Keep your eyes pealed in the next couple of weeks for some very interesting, and otherwise unorthodox advertising. If you have been browsing casually on the subway in the past few days, you may have discovered these seemingly anti-pharmaceutical ads for a product called “Obay” (a play on “obey”, in case you didn’t catch that).
You can see some examples of the different ads at the following website.
http://torontoist.com/2008/02/the_ones_that_m.php
I saw them on the subway earlier this week, and took some pictures after realizing what it was. I thought it had to be a one time thing, like someone reproduced a banner of ad-quality and posted it themselves on that particular train. Then I saw it on the side of a bus in Hamilton…and at bus stop in Waterloo. Apparently they are popping up all over Ontario and Montreal, but no one can figure out who is funding them. Information has leaked out though that within the next two weeks, a whole new campaign will be launched on the public transit sites and should bring some clarification to the issue.
In the mean time, the ads are still pretty hilarious.
AHH.. I totally noticed those ads too! I had no idea they were in different cities too?! Smart marketing tactic.
I’ve been seeing those ads everyday for nearly a week and I couldn’t figure out if they were a joke or legitimate. It is a total mystery. I’m so interested in knowing what they are all about! As Jen L. said, it’s a great marketing technique.
Keep us posted on any updates about the Obay mystery.
They did there job well. Their tactics and strategic thinking is making the message get out. I will be showing this ad campaign to my graphic design class tomorrow.
But what is the message when the messenger isn’t even clear? It was almost attributed to Scientology which would have resulted in (what I think could’ve been) a really bad reaction from the public.
I actually Googled it, and it appears that they have a website: http://www.WhyBecauseISaidSo.ca , which is currently under “maintenance” and asks to be checked back in 240 minutes (3 hours). Not sure whether this is a play on the whole Obay thing, but their page information indicates an affiliation with “Marketers Against Advertisers.”
I must know more about this! I tried their site and got the same page asking you to come back in 240 mins. Happy to see that I’m not the only one who’s looking for more info. I think its a great parody and teaser. Can’t wait to see what the next one is and what its for. Hopefully it won’t dissapoint.