Real life can get in the way of your brand

You'll be glad to know this isn't a long story, but I think it's a relevant one for the way that advertising really is quite a weak force when it comes into contact with the real world.

I'm was recently on holiday in Spain and was sat playing Monopoly Deal (great game) with my youngest daughter when a fellow Geordie ordered a drink. I'll try to capture the conversation that happened.

"Hello sir, can I get you a drink?" - friendly Spanish waiter

"Kopparberg, mate" - very strong Geordie accent

"Huh" - Blank Face

"Kopparberg"

"Err, sorry"

"Cider mate, dee yeh have cider"

"Ah! We have Strongbow or Magners"

"Strongbow mate, cheers"

Waiter walks away, still a little confused, comes back with a Magners

The Geordie to his friend as the Magners arrives "I don't even nar what just happened there, like"

So, we see a couple of things. Despite Kopparberg being asked for directly, clearly the number one choice, the lack of availability doesn't make someone walk out to another place. They simple find out the alternatives.

Secondly, even if your brand has made it to choice number 2 on the list of options if the customer isn't understood it doesn't matter.

And finally, despite getting the wrong drink the customer just drank the one they had got so Magners won despite being 3rd choice.

#agencyvoices #advertising #marketing