Best firearms advertising: which companies?
- Thread starter Oleg Volk
- Start date
As far as websites go, I think they are all about the same.(except EAA!!!!) Facts and pictures. As for magazine ads,I have always liked the Winchester rifle and shotgun ads.
Handguns....The older Colt ads.
( I know what you guys are thinking...COLT?What an A@#$&%@!!!!!)SORRY!!
CALVIN
" want more gun control? use both hands! "
Handguns....The older Colt ads.
( I know what you guys are thinking...COLT?What an A@#$&%@!!!!!)SORRY!!
CALVIN
" want more gun control? use both hands! "
OK you guys know I'm in advertising:
My kudos for best slogan:
"in a world of compromise some don't" - HK
Older ad campaigns featured guys trudguing through swamp water and mud holding hk rifles.. very un PC now but the idea was to show how durable the hk was, i liked it. (they should have sold ak's like that)
HK often opts for a simple approach, a photo of a "still life with handgun" usually with a mild LEO theme.
"Quality make it s colt" politics aside.. its got strong brand recognition. Everyone KNOWS a 45 is a colt. Too bad the brand has been mis-managed.
Best Logos:
Colt's Serpentine C/Rampant Colt
HK's bold "type only" logo
Springfield Armory's nameless Marine (yep thats a usmc soft cover) rifleman.
Best Marketing:
Ruger's Vaquero ads featuring southwestern watercolors.. some ads didn't even show the gun. Kudos also to ruger for keeping the cost differential between blue and stainless around $30 thats volume discount. The vaquero is the biggest seller at ruger, last i heard.
Glock: sell to the cops and the masses will follow. Glock darn near SINGLEhandedly changed american lawenforcement over to the 9mm. Some dept's still issue the sw59 series... but its getting rarer and rarer. Gaston Glock is the microsoft of guns. Ok so the glock knife/glock entrenching tool/sports bottle sales haven't soared.. they don't need to, they are moving thousands of police orders worldwide monthly.
Nostalgia:
Older Tin Lithographs for Winchester, Remmington and Colt featuring cowboys and hunters encountering big mean nasty bears/cougars/wolves/lions etc.. ok they weren't selling realism, but some of them look like norman rockwell's worst nightmares.
Worst ads:
Colt Detective special "for traditional personal protection" ad featured mom reading to daghter while rubber masked bad guy leered in the window.i felt this was tasteless in a way that the old tintypes are whimsical. Its just "too much"
EAA/Witness get a clue. "Bikini Girls with machine guns" is a great cramps song, but its really poor, obvious and pandering to the worst of the anti's and femininsts 'i told ya so" arguements. (then again I have this jpg of scully holding a det. special that made be want to buy one, and a rubber cat suit for my GF)
My kudos for best slogan:
"in a world of compromise some don't" - HK
Older ad campaigns featured guys trudguing through swamp water and mud holding hk rifles.. very un PC now but the idea was to show how durable the hk was, i liked it. (they should have sold ak's like that)
HK often opts for a simple approach, a photo of a "still life with handgun" usually with a mild LEO theme.
"Quality make it s colt" politics aside.. its got strong brand recognition. Everyone KNOWS a 45 is a colt. Too bad the brand has been mis-managed.
Best Logos:
Colt's Serpentine C/Rampant Colt
HK's bold "type only" logo
Springfield Armory's nameless Marine (yep thats a usmc soft cover) rifleman.
Best Marketing:
Ruger's Vaquero ads featuring southwestern watercolors.. some ads didn't even show the gun. Kudos also to ruger for keeping the cost differential between blue and stainless around $30 thats volume discount. The vaquero is the biggest seller at ruger, last i heard.
Glock: sell to the cops and the masses will follow. Glock darn near SINGLEhandedly changed american lawenforcement over to the 9mm. Some dept's still issue the sw59 series... but its getting rarer and rarer. Gaston Glock is the microsoft of guns. Ok so the glock knife/glock entrenching tool/sports bottle sales haven't soared.. they don't need to, they are moving thousands of police orders worldwide monthly.
Nostalgia:
Older Tin Lithographs for Winchester, Remmington and Colt featuring cowboys and hunters encountering big mean nasty bears/cougars/wolves/lions etc.. ok they weren't selling realism, but some of them look like norman rockwell's worst nightmares.
Worst ads:
Colt Detective special "for traditional personal protection" ad featured mom reading to daghter while rubber masked bad guy leered in the window.i felt this was tasteless in a way that the old tintypes are whimsical. Its just "too much"
EAA/Witness get a clue. "Bikini Girls with machine guns" is a great cramps song, but its really poor, obvious and pandering to the worst of the anti's and femininsts 'i told ya so" arguements. (then again I have this jpg of scully holding a det. special that made be want to buy one, and a rubber cat suit for my GF)
My favorite firearms advertisements are the ones they show on American Shooter... it tickles me to see serious weapon advertisements on cable TV.
