Apparently when it rains in Austin, it pours Zappos.com ads.
The online shoe retailing giants made their presence very prominent at SXSW in Austin in this week. Not exactly what I expected from the weather in Texas in mid-March, but apparently Zappos was prepared. Promoters stood at every entrance today armed with wearable plastic sheets with arm holes and hoods.
People were so grateful to get the little white packages for free and, despite them being totally hideous and environmentally very unfriendly, hundreds of people pulled the white garbage bags over their heads to shelter themselves and mainly, their laptops. Austin turned into one big ad for zappos.com.
Brilliant! I admit I wore one, despite dueling with guilt over what all that wasted plastic would do to the environment. Maybe I shouldn't have though. As I was walking out of a Mexican cantina after lunch, one of the cooks grabbed my make-shift rain jacket, looked up at me and said, "Don't wear that. It's ugly."
But in the end, it kept me dry, and kept my laptop sheltered from the storm so I could write this post right now!
Bad Weather Marketing
Zappos.com's Opportunistic Raingear at SXSW
Trend Themes
1. Rainy Weather Marketing - Opportunity for businesses to leverage unexpected weather conditions for creative advertising campaigns and brand visibility.
2. Promotional Wearable Products - Potential for businesses to distribute unique wearable items that provide practical value to consumers while promoting their brand.
3. Environmental Sustainability Concerns - Growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic products, creating opportunities for innovative, sustainable rain gear solutions.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - Retailers can capitalize on unexpected weather patterns by offering rain gear and promotional items that cater to changing consumer needs.
2. Advertising and Marketing - The advertising industry can explore new avenues for creative campaigns that leverage untapped marketing opportunities presented by unusual weather conditions.
3. Sustainable Fashion - The sustainable fashion industry can develop eco-friendly rain gear alternatives that prioritize environmental concerns without compromising style and functionality.