Thursday, May 31, 2012

How to sell bikes: a historical perspective

These pics are from a sponsored Buzzfeed post by Schwinn. It's a good strategy, really, and the ads are really interesting.

But a few jumped out at me:

Golden Age Hollywood Endorsement

"You know how to pedal, don't you Steve?"
And what a celebrity! There is no way anyone classier has ever sold bikes, like, ever. (and that includes Joan Crawford and Doris Day, who are on the complete list.)

Cowboy Endorsement


Complete with awesomely awkward headline!

The "Substitute for Parental Love" Angle


Years later, McDonald's would base its entire brand on this con.


...Great White Hunter Endorsement


As soon as the illustrator was done, he skinned the tiger to make a swell rug!

Sexual Innuendo


Does the seat vibrate or something?

Which leads us, naturally, to: 

Blatant Sexual Exploitation (of women)


Why does that always happen?

So there you have it: even in bicycle advertising, all roads lead to smut.

2 comments:

  1. That is quite the collection. I think it's so interesting to see how bicycle advertising and design has changed over time.

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  2. bought a bike there and there after sale service was good they are always quick to fix things for you. electric bikes nz

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