Discover the Top 7 Surprising Fun Facts About Advertising You Never Knew!

1. De Beers 4Cs and Forever Diamonds

When diamonds aren't a sneeze's best friend: In 1939, De Beers Consolidated Mines revolutionized the diamond industry by partnering with the Gemological Institute of America to devise the first universal diamond grading system including the 4Cs - cut, color, clarity, and carat, with Frances Gerety going on to coin the timeless phrase "A diamond is forever" in 1947.
Source => debeers.com

2. Coca-Cola's Santa Makeover

Who wears red and loves Coke but isn't Taylor Swift at the VMAs? Santa Claus, of course: Coca-Cola's 1920s Christmas ads greatly influenced the modern Santa we know today, with artist Haddon Sundblom in 1931 drawing inspiration from Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" to create the jolly and plump, red-suited man we've come to associate with festive cheer.
Source => coca-colacompany.com

Did you know the color green in marketing can trigger thoughts of nature, growth, and health? See how big brands like Whole Foods and Starbucks use this tactic! 🍃💚

=> Fun Facts about Marketing

3. Listerine's Halitosis Scare

Before Listerine taught the world to fear the dreaded Halitosis monster lurking in our mouths, the global panic of "death breath" had yet to be unleashed: Listerine's advertising campaign ingeniously transformed bad breath from a mere personal issue to a terrifying medical condition called "halitosis," ensuring their product became synonymous with mouthwash rather than a jack-of-all trades solution, all without even uttering the threat of job loss due to unfriendly inhales.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

4. Volkswagen's "Think Small" Revolution

Once upon a time in a land of chrome and horsepower, Americans scoffed at a strange little car that dared to zig when others zagged: Lo and behold, the "Think Small" ad campaign by Doyle Dane Bernbach cracked the code, turning the unassuming Volkswagen Beetle from a "Nazi-mobile" into an anti-establishment icon of the '60s – all with a dash of minimalism, wit, and a hint of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" attitude.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Bulova's First TV Commercial

Before there was Mad Men, there were Mad Minutes: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) didn't permit TV commercials until 1941, opening the airwaves for a revolution in advertising. The serious reveal: Bulova made history with the first legal nationwide TV commercial on July 1, 1941, featuring a nine-second black-and-white ad for a watch during a Brooklyn Dodgers-Philadelphia Phillies baseball game, setting the stage for American culture to be forever influenced by TV ads.
Source => fortune.com

6. Felix the Cat's Wide-Ranging Mascot Status

It's raining cats and bombs: Beloved cartoon character Felix the Cat not only served as the mascot for the U.S. Navy's Bombing Squadron Two in the late 1920s, holding a bomb with a burning fuse, but he also holds the title as Indiana's oldest high school mascot, and even made his way to punk rock, adopted by band The Queers for their album art and merchandise.
Source => scratchpad.fandom.com

7. Earworms and Jingle Mind Control

Ever been haunted by a commercial jingle that just won't quit looping in your brain, like a pop-culture poltergeist on a mission to possess your every waking thought? Fear not, for you've just fallen prey to an ingenious advertising strategy: Utilizing the phenomenon of "earworms," advertisers commission memorable jingles and sonic signatures to create distinctive brand assets that worm their way into your mind's phonological loop, enhancing brand recognition and creating lasting impressions on consumers.
Source => wizardofads.org