A Marketing gimmick in an Electronic Store [Discussion]

[Dark-San]

[b][size=3] I was in a dilemma on whether should I post this topic in MISC or should I post it in OA? However with further thoughts, I decide to put it in OA as this has afterall something that got to do with animes.

Last Sunday, I was with a friend going shopping for some electronic products. I wanted to get a DVD player in my own room and probably a headset since mine was spoiled. The DVD player was suppose to be for my regular anime dosage in case the one (Pioneer of course) at the living room was occupied by my mum who is a avid Korean soup opera fan.

We practically ransacked the whole mall searching for my stuff. And of course we also went to a megastore that was opened by BEST Denki. Upon entering the premises of the megastore, something caught my eyes. Hey isn't that that character in the advertisement Midori from Midori no Hibi? And there was also Chikage from Sister Princess in another corner.

Now this is something that make me not quite agree on. This megastore is using anime character in their advertisement? This megastore is selling electronic products so what is anime characters got to do with them?

Now here comes the marketing concerns. Why are they using anime characters as an icon? Is it for the branding or is it for their identification or to gain recognition of some sort from the customers? Or is it the fact, that the megastore has Japanese orgins and hence using anime characters would be the best way to tell the whole world that their identity?

I am pretty upset on the way that anime characters has been misused in my opinion. What are your views? Discuss.

[Heald]

How odd, but I guess it isn't any different from adverts that use bikini-clad women to promote their products, or insurance/loan companies that use mascots such as dogs to promote their products. Why they would use Anime characters is beyond me, since Anime characters don't seem to appeal to a mass audience (or at least that is the case here in the UK).

[Dark-San]

[b][size=3] That is the whole point. Animes to promote electronic products? I mean you see both genre of the anime characters that they are using are both from comedy and romance (Midori no Hibi and Sister Princess) respectivity.

These advertisements are getting nowwhere and probably will not serve any purpose. Problem is that they are not attracting their main target audience. If you analyse it from the demographic point of view, their target audience should be the newly married couples. These people who would wish to settle down and hence buying the electronic products (Television sets, DVD players, Radios etc...) in bulk.

The only reason that I could think off on why they would choose both characters are just because they are cute. I would highly recommend that if they still want to continue to use anime character to advertise for their product, they can get those from the mecha genre. Example would be Chidori from Full Metal Panic.

[Roarkiller]

I wouldn't really consider that strange, especially not since a few years back when I heard "Samishiii Samishii" from Spirited Away's Image Album playing in a commercial.

Btw, just so you guys know, that song means "Lonely, lonely", so that's why I thought it was weird.

Anyway, just saying it was an advertisement with two anime girls doen't help much. Mind if you direct me to the location? Maybe I can give you a satisfactory answer. I don't have to go to camp anymore anyway, unlike you

[Dark-San]

[b][size=3] I went pass the store today and they had finally took down their anime decoration and went for a more classy approach. Well obviously it had apparent effect as the number of customers for them had increased.

The fact is simple/ You do up the wrong marketing strategy, you will get any sales. Hopefully this will be the last time, that they will do such foolish thing again.

[AntiAsh Superstar]

I shall randomly comment on the fact that lately it seems that anime and the like is actually considered 'cool'... I passed a bookstore the other day that was doing a 'MANGA CARD PROMOTION' that was advertised in its front window... sure as it happens this promotion means I can get 5 manga novels for the price of 4 if I apply for said cardso I ain't complaining but the fact that they think this is a good promotion is... disturbing to an extent. :O

[Dark-San]

[b][size=3]They had target the wrong audience apparently. Especially when we are still living in an environment where by the general majority of the peole still stero typing anime fans as being childish.

All these despite the fact that anime had since branched out to touch on other genre aspect such as gore and romance.