Gimmicks

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I came across the new JC Penny ads today.  Usually JC Penny wouldn't really hold much interest for me, but Ron Johnson, the new CEO of JC Penny was the man who designed and ran the Apple Stores is remaking JC Penny. http://youtu.be/FlNAvRXfJIo

http://youtu.be/SsFMMf_1VzU

http://youtu.be/SRwki8jOAB0

http://youtu.be/k5F7NG8vBOQ

I liked these ads. Using Ellen is a bit of a MacGuffin, she brings attention to the brand, but also her association lends some character to a brand that's really nondescript -- what does JC Penny stand for anyway? Are they design oriented like Target? Or cheap like Wal-Mart?  What's their story.

These ads are gimmicky and entertaining, but I think it serves a purpose beyond attention -- it signals a new direction for JC Penny. By focusing on four different areas -- returns, coupons, sales and $.99 pricing, they show the new direction.  They could have just run ads saying, JC Penny, no coupons, easy returns, blah, blah, blah. Instead they indicate the new direction, a sense of putting customers first, a sense of caring about customers in way that other stores don't, a sense that they understand our frustrations (and in that sense Ellen as the "every women" is a perfect choice for a brand spokesperson).

My only quibble would be are they JC Penny branded enough? Meaning, do you watch the ads and know it's a JC Penny ad without the fanfare?  But still, I think these are really well done, entertaining and on-emotion, good job.

Here's another gimmick ad:

http://youtu.be/Pj6FP7PkJNo

I liked the way they based the ad on a real stunt -- that kind of coordination is great in a campaign.  The hurdles are clever a way to make it clear the attack on women's health. A minute ad might seem like a luxury, but I thought it was nice that they took their time, let the viewer take in the stunt, the meaning of the hurdles and some of the message, without forcing it on us.

The ad kinda doesn't know where to go after it introduces the stunt, so it loses some steam (there are a lot of shots of people looking at the hurdles, that I'm not sure if they're helping), but it's a solid B+/A-.