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Advertising in a Recession - Great Example

The other day I was driving about and noticed an ad on the back of an Ottawa bus that I thought was so genius I had to take a pic. 


I love ads that use as few words as possible in which the words have multiple layers of meaning and juxtaposition. Such ads generally are memorable. 

Even though this ad is basically only four words (five if you include the url), the words tap in to many different notions. 

Finally obviously is a word you would use to describe anything related to death. Death is after all final. Yet, it's also humorous in that they are using it to express the notion that people have been waiting for an affordable funeral. I mean, who says 'Ahhh finally it's affordable to die. I was putting off dying, but now I might as well since it's affordable." 

The ad also plays against a recessionary background. I believe we have been in recession for the past four years and an ad like this suggests I'm right. People are trying to save money anyway they can, and now you can even save money in death!

From a black humour perspective, this is a pretty funny ad to me. Sure life has been getting tougher, but chin up, it's getting cheaper to die! =)

  • So the ad makes you think about something you normally wouldn't
  • The ad is funny when you read it from one angle
  • The ad is serious when you read it from another angle
  • The ad is also a social commentary on the times we are living in
  • The ad is almost an oxymoron - mixing two opposing/contradictory sentiments... on the one hand people want to save money (on anything) and on the other hand the last thing people want is to die... so you are left with an odd sensation about saving money (good) when you die (bad). 
Either way, over all, for only four words this ad caught my attention and made me laugh. I suspect in 10 years from now I'll still remember it, which is quite the achievement using only four words. 


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