Dick
Smith is not a happy little vegemite. An ad designed as an Australia Day
promotion of Dick Smith food products has been rated PG, which means it can’t
be shown in peak timeslots.
Offensive?
Well, it certainly will be once the new anti-discrimination act gets the nod, and
for many reasons, but even before
that happens… wot do you think of the ad?
I like the ad. I think he makes a good point about popular Aussie products being foreign-owned. Though I think people will likely want to stick to their Vegemite.
ReplyDeleteOr who knows...Maybe the ad's clever (and maybe controversial) use of dick will get attention to the product; and people will give the new stuff a chance.
I forget. Do you like Vegemite? Or are you one of those who dislike it? If you like it; would you switch to an alternative?
Hi Dina!
DeleteVegemite has a special place in my heart.
We live in a global marketplace now, but I can remember hearing an American saying more than 30 years ago "You mean to tell me Kraft makes this shit?"
It's a marketing rule [positioning] that whichever company establishes a product gets to own it. Xerox=photocopier, Hoover=vacuum cleaner, Coke=soft drink. It's almost impossible for any other organisation to take more than 20% of market share. [Of course, photocopiers and vacs have changed which has led to a change of market share, but Coke hasn't.]
I don't think our mob would change without making some truly principled commitment. Dick's products are necessarily more expensive, but there are 3 of us here who shop at different times. If I wrote "Ozemite" on a shopping list it would be ignored and we'd end up with no vegemite either. It has taken quite a while to even establish a firm rule about free range eggs. [I'm working on the chicken, but it would help if it was more freely available.]
But I like the ad. Dick has a dig at several people and ideas, which gives it a rather 'intellectual' slant. [OK, I'm a wanker, but that's no secret.] I never knew he had a sense of humour.
Funny and hey, gets the point across. We too are seeing more and more Made in the USA commercials here too so I get these.
ReplyDeleteThese are very hard times around the world, and I think the 'keep your money at home' movement will grab momentum everywhere. But I'm glad you think it's funny rather than offensive.
DeleteI didn't find the ad offensive at all because all of what Dick said is fair dinkum.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for him to make some decent ice-cream. Peters went off when it was taken over by Nestle. Of course, it might be because good ice-cream should be in a green container, not the boring beige it comes in now. But I think it tastes different...
DeleteA bit amusing. I don't see anything wrong with the ad and I don't mind Dick, although my partner can't bear Dick.
ReplyDeleteThere have been times when I found Dick irritating, but if I can laugh at Dick why not enjoy Dick?
DeleteI suppose if he was in one's face all the time like that "where do ya get it?" ad it would be wearing.
I definitely like Dick FC, can you believe this is the first time I've seen the ad. Dick is a little OTT, but he makes a very good point..as for vegemite, we're a divided household, two for and one against, that would be moi...oh the shame haha!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like Dick, Grace. The ad seems to be doing the rounds of the internet, but might have been canned because it was panned.
Delete"I love Dick" is sort of funny, yet it's a bit 'try hard', isn't it? I do admire what he's trying to achieve, however, but think that perhaps he could do it with a bit more intelligence and class now...?
ReplyDeleteHis goal is rather admirable, but I suspect it's a lost cause. A bit of a 'try hard' ad, but a once-off, I suspect. I don't think it would be addictive.
Delete