Old School Marketing

As an 80s child, I remember a lot of color, a lot of The Cosby Show and an overwhelming amount of “synth pop” music – what I don’t have the clearest recollection of is the advertising from that era. Fortunately I’ve found a few sites that do a great job of bringing it back!

1. It’s all about the product!

Marketing Success Through Differentiation—of Anything
Source: Harvard Business Review January 1980 Issue

In the 80s you only had so many channels and so many companies that could afford the flooded commercial landscape. With options limited to television, radio, billboard and mail – you not only needed a sizable budget but also needed to differentiate your product from the next guy. Not much different from today, but a very different mindset on how to accomplish it!

Read this article for some insight into the mind of the 80s marketer!

2. Brands of the 80s

Growing up 80's....and things you would remember!
Source: Pinterest user Kendra Mikko

From Polaroids, bottle caps and pickup sticks to Laverne and Shirley, Dukes of Hazard and Charlotte’s Web, this Pinterest user takes us down memory lane for all things 80s!

Read this article to bring back some 80s inspiration!

3. Movies that made their mark in the 80s

Reader’s Poll: The 25 Greatest Movies of the 1980s
Source: Rolling Stone Online, February 2014

This photo flashback to some of the top 80s film promos includes a sketched, buffed up Kurt Russell, shoulder pad sporting “Pretty in Pink” cast and a lot of Harrison Ford. Many of these movies defined our childhood, what they also defined was a new era in advertising with product placement and “young adult” product marketing entering full swing.

Put on your jean jacket and your favorite mixed tape while revisiting the best movies of the 80s.

4. All about the magazine

Top 80’s Marketing Advertisements
Source: Creative VP Blog, April 2012

Oh, the pastels oddly mixed with really bright colors are on full display in this fantastic assortment of 80s advertising. The lack of a call to action won’t be the only thing that stands out; you might even see a couple of mailing addresses to request more information and “scans” attributed to various artists! Go 80s.

Even with 80s “cheese” on full display, there is still some inspiration to be gleaned while reliving the decade through this article.

5. Technology of the 80s

Radio Shack Cell Phones 1987
Source: YouTube user Retrontario, December 2014

We aren’t the first to dawn the door of a campaign focused on “out with the 80s”. Radio Shack boasted the second highest rated commercial of SuperBowl 2014 by launching their new store design and bringing some 80s but goodies! It may be a few years late for RadioShack to finally be introducing a redesign, but no one can take away this gem of TV commercial introducing a “beat this price” cell phone ad!

Long live YouTube and it’s throwback entertainment!

80s Marketing That We Still Apply Today

This is all of course very entertaining, and we chuckle at the 80s knowing full and well 20 years from now our campaigns will be on the “check out those museum pieces” list. What I find fascinating is how many of the principles of marketing from the 80s remain, in large part, a day-to-day routine for most of us. Rather than breaking out of the norm and being trans-formative, we rely on tried, true and tested.

The Internet has changed our jobs forever, but it’s hard for us to look at the Internet as a different type of marketing tool. It’s not a billboard, a magazine article or a business card, but how many of us effectively use it as something different? Inbound marketing, social media and content marketing – all trends that have developed out of learning to use digital media better. BUT, can one use digital media better if that approach still looks and smells like a traditional media strategy?

Give us your thoughts and share some of your favorite 80s memories! You’ll be hearing more about this topic from us over the next few weeks and we’d love to include your input.