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by Online Editor | Scotlandon Aug 28 |
"The realms of advertising and of public relations ... are replete with instances of bullshit so unmitigated that they can serve among the most indisputable and classic paradigms of the concept. And in these realms there are exquisitely sophisticated craftsmen who ... dedicate themselves tirelessly to getting every word and image they produce exactly right." On Bullshit. Harry Frankfurt, Princeton University
Well, the results are in and it seems that advertisers actually can't do anything (Ed. Perhaps someone should tell Microsoft and Alex Bogusky!)
A resounding 71% of you agreed that no amount of elbow grease can make a terrible product shine.
But let's not forget the 29% of you who genuinely believe that advertisers really can polish up the proverbial and execute some kind of Fairy Godmother play with a swoosh of their advertising wand.
So I'd like to propose something to the Australian marketing community: let's set up the unofficial Golden Turd Awards right here in sunny Australia, a country well known for its irreverent sense of humour and ability to have a laugh at itself.

The process will work like this:
So without further ado, I hand the baton for this one over to you. Please discuss campaigns that you think deserve to be nominated in the comments section below, and send in your nominations for campaigns that have demonstrated exceptional TPS to Scott.
May the best steaming heap of dung win!
Wow way to throw the baby out with the water!
I will be a part of that 29% thanks, I hate to tell you this but Advertising is part of the product.
‘No amount of elbow grease can make a terrible product shine.’
Products/Brands act as short cuts.
Advertising helps create these short cuts.
If I am rocking my new Tsubi Jeans, apart of the intrinsic value is the fact that they will be communicating to my community that they are a valuable commodity and make me look ‘cool’. I want to know that they are still communicating this image, by being apart of media that my community consumes (Vice Magazine and Street Press).
If people bought products solely on being the best product in the market, do you think that people would buy jeans that pack their nads into their stomach? or would your father rock a Ralph Lauren Polo when he can buy the same quality polo for $14.95 from KMART?
I have got nothing wrong with advertising as long as they know their place in the whole conspicuous consumption experience. Advertising is great, but you are only one part of the communication of intrinsic value. Catching my father friends wearing Ksubi jeans is a stronger communicator of devaluing intrinsic value than other forms of media increasing or decreasing it.
What I do have a beef with is; Marketers, Media Agencies and Advertising Agencies allocations of Marketing(Communications) budgets, you are wasting your money on media that your community do not consume. (Hint: The kids are not just watching TV anymore, they are online watching videos on Youtube, consuming social gossip about their friends on Facebook). Maybe we should look at the Worst Advertising Agency killing a brands intrinsic value and here is one for the Media Agencies Worst Allocation of Media Dollars.
If it wasnt for the venerable Thomas Crapper, Id have no place to read my marketing books and the latest Marketing Magazine.
Julian, I buy my Ksubi jeans at Target.