Archive for the ‘Marketing’ Category

True, But Misleading

I happened to notice the bold proclamation on a bottle of syrup that we have:

image of bottle of Log Cabin syrup with no high-fructose corn syrup

No High Fructose Corn Syrup

That’s great! But what does it have in it?

(more…)

Cereal Misrepresentation

I buy a variety of cereals for breakfast. Some for me, some for the kids. One of the kinds I liked for me was Special K with Fruit and Yogurt.

photo of the front of a cereal box of Special K with fruit and yogurt

Sound healthy, right?

But I’m not here to discuss the nutrition aspect of the cereal. I’m here to discuss the fruit part.

What fruit do you think is in the cereal?

close photo of the front of a cereal box of Special K with fruit and yogurt, enlarged to show detail

It says it contains fruit.
It shows strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries on the box.

One would think that the cereal contained strawberries, raspberries, and/or blackberries.

photo of the ingredients list of a cereal box of Special K with fruit and yogurt

Did you see any of those fruits listed in the ingredients?

Nope.

All it has, as far as fruit goes, is apples. And red dye to make them look like strawberries or raspberries.

Pretty sneaky…

I’d almost consider continuing to buy and eat it, because it tastes good enough. But I think I’ll stop because of the red dye. Plus there are other cereals, including Special K brand, that do contain actual berries.

No sense in rewarding the imposter with more business.

Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:13

New Golf Clubs

I don’t golf, but if I did, I’d get this golf equipment:

image of a golf bag with the slogan I Can't Believe It's Not Putter

His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.

Psalm 55:21

True Fiction

What’s wrong with this book?

image of the book cover for Rump: the true story of Rumpelstiltskin

My son checked this out of the library. He said his teacher was reading it to them; I assume he was just impatient with that slow pace.

I saw the cover as he was reading it and asked him to show me the spine of the book.

Sure. Why?
I want to see how the library categorizes the book.
What?
They incorrectly put it in Fiction. As the sub-title clearly states, this is a true story. So it should be in the Non-Fiction section.
No, dad, that’s just what they call it. They also have the true story of the Three Little Bears and other things.
Well then, those people must not know what the word true means.

There are other sub-titles that would have conveyed what I think they meant:

  • The untold story of Rumpelstiltskin
  • The life story of Rumpelstiltskin
  • The whole story of Rumpelstiltskin

Why did they choose to dilute the word true?

I doubt their goal was to promote moral relativism in impressionable children, to muddy the meaning of truth for the next generation. That may be the effect, but I doubt that was their goal.

I assume their goal was to create an interesting phrase – “this one is catchy because it makes people stop and think, how can we have a true version of a fairy tale?” That works for the author’s generation because they know what truth is. But a catchy sub-title becomes popular, and before long, applying the word true to various things that aren’t true becomes commonplace, and then people get confused.

No, I don’t think this one book is going to cause the downfall of Western civilization. But it is somewhat telling of the mindset of people these days. Do people care what words mean anymore?

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.”

John 18:38

Tasty Cookies

I don’t know where my wife bought these cookies, but I’m glad she bought the new version and not the old version.

image of a box of smart cookies

You know it must have been bad for them to (indirectly) admit the old version did not taste great.

The people would go about and gather it and grind it between two millstones or beat it in the mortar, and boil it in the pot and make cakes with it; and its taste was as the taste of cakes baked with oil.

Numbers 11:8

Slogan Update

image of just duet slogan and logo instead of just do it

Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well! Sing to it!

Numbers 21:17

Rudolph-niss

image of reindeer games: catching fire movie poster featuring Rudolph

One of the classic questions to discuss is “What exactly are the reindeer games the other reindeer won’t let Rudolph play?” Now that a certain series of novels and movies has become popular, I see the opportunity for a cross-marketing strategy. Unfortunately, the Hunger Games people missed the window of opportunity. Too late now.

It came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel.

Ezekiel 10:6