Ameriprise (We're the new financial consultants from American Express!). Oh-so-wrong, on so many levels. Blatant pandering to the overly-absorbed-with-themselves Boomers, what with the kitschy 60s video clips and "oh weren't you COOL" voice-overs. And they ripped off the Spencer Davis Groups great "Gimmee Some Lovin'," an unforgiveable sin.I was talking about ads that irritate me. In Friday's WSJ, Melanie Wells writes:
...the tone of ads from Ameriprise Financial? The company--a financial-advice unit spun off from American Express--clearly buys into the idea of boomers' tireless obsession with youthful pursuits. Its print ads show these folks in their VW-bus-driving, cheerleading, do-the-twist past. The TV spots appeal to the boomers' inner child, juxtaposing images of them skateboarding and playing the guitar when they were young. There are shots of them doing the same now but with thinning hair and--in the case of the aging skateboarder--a broken arm. "Retirement is like a second childhood," one ad says.You heard it here first. Remember that! Ms. Wells, however, isn't complaining solely about Ameriprise. She takes apart ad campaigns from the financial services industry, in general. Not a bad read, if you're so inclined.
Full Disclosure, Part 17: My secret fantasy-job has always been advertising copy writer, leading to Advertising Industry Icon. Now you know.
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