Will you buy more gifts from Amazon if their ads make you cry?

 

The holiday season is coming.  That means it's time to roll out sentimental commercials that bring a tear to your eye.   

 

Esty, who is on a roll thanks to face mask sales, has one video featuring the familiar scenario of bringing someone new to a family holiday celebration. And another Covid-19 inspired spot where grandparents can't see their family.  Something for everyone. (Mahoney, 2020)

 

And here's one from Amazon...

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQdLD6kk960&t=1s

 

Research tells us that all decisions are emotional.  And that storytelling is particularly memorable.  So this spot should hit all the right notes.

 

Does it?  Can you identify the sponsor?  Did you have the patience to watch the entire two minute video?  How did the it make you feel?  Did it make you want to shop more at Amazon?  Why or why not?

 

Can you think of another storytelling ad that you find motivating?  How about this one from M&M's?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1_jPveBfxg

 

Mahoney, S. (2020, November 3) Ecommerce Weepies: Amazon, Etsy Launch High-Emo Holiday Ads.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved November 4, 2020, from

https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/357484/ecommerce-weepies-amazon-etsy-launch-high-emo-ho.html?edition=120314

 

 

 

 

Is this the right time for a disposable toothbrush?

 

We already know that being green means different things to different generations.  For Baby Boomers it means recycling.  For Millennials it means sustainability. 

 

According to the Oxford dictionary sustainability means the "avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance."

 

Goodwell Co. a new D2C start-up is selling toothbrushes made from bamboo with a biodegradable brush.  Here's the video they are running on Facebook and Instagram...

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6nJn3lyFvc&feature=youtu.be

 

The brushes cost $5.  Consistent with the Dollar Shave Club model they are offering them on a subscription basis but you can also find them in some health food stores. 

 

There's no doubt that bamboo grows quickly.  But is a bamboo toothbrush less harmful in a landfill than a plastic one?  Electric toothbrushes which provide superior results last for years and only the heads get tossed every three months.  Would that actually be the greener choice?

 

Which is better for the environment in the long run?  Will you buy a bamboo toothbrush?  How about an electric one?  Do you consider product longevity when you select a brand?  Do you think the answers to these questions vary by age?  If so, how and why?

 

 

Bednarski, P. (2020, October 22)  Start-Up Proudly Sells Product To Throw Out In A Few Weeks.  mediapost.com.  Retrieved October 27, 2020, from

https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/357123/start-up-proudly-sells-product-to-throw-out-in-a.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline&utm_campaign=120232&hashid=WJG6Pr0n-cKmmAEAvSYYIvL2MQA