Sex sells, does it really?

The way the markets work is funny in a way. “Sex sells” is an often heard slogan that is being used to address a way of selling a product. Is that true? Has it been true to begin with in the first place? Or is it something we are used to now, because we now think that is the way things work in the advertising business.

Ford Logo

A long, long time ago…

My dad had a Ford Falcon. At the time he owned it, it was a relatively unknown car in The Netherlands.

People living here were mostly interested in owning German cars, like Opel and Volkswagen, or French cars, like Citroen and Renault.

Gas was expensive here, as it is now, so people were looking for cars with a good mileage. No place for gas-guzzlers here. My dad was one of the people that didn’t mind the fuel (no one cared about the environment back then) so an American car it was. Guzzling gas like a pregnant girl eating pickles…

I went with him to the garage to bring the car in for a checkup and I was interested in anything going on there, especially the posters on the walls of that little garage shop.

Texaco Poster

At that time I did not really understand what is was all about, but my hormone crazed body knew it was something good.

I had to do my damned best to not end up staring at that poster and ending up drooling all over my Spiderman T-Shirt. Oh well. I am better now, I recovered fully – for the most part.

I guess that picture still is in my head, it must have made a huge impression on me. So… sex sells?

I’m not sure about it. YET! This needs more research I think. You would think things change over the years, like everything else. But they really don’t.

This Mustang IS a sexy car. This commercial is very well set up in the way it adds to the car’s reputation. Sexy, manly, dark, almost diabolic. Maybe it’s the way I see things. As you know a man’s and a woman’s mind work in different ways, I am told…

Much is still the same – the commercial is. Parts of it I get, but some of it does just not compute. I do understand, that it all depends on what you are selling and what your target group of customers is.

Using a sexy man model to promote the next generation garbage disposal system hardly adds anything. Or maybe it does? You tell me…

[Update, Star date Jan 19th 2013: Right after I published this post, I was getting around 50 unique pageviews per hour. This is slowly getting less now, but still. Maybe sex does sell?]

11 comments on “Sex sells, does it really?”

vanita on January 19, 2013 at 2:43 PM said:

i can not tell u if sex sells, but i can tell you i loved every version of that car in the commercial. now that car was sexy
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Jan on January 19, 2013 at 9:15 PM said:

It sure is…
The commercial is very well designed… The guy with the tribal tats – the car changes, the girl with the red skirt – car turns red. Pink? no way… Dark sexy black! Like I said, very well put together…

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Karen Hug-Nagy on January 20, 2013 at 6:36 PM said:

Great post Jan! Back in the 1970′s my Dad had a baby blue Ford Falcon, which eventually became my car as a wild teen. That was really a fast and light car. I’ve always loved cars, I learned to drive a stick on a 1957 Chevy, a sleek black one, had to sell it when we moved to Germany. Anyway, you always manage to come up some really interesting posts that leave me thinking!

Best,
Karen
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Jan on January 20, 2013 at 11:04 PM said:

Hi Karen,
Yup, it seems that life thousands of miles apart often develop the same way. In itself that’s nothing special. After all… we’re all human.

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RobG on January 22, 2013 at 12:20 AM said:

Hello Jan, I would have to say yes sex sells, this method has been used for years to sell just about everything that could be soled. The harsh truth is you put a pretty face or a body and everyone will buy it even if they don’t really want it.

Why do you think so many people use this tactic? because it works

Thanks so much for a very interesting post my friend.
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Jan on January 22, 2013 at 6:43 AM said:

Hi Rob,
True, it’s a proven technique. I am wondering how that works tho. Put half a boob on a tire brand and presto! Weird…

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RobG on January 22, 2013 at 12:21 AM said:

Almost forgot I like the new look for your blog my friend very clean and neat. Good job
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Jan on January 22, 2013 at 6:42 AM said:

Hi Rob,
Well not finished by a long way. I am trying to find a ‘slick’ look, but so fat didn’t achieve what I wanted. Oh well, I’ll get there…

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RobG on January 22, 2013 at 1:38 PM said:

Jan have you tryed StudioPress themes? They’re very easy to customize.
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Jan on January 22, 2013 at 8:59 PM said:

Hey Rob,
I guess I’m one of the true Dutch cheapskate.. If it’s not for free… Just kidding around here. I haven’t tried any other themes then the ones that are free at WordPress. That’s about it, I’m afraid…

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- RobG on January 22, 2013 at 11:07 PM said:
  
  I know what you mean my friend but when it comes to my blog I don’t mind spending a few buck if it’s going to improve my content.
  
  When I first started blogging I was using Blogger shortly after I move to WordPress and fell in love with the Studiopress designs their themes.
  
  There so easy to configure and customize.
  RobG recently posted: How Do Bloggers Start Their Day? Hey You, Wake Up.
  
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