Friday, January 28, 2011

Play the postal-fantasy Super Bowl ad contest!

Obviously, given our finances, we won't be sponsoring a Super Bowl ad this year. The reports are that it will cost $2.5 million for a 30-second spot, this wouldn't be a wise thing to do given our deficits.

But let's lay that aside and pretend you and I are running the ad campaign and we have 30 seconds to turn the Postal Service's image and finances around. What should it be? Should we use Al the Carrier? Should we bring back Steve Miller or Carly Simon to sing for us? Should we find employees who could plead our case before America? Should we use babies or dogs or frogs?

What are your thoughts? If you would have a 30-second commercial, what would it look like? Don't wait too long!  The big game is Feb. 6th!  Leave your comments and suggestions here.

The best suggestion will get a prime-time mention right here at Your Postal Blog.

For more information, here's a chart (unfortunately, a few years old) of 40 years of Super Bowl ad prices.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

My vote is use employess, a few seconds for each position; sales clek, processing, transportation, delivery, etc.

Carley's song in the background and at the end: "WE are your neighbors and WE are the United States Postal Service!"

Francis A said...

Al the carrier is doing a good job. If needed we can perk up some good talented employees. For that we need USPS American Idol to select who is best suitable for the job. Carley's song is good. I would also suggest Al add in his campaign that since USPS thought instead of placing expensive 30 second spots during Super Bowl as we want to help reduce spending and cost for customers, we can deliver your commercials to every home in a economical way and save you lots of money in this economy.

Anonymous said...

Everyone knows we deliver. I might try emphasizing the other ways we help our communities. Carrier food drive, saving toddlers who wander into the street, finding that wedding ring and delivering it just in time, calling 911 when a carrier sees a fire, doing CPR on the customer who has a heart attack, show a person in the Atlanta lost mail site finding that special photo of a loved one, etc.

OR

Have some fun: Trace the history of the USPS from Benny up now and project the USPS to the year 3000. Have some fun with the look of the futuristic letter carrier but emphasize the security of the Postal Service and the personal touch.

OR

Since the Postal Service is an unspoken part of everyone's life; try imagining life without it.

Anonymous said...

First of all - I would keep it upbeat. I think I might use "Neuman" (plays a Letter Carrier) from Seinfeld hanging out with actual Postal Employee's & Al the Carrier. They might be discussing our Food Drive or how one of the Letter Carriers saved a life - something to that effect. I would also like to put emphasis on the main thing that the public has a misconception about - WE ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY TAX DOLLARS!!! In the current economic environment that we find ourselves in - I think it is important to let the public know this!

Anonymous said...

How about doing a commerical of a person holding a love letter and having a FOREVER momento vs a computer e card and the computer crashes. Just in time for Valentines day!

Anonymous said...

An Elderly woman is walking up the sidewalk to her home flipping through her mail that she just picked up. About midway through her pile of letters she encounters a letter that has her address nicely written in pen but written in crayon it says "Grandma". By now she has entered her home and sets all the other letters on the table and sits down and opens the one that says Grandma.
She pulls out a card that is hand made from colored paper-complete with to much glue...like most 7-8 year olds do. All pictures contained in the card are drawn in crayon with the care and skill of a 7 year old girl.
First page shows a bright sun high in the sky and the grandmother pushing the little girl on a swing that hangs from a tree. Next page-Sun has moved a little in the picture & shows the Grandmother spinning the little girl on a merry go round while the little girl hangs on leaning back and looking up at the sky while she spins.
Next page- Now the sun is somewhat orange and about an hour from sunset and you see the little girl and her Grandma sitting on a park bench eating an ice cream cone with birds all around their feet and a bag of bird feed next to the little girl.
Next page-is a picture of the little girl in bed next to a window that has a crescent moon in it and the dark nightime sky. Grandma sits in the bed next to the little that has her head on her chest while Grandma reads a book to her.
Next page- Sun is bright in the sky and the little girl is holding her Grandmother's hand and there is a car in the background with someone in it.
Last page says "I miss you Grandma" Love Brianna
Then nicely written in pen under that it says "Thanks for watching her Mom. You're the best" Love ?
Now you see a single tear run down the Grandmother's face as she puts the lovingly hand made card on the mantle over the fireplace next to the little girls picture.
Then you hear a gentle woman's voice say..You can't put that much love into an e-mail...or..An e-mail just can't say enough...or You wont feel that way about an e-mail. I think you get what I mean.
Fade out to "United States Postal Service".
Just remember all pictures have to drawn in crayon and the Grandmother can flashback to each actual event as she looks at that picture.

