Woolworths rapped over guerilla marketing on side of ABC Adelaide head office
Woolworths has said it expects to continue its guerilla marketing tactics and project adverts onto the side of buildings despite being rapped by the ABC for cheekily promoting $1 packets of doritos on the side of the broadcaster’s Adelaide head office.
But a spokesman for the supermarket giant confirmed it will not use ABC buildings in any future campaign after receiving a letter from the network’s legal department telling them not to repeat the act.
Woolworths engaged in the guerilla marketing blitz on Sunday in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide to promote its ‘show stopper specials’. But the commercial-free ABC took exception to its buildings being used for product advertising and wrote to the retailer.
The Woolies spokesman rejected earlier media reports that the ABC had threatened legal action, telling Mumbrella it was simply a request not to use their building again.
“The ABC said it must be impartial and non-commercial. We won’t use their building in future,” he said.
The spokesman added that while Woolworths requests a third party to project the ads onto buildings in high visibility locations, it is unaware of exactly which buildings are being used.
The ABC said the letter had come from its legal team but did not threaten legal action. “The ABC wrote to Woolworths requesting it not to use the ABC’s buildings for advertising, noting the ABC’s statutory requirements of independence and integrity,” a spokesman said.
Steve Jones
“The ABC said it must be impartial and non-commercial”
ROFL.
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This technique falls on the wrong side of graffiti law – it is actually a criminal offence.
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I just think its hilarious that Woolies thinks advertising $1 packs of Doritos is guerilla…
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…and that kind of advertising is exactly the reason I wont be shopping Woolies its cheap and annoying! in your face jees don’t we get bombarded enough as it is!!!
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Can any lawyers tell us what would have happened if there had been a car crash in the vicinity and the victims claimed it was due to being distracted by the projection?
Would they have a fair case?
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It’s fine for the ABC to ask that it’s building not be used (is it owned or rented) but really, what can it do?
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Thanks to woollies we are now going to get all advertising and graffiti groups displaying adds and graffiti on homes around Australia.
I do not see it funny as indicated by others
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Isn’t guerilla marketing meant to be clever?
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Woolies are asking for some wag to project something awful on their buildings.
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“But a spokesman for the supermarket giant confirmed…..”
Are you referring to the Jolly Green Giant? That is the only giant I can think of that I have seen in a supermarket?
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This is pollution
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I’m no fan of Woolworths, but as a tax paying company, it pays for the ABC like the rest of us.
It’s about time the taxpayers got some return on our $1Billion a year investment – not to mention the $800,000 a year for the ABC’s CEO, who is a public servant.
But let’s mention it. It’s a disgrace.
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