Hit or Miss: The Week in Ads

With the festive season in full swing, brands are rolling out a series of ads and campaigns. While some are hitting the mark, some may not have impressed all. This week has been quite the mix bag in terms of hits and misses.

Here's a list of some ads that worked like a charm and some that made us go, “Wait, What?”

Just Herbz 

Celebrating their tenth anniversary, Just Herbz released an inclusive beauty ad featuring Zeenat Aman and Rakulpreet Kaur. Aiming to celebrate beauty that is timeless and holistic in itself truest form with their tagline, ‘Traditional Principles, Modern Practices’. The ad is a good representation of two different actresses and their styles. But the inclusivity message didn't really make its place in the commercial. It felt like an ode to new and old style, which in itself might be a great idea, but doesn't go with whatever Just Herbz was aiming for. Great ad but would be a miss because of the flawed campaign communication. 

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IKEA 

IKEA released their first festive ad of the season with their tagline, ‘Make room for all things festive with IKEA.’Standing firm with their hashtag #GharAajao​ and the new festival hashtag #AllThingsFestive​. The ad displays simplistic and direct communication, which works great for their brand. The ad is a very clear win, in terms of product placement, realistic festival representation, aesthetics and the human connect with a slight humor to it. 

Godrej 

Godrej Security Solutions posted an ad about the Godrej home lockers with the tagline, bring home your ‘Khushiyon ke Rakhwaale.’ With their hashtags #SecuringHappiness​ and  #KhushiyonKeRakhwaale, they tried to show how the safes would save you from unpleasant surprises. The ad is short, crisp and delivers the message intended swiftly. In short, a hit.

Real Sumo 

The ad was released as the launch ad for a Flipkart backed, Fintech platform called Real Sumo. The company mascot is a ‘Goat’, which can be seen in the ad, ‘Mehh-ing’ to every single notification on their phone. The ad is quirky but doesn't quite hit the mark of being an entertaining ad. Though full marks for creativity,  but as a launch ad, it's a miss.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAXn7GKIGDz/?igsh=ZzhsZGQyamx5d3Ex 

Flipkart Math of Big Billion Days

This ad by flipkart urges you to check how much money you save, not spending every time there is a big billion, using the #MathOfBigBillionDays website and then calculates that you need to save for 150 years to buy a big house. The ad has been floating on the internet for 3 days and getting all kinds of confusing remarks. It's a miss for us for various reasons including the complex campaign communication and a bad attempt at sarcasm. It's a miss.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAS3mNyo4qN/?igsh=MW1jdDVvNGd5azl3Ng== 

Also Read:

Beyond Logic: Flipkart's Big Billion Days ad lost in translation

Alpino Heath Foods with Shilpa Shetty

Promoting their flavor of Oats ad with Shilpa Shetty, Alpino food has made the claim of being the only ‘Edible Oats’ selling company and that the rest sell ‘Chunna’. With hashtags #AlpinoKhao​ #NoMorePowderOats​ #KhaaneWaaleOats​, they claim that their nutritious oats are better than the powder western companies sell. Though they don't mention any other brand, the ad is quite creative in creating a diss for other brands. The ad is a classic massy ad, with an engaging and convincing message. It's going to be a hit for us.

Nykaa×Ganji Chudail Collab

Out of all the things possible this 2024, even more than the rumors of Diljit Dosanjh dating Taylor Swift, this ad collab was the last thing anyone could predict. A bad shock for the beauty industry, if you may say. This Ad by Nykaa in collaboration with Majedar Kahani Official, that features Ganji Chudail as their hair model, using Nykaa’s hair serum to become just Chudail for an Alpha Male is not a fun sight to watch, but still increased their visibility up to 120%. If that's what they were aiming for, then kudos, if not then it's a problem. There aren't many ways to explain what went wrong with the ad, you just have to see it to understand. Huge miss or a Virality stunt Hit, you decide.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAN83fKP8sE/?igsh=aTdhc2JscGl1d214 

Also Read:

Why are brands under Ganji Chudail's spell?

Dhara Cooking Oils ad

Dhara Cooking Oils came with this ad with their tagline ‘Milawat ki kahin koi jagah nahi hai, naa aapke khaane main, naa aapki soch main.’ This is one great example of short ads (literally 15 seconds) doing a great job ticking all the checkboxes of being a great ad. It's crisp, simple, product is well displayed and placed, a social message and human connect. Well it is a good hit.

Mortein two in one Spray Ad

With a new campaign ‘Bacche Bacche Ko Pataa Hai’,Mortein released their ad claiming that they are the first brand in India to have a 2 in 1 spray for cockroaches and Mosquitoes. Though the ad in itself is good, this claim is false and puts them at a risk of being scrutinized. It's a miss for us, but full marks to the ad, there isn't inherently wrong with the ad, the problem is with the premise.

Yippee Noodles 5₹ Ad

Yippee released a heartwarming ad with children being excited about saving just 5₹ and having Yippee noodles with their mother, in exchange for walking home from school. Being a wholesome ad with great connect and product placement it works well.The ad also takes a dig at maggi indirectly, no direct claims.This might be the best ad on the list. It's a hit for us.