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Many nominations for Worst of the Week this week so we’ll feature a variety pack if you will. Let us know which you think is the worst. First up…
1. I’ve always wanted to start a company and name it after a bad joke about insane postal workers killing their coworkers. Wouldn’t that be clever? I mean, there is nothing funnier than mental illness and the number of lives ruined by these types of tragedies (sarcasm font).
Dang it all, looks like the folks at ”Goin’ Postal” in the shopping center at West Glen in 
West Des Moines beat me to it. According to Wikipedia…”Going postal is an American English slang term, used as a verb meaning to suddenly become extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence and in a workplace environment.” Yes! That’s exactly the brand image I am looking for!
Even worse, this is a chain. There are other people Goin’ Postal across the U.S. Look, I get it. It’s a clever play on words but it communicates all the wrong things. What’s next, a Dahmer’s Butcher shop? O.J.’s Knife Emporium? Murder and branding don’t go together, folks.
2. You’ve heard of Generation Iowa? Well apparantly West Virginia has too. See, they named their program Generation West Virginia. Talk about creativity!
Generation West Virginia postions themselves as ”a statewide coalition of currently six local/regional young leader/professional groups from across the state.” Apparently this site launched back in April with the fan fare of the world’s shortest press release.
What does it say about West Virginia when they look to the Iowa Department of Economic Development for inspiration? Hey West Virginia, since you’re following IDED’s lead, maybe you would consider an Iowa ad agency for your pubic relations contract?
3. If you fall into the demographic of male, prepubeset boy through 20 years old with a bad fake I.D. then I am not talking to you. The rest of you should watch how ridiculous Axe Body Spray marketing has become. Please don’t target young boys beginning to wear deodorant by marketing sex to them. Congrats, you’re 12, time to start wearing deodorant and working towards your first sexual encounter!
4. I used to really like Megan Mullally. I also used to really like Hootie from the Blowfish till he started singing about sandwiches for Burger King. Looks like their careers are headed in the same direction. Sadly, Mullally, is singing “Turn the Tub Around” for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. After this career move, she’ll be saying “I can’t believe I haven’t fired my agent.” Watch this at your own risk.
Congrats Goin’ Postal, Generation West Virginia, Axe Body Spray and Megan Mullally/I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, you’re the Worst of the Week!
Author: Ad Mavericks
www.lessingflynn.com
P.S. Hat tip to Chris O. of Des Moines and Betty Draper of Mad Men for the nominations.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Funny, even though West Virginia hijacked Gen Iowa’s brand name, Gen Iowa’s site still sucks way worse.
That AXE commercial is the worst. They actually thought that was a good idea? Wow!
*stunned silence* I am truly speechless…overwhelmed by the awfulness…
alright….the AXE commercial is probably the worst…however, how many of you were laughing your arss off as you watched it?
I wasn't the only one was I? come one..tell the truth.
I'm sorry…I just watched the "Turn the Tub Around" (in the car and now my husband is whistling the dang song). I gotta change my vote~Megan Mullally is definitely worse
tough competition though. well played LF
Josh, why are you hating on the “I Can’t Believe it’s Not Butter” commercial? I love it.
Megan Mullally has the perfect personality for this. It’s obviously not meant to be serious. If I hear one more serious commercial about transfats I’ll have to throw up.
Come on, Claire, seriously? I am a huge Megan Mullally fan as a singer and sitcom star, but I think she’s better than this. Butter? Really?
Claire, the only thing that would disappoint me more would be seeing you do a commercial for an incontinence product.
Butter advertising has a long, hokey history. Are you to young to remember the “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature” Chiffon ads?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLrTPrp-fW8
So I couldn't resist watching the Axe clip, but I'm almost more ashamed to admit I bought one of those detailers, or a "Man Loofa" my girls joke. No, I hadn't seen the ad prepurchase.
Dan, even real men exfoliate. Be sure to moisturize too! :~)
I'm sorry, but the AXE commercial made me laugh. Well, for about 5 seconds anyway. It didn't make me want to buy the product though.
And I must admit I haven't actually been in to "Goin' Postal". So is it false advertising if you go in there and don't get shot at?