A few months ago, Dr. Pepper got a lot of hype for coming out with this commercial for its new product, Dr. Pepper 10. A drink marketed directly towards men.
Many said that it was blatantly sexist. It specifically says that the drink is “not for woman”. Now, I will try my best to not dive into the problems with gender and stereotypes in our culture, but if I do, please understand.
Now, onto our regularly scheduled program. IT WAS CREATED TO MAKE HYPE!
Thats all! It was directed to the same people that like Old Spice, Dos XX, and even Hamburger Helper ads. Its all to make hype.
Guys don’t like the term diet. So lets not use it. Oh, and lets get guys to watch a commercial. Oh, lets make it a tad sexist because guys like being proud of being guys. Guys like looking good while being guys. Guys like soda. Guys like guns. Guys like blatant action, humor, being called a “guy”. This commercial has everything going for it for a sudden splash in the market place. Its got controversy too. And guess what girls, you have the same damn thing.
You have three musketeers flying out of purses and you and your friends jumping for it. You have famous models, overly beautiful, marketing makeup that won’t even get you close to looking like they look. And, guess what; You have girls imagining eating candy and other sweets while drinking Diet Dr. Pepper because, well, it tastes like all of those things. Things that aren’t manly by any means.
Do we actually think this drink is for guys only? are men going to go to the grocery store with their wives, walk over to the soda section, and buy a diet Dr. Pepper AND a Dr. Pepper 10 because they know the wife won’t like the taste of the Dr. Pepper 10? Hell no.
So, if you’re gonna sell Shark Repellent, first make a splash. Pun intended.
