Generation Game, Week 2

Well done to Week 1 players but sadly no cuddly toys have been awarded.

29 unique visitors had a look at last week's ads, and the scores on the doors were truly impressive; 100% irritated with the Ombria Italian property and a 50:50 split impressed/irritated by the Provytl one - if you can't remember the ads check them out on our website blog here.

So what did we find this week I hear you cry?

Well, I picked this one up as particularly relevant to my w/e’s experience:

I was in Stratford to see Hamnet. We went for 3 reasons - never been to Stratford, the missus having read the book of the play and to have a w/e break. All pretty baby boomerish reasons for doing something - time, inquisitiveness, some cash, some previous knowledge.

This ad on the other hand, doesn’t address any of these or other buttons we at Humbug know baby boomers like to be pressed in order to do something. See our view on the baby boomer buttons here.

The play was really intriguing. There is no formal record of Shakespeare’s private life, so it’s based on an author’s musings, very well done and left me churning “what ifs”.

Not a hint of what this play might deliver in this ad, which if you hadn’t read the book, you're unlikely to have heard about anyway!

Indeed, the list of what’s on at RSC will only appeal to those who know what’s on is on about.

Nothing here to promote the wider experience of a cultural w/e in Stratford. we know baby boomers seek experiences in their leisure time. This ad only delivers a short nap and a warm feeling for the graphic designer.

Tik Tok?

What do you think?

Vote here on the RSC ad

• Click here if impressed with the ad above
• Click here if irritated
• And here if feel over 55 year olds simply ignored by this ad

Now Mark likes the look of Linwoods as a brand. But their advertising in the weekend press, read en-masse by the boomers they want to appeal to, misses the mark in his mind.

Why Mark you shout…?

Because here we have two boomers frolicking in a (presumably) flax field, clearly energised by their Linwoods breakfast. They are apparently making a better start to their day because they are supporting their health, as everyone should, by sitting in a field.

It’s flax and flax gives your digestion oomph we're told. It helps your heart too, as we can clearly see from the steaming Colgate ring of confidence hanging over their porridge.

All well and good but oh so dull. And not rooted in any apparent insight into a boomer’s life and need for heart and bowel support.

What we sadly have here is some bland comms for a decent brand; boomers in still-life painting, created without…life. An average ad, that dulls their appetite and interest in decent creativity. Forget not that they were born and bred on a diet of Don Draper post-war consumerist excellence. They dined on great work by Guinness, Tango, Homepride and Martini, Bird’s Eye Beef Burgers and Got Milk? They expect more and have experienced better.

‘Enjoy every day’ in this advert, is forced and a threat, devoid of excitement for what should be a life-enhancing food promise for boomers in their prime.

They’re waiting to be entertained and engaged with advertising for flax that matches their age and expectations from adland. Please reference our thoughts on baby boomers expectations here.

Anything less is money down the toilet, no matter how good your digestion.

What should it get on the Humbug poll?

Vote here on the Linwoods ad

• Same as above, click here if impressed
• Here for irritated
• And here for over 55's who are simply ignored by this ad