Woolies turns to scented media to lure Christmas shoppers
Woolworths has turned to scented press advertising to entice customers into its stores as Christmas approaches.
It is doing so through News Limited’s commuter paper mX, and Reed Pacific Media – a scented media firm and publisher that was in the news in May for abruptly axing its entire editorial team. Reed Pacific Media also drew allegations for not paying staff and business partners.
Woolies will run press ads in mX that smell of strawberries and cream, and later in the week, of Christmas cake.

Pushing the boundaries of advertising!
Droga5!
I love it! Can’t wait to smell it!
I smell a successful campaign and award season ahead!
Most of Woolies produce smells like wet newspaper.
12:28 – I hope you were being sarcastic?
This is about as new as a typewriter. Down, down, sales are down
Always wanted to sniff a wall in broad daylight.
I think this idea stinks.
I’ll tell you what this smells like, and it ain’t strawberries and cream.
I purchased some strawberries at Woolworths last week and they
included a bonus of FREE mould inside the punnet. A grey spiderweb of mould between the strawberries. I’m surprised they hadn’t advertised it as a FREE
Organic Culture Boost. A marketing opportunity missed there. I’m not sure if they can replicate the smell for their campaign though.
Did they just have a ‘smell director’ for this ad, ’cause the art director has gone awol.
Imagine a hot train of commuters reading mX, while the smell of strawberries or Christmas cake pervades the air.
Just smelt the woolies advert on page 6 – unbeleeeevable that you can do that in newspapers