Anonymous said...

How about just going back to the basics by mentioning the low rates to mail a first class letter. Have it done in the old west when the pony express heros rode against all odds of indians and weather. You could use any one with a horse and gear of that era and shoot the commercial about anywhere there is open spaces with nothing in the background. I think the america public would like something simple and heroic again. We really don't have anyone left as a hero in todays society.

Anonymous said...

I would suggest using our latest Medal of Honor hero to shoot he comercial. Keep it simple and talk about express mail and priority mail going anywhere in the world.

Anonymous said...

It's the **SUPERBOWL**, so I think the spot should be exciting and attention grabbing - and make it memorable by injecting a little humor. How about using Al to deliver the Lombardy Trophy (which was sent via Express Mail) to the presentation just in time (with a little adversity to overcome along the way)! Throw in a thumbs-up from the Commisioner and have him say something to the effect of "We can ALWAYS count on you folks to deliver!"

Anonymous said...

Well, for those who may not follow the career of Steve Miller -- and I can't blame you if you didn't -- a few years ago, he was EXTREMELY critical of the USPS' purchase of the rights to use his "Fly Like an Eagle" song. Of course, like many a celebrity hypocrite, Miller waited until the USPS royalty check had cleared before swearing allegiance to FedEx.

Anonymous said...

Use Al !!! Just expand his educational messages--people like him & listen to him.

Anonymous said...

With the song "Another One Bites the Dust" playing in the background have a flaming eagle falling from the sky.

Candice Stevens PMR said...

Or at the end of the commercial a photo of a baby or small child and parent dressed in jerseys at the Super Bowl and hand written letter sent to a Grandparent,
a small flat rate box: $5.20
a large Flate rate box: $10.95
a small piece of time: Priceless!
~Or~
A letter from a loved one: Priceless!

Anonymous said...

I have already submitted a suggestion above, but I wanted to say that there are MANY great idea's listed here so far. I hope the powers that be will see this. By the way - does anyone know if the upper management does see this? I hope so because there are many good idea's and input coming through here!

Anonymous said...

i'd use Al and he'd have a priority box delivering it to the superbowl and both teams would be in front of him and the priority box would be addressed to: The Winning Team of the Superbowl and it would be their superbowl gold rings when they opened the box. and they would say--this priority box is mine--no, our team, no our team, no our team . . . .

Anonymous said...

Some really great ideas here. I like the idea of using Al since everyone identifies with him. He needs to be delivering something to the Superbowl with mention that we are there when you need it most. (like the trophy, rings, shirts,). I also like the idea of the Grandmother getting the package of hand drawn pictures.

Anonymous said...

We should use the 30 seconds to tell the American people to band together to force the politicians to break the postal unions.

If we want the company to survive and thrive that would be the best use of the time.

Anonymous said...

Great ideas!
How about playing on our new idea of Every stamp is forever. A close up of a diamond ring, panning out to the gentleman on bended knee asking a young lady for her hand in marriage. She shakes her head no, and it pans to a couple of older gentleman observing the event from a distance, when one says to the other "See I told you, stamps are the only thing that is forver".

Anonymous said...

Or with the "Star Wars" theme playing in the background we could show the "yes men" politicians and non-union former Postal employee's standing on a conveyor belt being led into the sunset.

Sherry said...

I think Exhume's idea is fabulous. I would add that "Al" is about to put her mail in the box when she walks up. He hands it to her saying " This will make your day. Another letter from Brianna" And she answers ... Then walks to the house.