How Closely Do You Pay Attention to Local Marketing?

Columnist - Sandra Fong Young

I have a friend who likes to say that he is “impervious” to marketing. But unless you have locked out the world completely from your life, this is not possible.

I must note, though, that just because a person pays attention to the advertising, public relations and direct mail around them, does not mean that they follow all marketing requests. But impressions have been made. And probably more than you know.

Below are some questions about local marketing campaigns. Test your knowledge (answers below – but no cheating!):

Who are the main competitors of Jerome’s Furniture?

(Jerome’s, by far, invests the most marketing dollars of the low-price/discount furniture chains.)

Who is L.T.? Name one of the numerous products he endorsed while in San Diego.

Who are the two main candidates running for the Republican nomination for governor?

(They both have LOTS of TV commercial ads running.)

Border Patrol vehicles are predominately what color? What other color is used?

(Marketing, in this case, helps the public distinguish between different forms of law enforcement.)

What is Barona Resort & Casino’s current slogan?

Barona has many different marketing strategies, but its slogan remains consistent.)

What does the pictorial logo look like for SanDiegoBargainMama.com?

Name one of the two local news stations that publicizes its focus on “real” news stories.

Name the company that uses this longtime jingle: “Where it’s so nice to be nice!”

(You know the jingle, but do you know what it is for?)

No matter how many marketing campaigns you correctly identified, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings – marketing and otherwise – and to use this knowledge before making decisions.

Answers:

1) Mor Furniture for Less and Ashley Furniture HomeStore. 2) Ladanian Tomlinson, NFL running back, formerly of the San Diego Chargers, now with the New York Jets. Endorsements included: Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing, EasyTurf, Nike, Campbell Soup, Vizio, Caldera Spas and Baths, AT&T, Fisher-Price, Glaceau Vitamin Water, Canon, ESPN Radio and FOX Sports Fantasy Football. 3) Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner. 4) Predominately white. Also either have a long green horizontal stripe or a broad green diagonal stripe on the door. 5) “What will your Barona moment be?” 6) Shape of a woman carrying a pink shopping bag. 7) CBS 8 and ABC 10News. 8) Bob Baker Auto Group.

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Sandra Fong Young is a public relations account executive at J. Walcher Communications and freelance writer.