme Jamaica will get up to one year's supply of free doughnuts!" This line was enough to have scores of persons showing up and camping out at the Krispy Kreme location at Waterloo Road, Kingston, ready and waiting to be part of the first 100 persons.  I've been obsessed with Krispy Kreme's marketing strategy because something like this doesn't happen very often in Jamaica. In fact, people were concerned about how safe it would be to camp out. And just to wait for doughnuts? But some didn't care. The doors were flocked by a crowd of enthusiastic sweet tooths who couldn't wait to be among the first to try the freshly baked treats.  Tents were provided for persons standing in line, energetic dancers and DJs, a doughnut eating contest, and even a countdown board ...