All work and no play, allegedly, makes Jack a dull boy. And advertisers seem to agree; globally, major brands seem more interested in making us laugh than selling a product; and for good reason: humor is one of the best ice-breakers. If a brand can make you happy, they can make you open your wallet.
With that in mind, ad execs often turn to the humorous, irreverent, or even outlandish to break through the clutter and demand attention. Sure, sometimes jokes fall flat; but do it well, and the effect goes beyond the eyes — to the brain, to the emotions, and most of all, to behavior change.
And so, for a bit of Friday fun, we thought we'd share some amusing, irreverent, strange and comical adverts from around the world. Enjoy!
3M Post-It: Making a Difference, Boyfriend
Tums Extra: Lamb
Bearded Lady Bourbon: The Search
Volkswagen: Park Assist Technology, Hedgehog/Fish
Playtex: Tattoo Boy
The Cape Times: William
Nataraj Pencils: Wrecking Ball
Energy Australia: Treadmill
Huggies/Kimberly Clark: Political
New York International Latino Film Festival: Serial Killer Movie Recipe
Milky Way: Skaters
Volkswagen: Park Assist Technology, Car Jack/Glass Truck
Etch A Sketch: Sushi
San Francisco SPCA: Waiting Room
Old Spice Swagger: Action Hero
Alo Ultra: Spaghetti Napolitan
Maxam Civilization: Egypt
Blackstar Bikes: Panda
3M Scotch Tape: Chameleon
Ferretti Yachts: When the Master’s Away
Pymes Magazine: Milk
Volkswagen: Park Assist Technology, Portaloo/Hearse
Kaleva Newspaper: Underground
Santher: Misses
Visa: Stanley Cup Playoff Beard
El Comercio Newspaper: Pig
Toshiba: Studying
Kyivstar: Shared Birdfeeder
Colgate Dental Floss: Smile, 3
Arjuna Yoga Centre: Woman
Volia Broadband: Titanic
Ibuprom: Woodpeckers
Santher: Scout
Sky Company Parachuting: Wind
MasterCard Canada: Women’s Golf Classic
Witte Molen: Last Wish
Wrigley Orbit: Cow
3M Privacy Filter: For Your Eyes Only
Bench Fix Hairstyling Products: Gecko
Volia Broadband: King Kong
The Art Director’s Club: Keep Fighting the Good Fight, Illustration
McDonald’s: Tiffany
Which of these ads is your favourite? Do they do a good job of selling the product? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Stacey Kole
Stacey Kole is a freelance writer and former magazine editor. When she’s not crafting copy or chasing after her two little boys, Stacey can be found drinking coffee, tea, or anything else with caffeine. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on Twitter.
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