Side comment on the EAA advertising thread:
My wife buys every women's magazine in the known universe, and so I actually read Marie Claire, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Shape, etc etc ad nauseum more often than your average guy. As such, I think that the claims that EAA's ads are pornographic, tasteless, sexist, demeaning, and objectifying are completely without merit. Women's magazines (published by women, purchased by women, enjoyed by women) use almost nothing but scantily clad women (and men) to sell products. There is more skin in Cosmo than in Playboy, folks. Why would you object to EAA's ads but not Guess's? Is it because EAA's ads appear in gun magazines (published by men, purchased by men, enjoyed by men)? Hmmm. Who's sexist now?
Side comment on the EAA advertising thread:
My wife buys every women's magazine in the known universe, and so I actually read Marie Claire, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Shape, etc etc ad nauseum more often than your average guy. As such, I think that the claims that EAA's ads are pornographic, tasteless, sexist, demeaning, and objectifying are completely without merit. Women's magazines (published by women, purchased by women, enjoyed by women) use almost nothing but scantily clad women (and men) to sell products. There is more skin in Cosmo than in Playboy, folks. Why would you object to EAA's ads but not Guess's? Is it because EAA's ads appear in gun magazines (published by men, purchased by men, enjoyed by men)? Hmmm. Who's sexist now?
Glock darn near SINGLEhandedly changed american lawenforcement over to the 9mm.
I'm not sure I agree. I think it was the US Armed Forces and their move to the 92FS that pushed LE agencies to mass exodus to the 9mm. Granted Glocks aggressive marketing to LE agencies made them the police pistol. Lets not forget that Glock does thing like trade used for new at near free prices, trades used Glocks for new ones free, and now is involved in a new plan that leases not sells pistols to LE agencies. In fact, if anything, Glock pushed the 40SW harder than other companies and perhaps aided in its quick acceptance.
I'm partial to SIG Sauers ads, especially the older ones showing a P228 with a caption that read, "Worth Waiting For."
Their latest ads for the P Series is also well done. I like the lines "SIG Classic pistols, Anything less is unacceptable, anything more is virtually impossible."
The Glock Ad for the 26 and 27 pistols was also inspired. I like their slogan, "Small in a very big way." Yet my favorite ad from them is their simplest, white background with just a steel punch and the line, "The Complete Glock Armorer's Tool Kit."
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So many pistols, so little money.
[This message has been edited by Tecolote (edited February 08, 2000).]
I'm not sure I agree. I think it was the US Armed Forces and their move to the 92FS that pushed LE agencies to mass exodus to the 9mm. Granted Glocks aggressive marketing to LE agencies made them the police pistol. Lets not forget that Glock does thing like trade used for new at near free prices, trades used Glocks for new ones free, and now is involved in a new plan that leases not sells pistols to LE agencies. In fact, if anything, Glock pushed the 40SW harder than other companies and perhaps aided in its quick acceptance.
I'm partial to SIG Sauers ads, especially the older ones showing a P228 with a caption that read, "Worth Waiting For."
Their latest ads for the P Series is also well done. I like the lines "SIG Classic pistols, Anything less is unacceptable, anything more is virtually impossible."
The Glock Ad for the 26 and 27 pistols was also inspired. I like their slogan, "Small in a very big way." Yet my favorite ad from them is their simplest, white background with just a steel punch and the line, "The Complete Glock Armorer's Tool Kit."
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So many pistols, so little money.
[This message has been edited by Tecolote (edited February 08, 2000).]
The CZ (Europe) web site features good-looking women with their guns, some in very attractive (and sometimes revealing) outfits; the U.S. CZ site is too politically correct for that. You can click on each mini-picture and have it fill the screen or save it for a screen-saver.
I, too, like H&K's ads. I do like their old, un-PC slogan better than the new one: "In a world of compromise, some men don't." Their US website is good, too.
SIG's recent magazine ads are very nice. Clean, sophisiticated.
Remington's ammunition website is great. Good info, good graphics.
Beretta Italia's website is nice. Again, informative, good graphics.
I'd have to say, for web stuff, KAHR's is the best of the bunch. Especially their "features and technology" page at www.kahr.com/valueguns.html .
SIG's recent magazine ads are very nice. Clean, sophisiticated.
Remington's ammunition website is great. Good info, good graphics.
Beretta Italia's website is nice. Again, informative, good graphics.
I'd have to say, for web stuff, KAHR's is the best of the bunch. Especially their "features and technology" page at www.kahr.com/valueguns.html .
Gwinnydapooh
Retired Screen Name
Still haven't heard anyone answer the "Cosmo Theory." I've been putting that to women who read Cosmo, Mademoiselle, and others for years (since junior high) and never gotten a straight answer.
Still, I'd have more respect for the EAA ads if the women were nicely dressed. For instance, there's nothing wrong with the ad with the young lady holding the shotgun in the barn, if she were in a cool Western costume like an antique dress. OTOH, it ain't my company and somebody is paying them good money. I won't let it stop me if I get a chance at a Witness because I hear they're good pistols and the price is right. The knifenuts who post here have probably had this same argument concerning Lynn Thompson and Kevin McClung and their wildly exaggerated advertising. I buy Cold Steel too, even though I laugh at Lynn Thompson. Maybe I should stop buying Coke because their Lucky Vanous commercials trivialized MY gender. How dare they treat men in that demeaning fashion!
