Coke has come a long way from their warm fuzzy polar bears playing in the snow with penguins. In more recent years, Coke emphasized the refreshing taste with the sounds of "ahhh". You know that breathy sound you make after taking a sip for dramatic effect. Along with the sound you make, Coke utilized their glass bottles to make a band out of chiming Coke bottles in their commercial just last year. Coke has hinted the focus of their product was to bring friends and family together. Personally, I don't think Coke effectively executed this message until now.
When I saw this commercial in a movie theater, I was blown away. Not because there are commercials before previews before a movie....yes, we have come to this; but it was this very commercial posted above. Coke illustrated the bliss of summer. Those summer days of being a teenager, without a care in the world, simply enjoying each others company. Not only did Coke bring more and more friends to the streets in this video, but the idea of a personalized gift, a Coke with your name on it, was distributed.
Personalized monograms on clothing, jewelry, cars, ect. have been in high demand. Who would have thought that personalizing a beverage in print would become a "must have" for a quick selfie or an accessory piece.
So what else can be said about the sentimental value and personal pride in a name stamped to the side of a Coke bottle? What makes it different than a personalized key chain, back pack, or license plate? Coke is classic! We all know someone who has a collection of Coke ads and bottles from the 1900s. It's more than just a sugary fizzy beverage, it is the leading company in marketing in the beverage industry.
As mentioned before, Coke has come a long way from it's arctic animals. I stumbled upon an article from BuzzFeed and learned a thing or two. And oddly enough it mentions the theory that Coke itself has molded our idea of Santa Claus. If Coke has that kind of influence on us, what else can Coke make us believe. In the late 1800s, when Coke was first established, Coke had wine and cocaine in the beverage. These substances that alter one's state of mind are easily blamed for Cokes control over us. But roughly 25years later, alcohol and cocaine was removed from the beverage. 100 years later we are still mesmerized by the creative marketing schemes of Coca Cola.
The #ShareACoke craze has begun and I have yet to find my name. Have you found yours?
-SB
For more information visit http://www.shareacoke.com/#bottle
