Recently, I found out something crazy about the our classic Santa
Clause. I have found out that the classic Santa Claus look was actually created
by Coca-Cola. As I did more research I found out that he had always worn red,
but Coca-Cola made him large and with a white beard. Before, there were many
different interpretations of Santa. I found this one of the best advertising
techniques I had ever seen. A soda company had managed to change the way we
look at an entire holiday. The only thing was that didn't go that well for the
Coca-Cola was that not many people knew that they had created this image of Santa. This
icon/interpretation of Santa has become so common; it seems like he has been
the only one. They had done such a
good job of advertising they had created a standard of a person.
Coca-Cola
used the advertising technique of a need for affiliation. They use the technique
to try to make us have the connection between when we see Santa Clause, to
Coca-Cola. They want us to affiliate Santa who wears all red with the red
bottle of Coca-Cola.
I didn't know this! I can't believe Coca-Cola actually made up a figure that is at the heart and center of a very widely celebrated holiday. This is an amazingly successful marketing campaign, they essentially created a huge part of this holiday, from advertisements. That's fantastic and scary at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI find it very interesting that Coca Cola created the image of Santa Clause I have always thought of. What I find more interesting is that it was a failure because Santa is no longer associated with Coca Cola at all. What seems weird to me is that Coca Cola did not follow through with this advertising technique. While they created Santa, it seems like the only way to keep the Coca Cola association would be to continue to use Santa in their advertisements or take more advantage of the fact that most people view Santa as red and white. It seems weird to me that I have never associated Santa and Coca Cola with each other because of their same colors and I realize it is because Coca Cola failed to follow up on this advertisement technique.
ReplyDeleteI also remember first hearing about this! Although, it's not so much that Coca-Cola created Santa Clause, but marketed him in a different way. Before Coca-Cola, Santa was just green. But then Coca-Cola saw a golden opportunity and ran with it. It is extremely terrifying how one company can change an entire nation. So far as I know, it is common knowledge throughout the United States that Santa wears red not green, but the general Christmas colors are red and green. It's so scary how a brand, a company, can change a tradition. Great post!
ReplyDeletewoah that's crazy. Ha when our favorite childhood stalker was a lie. To think all this time, we've associated an overweight, bearded, red suit wearing, reindeer powered man as our idol for a worldwide celebrated holiday when originally, he was supposed to be associated with Coca-Cola. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at Santa the same way. Nice find Bridget!
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