BTW--worst website is GLOCK. Nice opening graphic but kinda slow to load. I gave up after 3 hours.
Best ad, which I did not choose JUST to suck up--the McMillan ad with the guy scrambling down an 85-degree rock slope to his dropped rifle, with the legend "If it wasn't a McMillan, I wouldn't bother."
Still, I'd have more respect for the EAA ads if the women were nicely dressed. For instance, there's nothing wrong with the ad with the young lady holding the shotgun in the barn, if she were in a cool Western costume like an antique dress. OTOH, it ain't my company and somebody is paying them good money. I won't let it stop me if I get a chance at a Witness because I hear they're good pistols and the price is right. The knifenuts who post here have probably had this same argument concerning Lynn Thompson and Kevin McClung and their wildly exaggerated advertising. I buy Cold Steel too, even though I laugh at Lynn Thompson. Maybe I should stop buying Coke because their Lucky Vanous commercials trivialized MY gender. How dare they treat men in that demeaning fashion!
BTW--worst website is GLOCK. Nice opening graphic but kinda slow to load. I gave up after 3 hours.
Best ad, which I did not choose JUST to suck up--the McMillan ad with the guy scrambling down an 85-degree rock slope to his dropped rifle, with the legend "If it wasn't a McMillan, I wouldn't bother."
That's true, Gwinny -- case in point: someone let a student unattended into my supply closet today without my knowledge. I had two magazines sticking out of my knapsack, "Guns and Ammo" and "Cosmo." Guess which one I was more worried about the kids leafing through? There's more nekkid girls in "Cosmo" than in the actual girlie magazines. Sheesh. I guess when people get all bent out of shape about it, they use "intent" as the limiting factor -- if the intent is to titillate, then it's sexist. Whatever. Parts is parts, and my thought is, if you want to sell a gun, why not show GUN PARTS?
Just a thought...
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*quack*
Just a thought...
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*quack*
I recall that Sigarms had a great product catalog about five years back that had first rate photography. The best photo in the catalog had the P229 in two views (they used two pistols). the 229 that was standing on its magazine baseplate was a two-tone (black frame, stainless steel slide) with engravings of an eagle with a lot of intricate scrollwork and the New Hampshire state motto (quite fitting too). It was: 'Live Free or Die'
Going by the 4+ year order back log on their arms I'd say Shiloh Rifle Mfg has the best advertising. Much better then even Seecamp.
What? Oh! Thats not what your talking about?
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Schmit
GySgt, USMC(Ret)
NRA Life, Lodge 1201-UOSSS
"Si vis Pacem Para Bellum"
[This message has been edited by Schmit (edited February 09, 2000).]
What? Oh! Thats not what your talking about?
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Schmit
GySgt, USMC(Ret)
NRA Life, Lodge 1201-UOSSS
"Si vis Pacem Para Bellum"
[This message has been edited by Schmit (edited February 09, 2000).]
The thread was really how best to market/advertise firearms.. not what's best to sell cosmetics, jeans, fragrances etc.
Sex sells. If you have read cosmo, details, etc or any other fashion rag.. all the ads use this allure.
By the same token, your average gear head magazine Car and driver, motorcylist et al. has a distinctively different look. The ads use technical/macho talk, bold color and brash statements to sell.
The demographics of the consumer dictate the kind of avdvertising used. This is the reason there are 3 campaigns to sell budweiser, each is aimed at a specific target market.
The so called "cosmo" argument isn't really an argument at all.. sex sells.. but it doesn't sell cat diesel tractors, and cindy crawford doesn't model for craftsman tools. It is my opinion, that sex should not be used to sell firearms. Now having said that.. sex sells guns everyday via Hollywood.. but the mfg's don't have to push them that way.
Cosmo isn't popular mechanics.. calvin klien isn't smith and wesson... and apples aren't oranges.
Dr.Rob
Sex sells. If you have read cosmo, details, etc or any other fashion rag.. all the ads use this allure.
By the same token, your average gear head magazine Car and driver, motorcylist et al. has a distinctively different look. The ads use technical/macho talk, bold color and brash statements to sell.
The demographics of the consumer dictate the kind of avdvertising used. This is the reason there are 3 campaigns to sell budweiser, each is aimed at a specific target market.
The so called "cosmo" argument isn't really an argument at all.. sex sells.. but it doesn't sell cat diesel tractors, and cindy crawford doesn't model for craftsman tools. It is my opinion, that sex should not be used to sell firearms. Now having said that.. sex sells guns everyday via Hollywood.. but the mfg's don't have to push them that way.
Cosmo isn't popular mechanics.. calvin klien isn't smith and wesson... and apples aren't oranges.
Dr.Rob
Robert Foote
New member
Colt has turned out some very, very nice ads with some excellent photography. I have stashed away Colt catalogues and advertising for years--partly because it was so good and partly because I figured it was only a matter of time until Colt crashed and burned. Looks like I was on the right track.
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