As far as marketing gimmicks go, none are as outrageous and yet as blatantly employed as scantily clad women in ads that have nothing to do with them whatsoever. I won’t try and blame it all on the marketing team, because it could as easily be the client’s demand. But stats seem to favour ads that have a woman selling the product. Maybe because of how we, as a nation, are a tharki lot.
A shining example of this was recently highlighted by stand-up comedian Rahul Subramanian, when he shared the picture of a billboard advertising a marathon in Powai’s Hiranandani.
His caption is basically all of us practical folks, pondering the meaning of the ad.
https://twitter.com/RahulSubramanic/status/948224008528498695
Now, a host of things are wrong with this ad. First, why is a blonde, clearly not-Indian woman doing on a billboard for a marathon in Powai, for crying out loud?
Second, have you seen her shoes? Is THAT what she’s going to wear when she runs?
Third, what’s with that posture, guys? She’s not even running! WTF?
But as you know, Twitter never disappoints. The answers to all these questions were revealed one after the other. But first, the biggest WTF of all got resolved when someone figured out who this lovely lady was!
That's @ElsaPataky_ Thor's wife!
— Peter Gate (@PeterGate19) January 2, 2018
Yep, she is indeed Elsa Pataky, Chris Hemsworth’s wife. In fact, the picture is from a campaign that she modelled for, for Gioseppo, a footwear brand.
Campaña @Gioseppo campaign. #workingmum #shoes #fun #elsapatakyforgioseppo pic.twitter.com/oYB022eckW
— Elsa Pataky (@ElsaPataky_) March 4, 2016
It was Rahul who again pointed out that the brand was a sponsor for the event and therefore, their campaign image was quite slyly used to promote the run.
https://twitter.com/RahulSubramanic/status/948415083016732672
Still, marketing peeps, a little more creativity wouldn’t have hurt, no?
Twitter could obviously not digest this reasoning and went ahead with the mocking!
1. Marketing team! You sly fellas, you!
Wasn't this model used to promote the fashion brand who are sponsoring the run? The placement is a little unfortunate but aadha sachh matt dikhao yaar!
— Monami Bagchi (@monamibagchi) January 3, 2018
2. LOL!
Hahahahahahahaahahahaha
I can't even!
Help!— Swati Tripta Sharma (@Stweeder) January 3, 2018
3. Still not over it!
https://twitter.com/lolawilma/status/948421526562508800
4. And we will have no winner, because really? Sandals?
Hahahahahaha.#FlatsAreTheNewSportShoes
And I am sure people will do it because GORI ladki ne pehna hai.
— Hardik Shah (@hardikkshahh) January 3, 2018
5. Hear hear!
Because that's what we'd rather be doing at home instead of going to the Powai run.
— Scarred4Lyf (@stickerless) January 3, 2018
6. Second that!
Worst promotion ever!!!
— Anurag Biswanath (@ffsAnurag) January 2, 2018
7. Oh for sure, in the opposite direction!
Looks like she is farting, that will make people run.
— The Nard Dog (@Isco_Magia22) January 2, 2018
8. In all fairness, they do have some excellent choice in models!
Was the marketing team brought from ftv…?
— BabaYaga (@SortOrderAsc) January 2, 2018
9. Umm… yes!
If I participate in this marathon….does it make me a "tharki"
— TheWhiteWalker (@Tauseef12356591) January 3, 2018
10. ‘Pliss’ was also an option suggested by marketing team. But the editorial team put their ‘sandaled’ foot down! *wink*
I like how they stopped giving a fuck, “pls” instead of please.
— Musa (@musapnj) January 2, 2018
Right, so I hope the woke Tweeple managed to ‘educate’ the marketing peeps behind this ad to see the error of their ways.
But then again, does the fact that the ad got all the attention it did prove the point I made previously? Ads with attractive women get more attention than they deserve?
Some foot for thought, people!