Absolut Bus Stops

When I first saw this elaborate setup of a Chicago bus stop that was transformed into a small part of the Absolut universe I was amazed at the attention to detail it encompassed. Then I thought to myself, this would do well as a portfolio piece but not in real life situations. Chicago weather gets so cold and wet during the winter season that the Absolut bus stops would be ruined right after the first rain or snowfall.

The other question that came to mind is whether or not people would appreciate having something so eye-catching to sit on while waiting on their bus. It might make people feel awkward to sit at a bus stop like the ones pictured above. Therefore, this marketing attempt may result in an unwanted backlash towards the vodka brand. You should also know that the only thing already in place when the shelters were created was the ceiling. The seats, plants, and obviously the colors are all original.

From an advertising creative point of view the bus stops are works of art that people should and will admire. The ultimate question is will these creative attempts sell more Absolut vodka? Also, each one of the bus stops is named after an Absolut flavor. The ones shown above are: Absolut “Lemon Drop,” Twist” and “Bloody."

The agency behind this work is TBWA Chiat\Day, New York

This post is made possible thanks to Kiss My Black Ads.

Best,
-A.B.

Absolut Hugs

Several months ago, on February 10^th to be exact I wrote about Absolut and how it became the first distilled spirits company to have a commercial appear on prime time CBS owned station. The above spot is another commercial in the “Absolut World” campaign. In an “Absolut World” hugs and kisses are the currency of choice traded for real world items. The spot above is the UK version of the ad.

To me, the spot seemed a bit “loving” which is not usually a word you would use to describe anything related to vodka. The song in the spot is “Money makes the World go Around” goes well with the spot. The creative idea is communicated very well through the images and the song in the background.

The spot actually made me feel good, is that weird or what?

Anyway, the ad agency is once again TBWA/Chiat/Day

Best,
A.B.

Absolut Security

I wanted to do a short posting before I went to bed for the night so that I could say I post everyday. The Absolut print ad above was one of my favorite wallpapers for my computer screen in college. Not to Mentin Absolut advertising is what got me interested in advertising in the first place.

I believe the ad agency is TBWA Chiat/Day, New York.

Nest,
A.B.

Absolut Tolerant

On February 8th, a 30-second brand awareness spot for Absolut Vodka ran on prime time television. I believe it ran during the last half of the Grammy Awards. This marks the first time ever a distilled-spirits product has appeared on any CBS-owned TV station. Here is another sign of the changing times. A company like CBS that usually shunned distilled-spirits companies now accept them. I ask you is this due to the troubled economy?

The spot created by TBWA/Chiat/Day is titled “Hugs” the ad presents a universe where the sanctioned currency is kisses on the cheek. The spot ends with the campaigns' tag line "In an Absolut World." This is a significant change in the ad business and I think its for the better.

I have to say the spot isn't funny but it is eye catching and memorable because it is unusual for a distilled-spirits company to produce this type of commercial. Most liquor commercials give a public service announcement, for example the famous "please drink responsibly." The spot is memorable because of the high popularity that the brand has already established

I think this is a great step forward for the famous vodka maker. They have a strong promotional foundation due to their great print ads. Their print ads are what got me interested in advertising in the first place (Just an FYI).

NBC was the first to air liquor ads on its main station. Also, you can read the Brandweek article at your leisure.

Best,
A.B.