Comments on: Dove: The Clean Past And Dirty Present Of A Body Bar

By: FinanciallySmart

FinanciallySmart — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:32:41 +0000

Well Dove realized that they were losing in the market and so they swift gear. After their loyal customers saw what happen and began talking about it they are now refocusing. As Josh said we cannot boycott them because the parent company is catering for both groups. The example of Nestle was a good one. Thank you for a wonderful post.

By: Leah Aharoni

Leah Aharoni — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:02:50 +0000

Just like any other corporation, Dove’s primary motivation in this is to make money. This is why they are investing their advertising budget into making all of us “free thinkers” think they are a “different kind of company.”

The same Dove that objects to exposing girls to images of undressed bodies, did just that a few years ago as part of their natural beauty campaign.

Shame on them!

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:33:03 +0000

Good post Weakonomist. I hadn’t thought about the issue in that way before. It must be difficult for these multi-national conglomerates who own numerous brands in different market sectors to adopt a singular corporate ethics policy, which they can apply equally well to all their brands.

Dove is a really good example. Another example is Nestle Corporation which produces and markets junk foods and also health foods.

So if you’re not impressed with the way a subsidiary of Dove markets its products, do you just boycott that product, or all the products owned by the parent company?

By: Vicki

Vicki — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:17:37 +0000

I love, love this post because the Dove Body campaign is corrupt and so cynical and wrong. Case in point? They photoshoppped the women who they are so eager to portray as “real” : http://deceiver.com/2008/05/09/doves-campaign-for-a-really-challenging-photoshop-job/
Vicki´s last blog ..Photoshop Thursday! Master and Margarita

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:11:44 +0000

I think it would be disingenuous if their only aim is to attract the dollars of the demographic alienated by their sister products’ ads. But it seems they are also partnering with the Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc. and donating money to “self esteem programs” for young girls. That makes their ads seem a little more legitimate to me.. not just lip service to win customers.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:43:35 +0000

Maybe this can become a support group of guys who use Dove for sensitive skin. I’m also allergic to artificial smells, so Axe is my arch-nemesis.

My mouth literally dropped open when I saw that commercial. I had no idea. The blame is easy to place on Unilever instead of Dove. Marketers craft a message certain groups want to hear in a way they want to hear it and the product itself is part of that message. Unilever (along with Fair and Lovely) is the one who controls the Fair and Lovely message, not Dove.

Corporations usually keep the public perception of their brands separate to avoid conflicting messages. Usually it’s more subtle conflicts, like one drink that has a youth appeal and another that is sophisticated. But one product whose core message is you are beautiful as you are directly conflicts with a cream that relies on racism to sell.

Some markets – some messages – should just be avoided, even if there is a quantity demanded.