It’s official.
The first work from Harley-Davidson’s new ‘hookup’ with Boulder, CO.-based crowdsourcing agency Victor & Spoils has debuted on YouTube. The consumer-created spot was born of a new agency model that H-D adopted after parting with longtime agency Carmichael Lynch last year.
Watch the YouTube video HERE.
Congrats and a shout out to Whit Hiler, the Kentuckian who’d submitted the “No Cages” original idea that is also part of Harley’s HD1 factory customization program in which buyers can design their own rides.
It’s an old and improved formula, but it doesn’t make me want to part with my cash! Maybe you will? It doesn’t have that viral feel where people are watching the video and then instantly going to Twitter and Facebook, to start a dialogue.
We live in an “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars” culture, where speed to stardom and availability of technology makes about anyone a creative director. And this video has a get it done fast, good enough is good enough look. In the internet world, where everything happens now, this is anathema. Everything’s here today, gone tomorrow. Like a lot of advertising these days, the big idea is lost and the execution is vanilla. I would have thought that V&S’s multiple years of experience would have vetted out the creative gold-nuggets from the train-wreck incarnate.
This creative spot wreaks of ratings/hits, not quality and has a race to the bottom mentality. Mr. Richer, isn’t this how Pontiac died?! Is it time for a mea culpa? When you contrast how the big middle finger of rebellion helped build this brand and now advertising which has been replaced with me-too imitation… It’s got to be about the long haul. Not overnight success, but enduring success. Forget about genres. Just be good.
I’m still a fan of H-D, but not for this ad.
UPDATE: February 16, 2011 – Mark-Hans Richer (H-D CMO) told in an interview to Ad Age: “We’re really happy with the way it [“Cages”] came out…”
Photo courtesy of H-D.
I like the ad. It’s kinda funny in a cutesy sort of way but I am not sure if non-bikers would “get it.”
Definitely not the viral sort of advertising they were probably hoping for. In fact it seems more conservative than most recent ads. Maybe that was the point…
In terms of the HD1 program, I love it and think it should be expanded. I have already designed my next bike. Now I just need to get the money…
Thanks for the link.
Hang in there
-Buddha
Great blog you havve