Sex Moves from Ads into Stores

A Dummy's Puppet's Ramblings - from Chip Martin, Mannequin American

Dear Diary
As marketing/PR consultants we get to work with lots of brilliant, successful people. But occasionally, successful people start thinking that because they're so successful, they have all the answers and can do no wrong.

Those who think they know everything are annoying ... and generally bad managers ... bad for the organization, bad for business and bad clients. As I like to say, "Those who think they know everything should get out of the way of those of us who do."

We work with a CEO who asks a lot of questions. In fact, he's demanding about it. He asks very tough questions. He asks them; then he keeps bugging us until we come up with viable, provable answers. And he never forgets ... so neither do we. For us, he creates a work environment that is challenging and fosters accountability. And we do great work for him and his company.

Then there are the clients who have all the answers. A "challenging" environment is almost non-existent because everyone just does as they're told. The client doesn't get the best programs because we become order takers versus expert advisors. The work is generally easier, but it's definitely not fulfilling ... because we know we could do better.

So if you're a manager, try to always keep in mind that it's not good business to think you have all the answers ... and it's probably not what got you to where you are today.

It's Not About the Animals

In Peta's efforts to rid the world of everything eatable, wearable and comfortable comes its latest "ad," which shows an almost naked woman ... Playboy's Joanna Krupa ... holding a cross and floating in mid air as if she were an angel. (Needles to say, Catholics and Protestants are united in outrage.) The ad is supposed to call attention to the fact people shouldn't buy animals. You can see the controversial ad by clicking here ... I'm not going to give it a platform by showing it.

It doesn't really matter that Peta ads rarely appear anywhere other than on its Web site and then are picked up by multitudes of Internet outlets ... which I guess is the point. All Peta is after is publicity. I don't think Peta really cares where people get their animals or how animals are cared for. I'm sure it spends more money on its ads than it does actually "caring" for animals.

No, as Adrants pointed out, it's all about nudity. And press. And scandal. And salaciousness. And titillation. And press. And sensationalism. It's not about the animals.

Sex Moves from Ads into Stores
When a business's survival is at risk, people tend to get creative and do things that they wouldn't otherwise consider or find tasteful. What they're looking for is a competitive advantage and a way to get people in the door.

A growing number of businesses are deciding to use scantily-clad women as their creative "hook."  While they tend to be a lot less "sexual" than the PETA ads mentioned above, they still often cause controversy.

(Above) Amber Langdon and Leah Buchanan are bikini models and baristas at Perky Cups (get it) in Aurora, CO. They are part of a growing number of people adding some sexiness to otherwise mundane businesses.

A Little Off The Top, a men's salon, offers a variety of salon services performed by "Licensed Professionals in classy Lingerie." Click here to see photos of the "professionals." I suddenly have the need for a haircut ... and I wear a wig.

And here is a news video about a Dallas beer barn, the In & Out, which uses scantily-clad employees. By the way, a "beer barn" is a drive through beer and wine depot where you don't have to get out of your car. You can just sit and watch the young ladies fetch your six pack. I don't care what they wear, that is a great concept.

(Above) Baristas Toni Morgan and Candice Law chat with customer Phil Sheridan at the Cowgirls Espresso drive-through in Tukwila, WA.

In Memphis, TN, the women of Tiger Time Lawn Care mow customers' lawns dressed in bikinis...a service that attracts more attention to the ladies than the lawns.

While businesses that employ bikini-clad women often subject themselves to complaints and demonstrations, the tactic seems totally okay when used to draw attention to social issues, such as "climate change," above.

But even "social good" can be jeopardized by the suggestion of too much skin. Several years ago, in the spirit of good will, a Hooters restaurant in Janesville, WI offered a cash donation to a local charity.  It was turned down. In fact, it was turned down three times by three different charities.

Why? Well it seems the charities didn't want to be associated with something as despicable (dripping with sarcasm here) as Hooters. The story made national news. Who do you think received the most positive publicity from this incident; Hooters or the non-profits that Hooters was trying to help?

As a side note, one of the most celebrated champions in NASCAR history was Alan Kulwicki, who drove the Hooters car before his tragic death in an airplane crash. Do you know where the largest display of Kulwicki/Hooters memorabilia is? It's in a McDonalds restaurant in Milwaukee, WI. So I guess if that McDonalds offered to make a donation to those same three charities, they would be obliged to turn it down because McDonalds is associated with Kulwicki, who was associated with Hooters.

Those who made the decision to turn down the donation probably had never been in a Hooters. That's called freedom of choice. Turning down a donation that could have a positive impact on those your charity serves is called dim-witted self-righteousness. Just saying ...