Bathroom Trends

Bathrooms are no longer just a place where you refresh yourself. Advertising genius' of today's market have now intruded upon our most private of sanctuaries to further remind us that we have things to buy, be it technology, television, or even a board game!

Think about just how many times a day you are exposed to advertising - the subway, buses, benches, buildings, billboards, online, email, even on your phone! It happens so much now that you probably grow immune to it in a sense and 'over look' many ads, which is why these new, startling ads are popping up in the most unexpected of locations, public restrooms.

Which, really, what better place is there to advertise than a public restroom? People are coming in and out all day - and you could even use certain stores to campaign for specific products (for instance, a club might advertise for a new music technology, or maybe even music and bands).

One website (source here) calls it a sort of 'guerrilla campaign,' which seems apt, the site offers up these 'colorful' advertisements as what I would consider perfect examples.

Clue, the popular murder mystery board game (with special editions such as 'The Simpsons') has taken over soap dispensers with shocking 'blood red' soap.

These soap dispensers take cleanly minded users by surprise when it comes out in a red mess and you lather up, it looks rather like you are trying to, well, wash blood off your hands.

Soap dispensers seem to be popular choices, another company, this time an Italian candid (erotic) camera TV show (March 2008 on FX, called 'Sexy Camera') reaches their ideal audience (men) with stickers that are placed on soap dispensers. These stickers are of a woman wearing a skirt, the idea being that men then have to reach under the skirt to get the soap.

No doubt these Canadian based advertisements have stirred up more than one baffled conversation - just where will the advertisers strike next? Since we're talking bathrooms - perhaps we will see custom printed bath tissue sporting ads (hey - not such a bad idea, remember, you heard it here folks!) if they don't have that already, I have seen custom printed wedding toilet paper!

What do these unique ads all have in common? They are designed to be memorable, note worthy (often gaining extra free exposure by being blogged about, written about etc), and ultimately, to drive consumers towards their product!