Using Current Events in Advertising — Sealy Offers Obama a Mattress

Barack Obama’s been President of the United States for less than a week, and some news photographs seem to indicate that the strain’s beginning to show.

The thoughtful folks at Sealy think he may need to get a better night’s sleep. On the first Sunday after the inauguration, Sealy published a full-page ad in the New York Times, offering him a Sealy Posturepedic Better Six Mattress.

It’s specially designed to eliminate tossing and turning (we’d explain how, but it’s complicated and you’re a busy man).

Just let us know and we’ll bring it straight over to Pennsylvania Avenue.

We won’t ask to take a picture with you or see the Lincoln Bedroom. All we ask is that you let someone at the front gate know we’re coming.

The pitch is timely, and it’s plausible (it’s entirely possible that Mr. Obama, having now gotten a first-hand look at the mess he’s inherited, isn’t sleeping well). And the message strongly implies high quality — if this mattress is good enough for the President, it must be pretty darn good.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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2 thoughts on “Using Current Events in Advertising — Sealy Offers Obama a Mattress”

  1. Hi,
    I respectfully disagree on the assessment of the campaign. I thought in this case that it was too “commercially opportunistic.” I’m always open to debate, though. I had commented here yesterday:
    http://mattsnod.com/
    Best
    -Matt

    Reply