Does Using Adult Humor Really Help Sell Merchandise?
While eating at a local seafood restaurant, I noticed that one of the servers was wearing a shirt that said “We’ve Got Crabs.” The use of such a pun that also involves adult humor is clever marketing indeed. But is it appropriate, and does using adult humor really help sell merchandise?
In the case of this restaurant, it seemed fitting indeed. It is a chain that serves good food and doesn’t take itself too seriously: it caters to a younger demographic rather than the blue-plate special crowd. A company that can make fun in a playful way is young and hip. Will it bring more people in to eat at the restaurant? Who knows! But the message certainly stuck in my mind: and that’s what effective marketing is all about.
I recently visited a site called SexandT-Shirts.com. Of course, I was completely intrigued. They sell adult humor t shirts with a specific message: ” What do Sex and (fill in the blank here with product or business name) Have in Common?” Whoever sees this shirt has his interest piqued, of course, but has to look at the BACK of the shirt to get the answer: “I Like Both!”
This is adult humor, to be sure, but it’s mild in its tone. Would it be appropriate for a dentist’s or lawyer’s office? Of course not! But if you have a fun product to sell or if yours is the type of business that has a little bit of an edge to it, then using this type of adult humor t shirts is a great marketing technique.
The bottom line is, any kind of memorable marketing technique will no doubt ultimately result in selling more merchandise: and it will definitely capture more mindshare. In these competitive times, getting the public’s attention is what it’s all about.