gr1501.jpg

 

From Ghost Rider #10 comes an ad  that is ridiculously amazing!  I’ve  gone over it, well, most of it, well, I skimmed some of it and I can’t really figure out what Duraclean does.  Seems like you’d be their roving repairman or carpet cleaner or something.  I don’t know because it’s not really clear, except for the fact that you have ‘7 superior services’.  Superior to what, exactly?  Superior to the job the homeless guys do with their squeegees when my car’s stalled on a red light?  Superior to the job a 4 year old would do?  Superior as in Lake Superior?

 

While that’s all really interesting, what really caught my eye was that in this true story by Bob Ferrel, Bob doesn’t bother to show you his face!  He’s actually facing AWAY from you in the photo!  Think about it, your company just spent a wad of money on a full-page ad and the photo you decide to use is basically of someone pointing where the nearest bathroom is located!  Why not show us Bob’s face?  Would he be recognized as a national scam artist out on bail or something?  Is he constantly crying because his Duraclean job is driving him to an early grave, what with all the chemical fumes and extra hours?

 

I wonder how successful this ad campaign was?  Could you imagine this technique being applied in other walks of life, like politics?  Would Obama have won the Presidency if, before starting his speeches, he’d just turn his back to the audience?  I know I always respect and admire folks who turn their back to me, but then again I have low self esteem.

 

Remarkably, Duraclean is still a thriving business, 36 years after this ad campaign.  A quick perusal of their website failed to find anyone with their back turned away.  Guess they’ve learned from their mistake.

 

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK