On the pro-consumerism side of the Super Bowl ads was Squarespace’s ode to small business, starring Zendaya as Sally, who went from selling seashells by the seashore to being a seashell-themed lifestyle brand thanks to online sales. Equally #stuff-friendly is the ad for cash-back shopping app Rakuten, which depicts a poker player betting personal belongings such as a vacuum cleaner and TV instead of poker chips. Nobody should buy more #stuff than they need just to get cash back, of course, so even if you like to shop, spend wisely and use the #declutterer’s rule of thumb: Eliminate two items for every new thing you bring in.
Tag: advertising
Make an Investment in Decluttering
Cryptocurrency came of age during Super Bowl LVI, with no less than four different trading platforms vying for investment dollars with some of the most expensive television airtime available. While crypto isn’t exactly #ecofriendly, its virtual nature means that it will never #clutter up the house like an extra pair of shoes or kitchen gadget. Advertising Age rated a spot starring irascible cynic Larry David for FTX the best of the category, and while The Organizing Blog will never offer investment advice, we will say that we’re never wrong about the importance of #decluttering.
Super Bowl Ad Touts Experiences Over Stuff
Super Bowl advertising celebrates #consumerism, or at least the urge to watch the big game over a buffet of chips and guacamole. But Expedia went for a higher concept with its high-ticket “Stuff” ad this year, parodying classic Super Bowl spots of the past while urging people to spend their hard-earned money on travel #experiences instead of material goods. “I doubt that any of us will look back at our lives and think ‘I wish I’d gotten a slightly sportier SUV, or an even thinner TV. Or found a lighter light beer or had an even smarter smartphone,’” narrator Ewan McGregor says.
Super Bowl Ads Go Clutter-Free
Super Bowl LVI ended in a 23-20 win for the Los Angeles Rams over the Cincinnati Bengals. As is the custom, the gridiron action was framed by record-settingly expensive ads, but maybe for the first time, selling more #stuff wasn’t on the agenda. Apps, consumable snacks and experiences led the way this year, with even the biggest consumer products pitched — automobiles — being mostly #sustainable electric vehicles. It’s too soon to tell, but The Organizing Blog thinks that maybe this is an indication that the country has finally turned the corner on #clutter.
Minimalism Doesn’t Mean Austerity
Think #minimalism means an austere lifestyle? Think again! You don’t have to sleep on a bamboo mat, wear the same outfit every day or drink only loose-leaf tea. But it does mean that you slowly pare away the things that don’t matter or get in the way of your focus — or avoid buying them in the first place. Advertising continuously assaults the psyche to create wants for things that aren’t really that necessary or useful. Minimalism (and its post-purchase streamlining strategy, #decluttering) counters that by helping one focus on the people, things and experiences that matter most.