Author Topic: Abercrombie & Fitch magalog - sales, art, or p0rn? (Read 1101 times)

gofaster · « **on:** December 08, 2003, 01:31:39 PM »

Caught a bit about this story on the news over the weekend, including some shots with the naughty bits blurred out. Seemed to me that the pics weren't all that sexual, just some young folks outdoors in various stages of (un)dress. Heck, I've worn less out in the woods fishing.

I don't have a copy of the magazine since I don't regularly shop in Abercrombie & Fitch so I haven't had a chance to see all the photos, but the ones I did see didn't seem all that bad.

More on the story here.

I almost wonder which makes for better advertising: publishing a catalogue with racy photos, or yanking the catalogue because of the photos and letting the story get picked up on the national news wires.

Pfunk · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2003, 01:33:08 PM »

That's like the 3rd or 4th time A&F has had to pull their "catalog" They once had to pull a T-shirt b/c it supposedly made fun of Asians

Sikboy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2003, 01:37:17 PM »

The Best way to sell crap to teenagers: Get their parents worked up. See also, Emenim, Marilyn Manson ect.

-Sik

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2003, 01:40:55 PM »

Sex sells.

muckmaw · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2003, 01:42:55 PM »

You know it...the damn catalog is going for like $80.00 on E-bay.

Pfunk · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2003, 01:46:58 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by muckmaw
You know it...the damn catalog is going for like $80.00 on E-bay.

Yeah and 1 guy is selling a crap ton of them

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=e-boy80-1&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

gofaster · « **Reply #6 on:** December 08, 2003, 01:47:24 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sikboy
The Best way to sell crap to teenagers: Get their parents worked up. See also, Emenim, Marilyn Manson ect.

-Sik

Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines. Not saying that it was an intentional marketing ploy, I'm just insinuating it.

Maybe I'll go buy a pair of 76-year River Dredged Canvas Quad Cargo shorts for $60 just to show how edgy I am.

gofaster · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2003, 01:51:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pfunk
Yeah and 1 guy is selling a crap ton of them

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=e-boy80-1&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50

Holy crap! $40 starting bid and its up to amost $60. I think A&F may have just discovered their backroom industry.

Sapphire · « **Reply #8 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:09:36 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Saurdaukar
Sex sells.

So true. My opinion? Totally inappropriate way to market clothing to minors.

Sapphire · « **Reply #9 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:11:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pfunk
That's like the 3rd or 4th time A&F has had to pull their "catalog" They once had to pull a T-shirt b/c it supposedly made fun of Asians

The shirt in question had a caricature of 2 chinese laundry guys the slogan said "2 Wongs don't make it White"

I did think that was kinda fluffied up.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:16:18 PM »

LOL even I think that's cheesy.

BB Gun · « **Reply #11 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:22:07 PM »

ROFl gofaster - that's one *****ty pair of shorts.

BB

gofaster · « **Reply #12 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:23:56 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sapphire
So true. My opinion? Totally inappropriate way to market clothing to minors.

I can't help but think that the A&F brand image just went up in value in the high schools, because of the national attention its Christmas catalogue is generating. The fact that its been pulled from the shelves due to sexual controversy according to the nudge, nudge, wink, wink tabloid news reports even though the store chain is claiming that it needed the shelf space for perfume is sure to appeal to the teen crowd eager to do things their parents consider to be even borderline "bad".

Whether they used sex in the catalogue to attract sales, or whether they knew it would cause controversy and get in the news to generate free advertising, either way its a win-win for A&F. The kids will now want to wear the A&F brand as a way to show their edgy new attitude, mostly because they knew the catalogue upset their parents.

As Sikboy mentioned earlier, I think the "it will shock our parents" schtick is the big attraction here. A&F clothing is actually quite conservative, so this is a good way to attract the rebellious youth who still want to look mainstream.

gofaster · « **Reply #13 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:29:08 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by BB Gun
ROFl gofaster - that's one *****ty pair of shorts.

BB

Tell me about it. One hard weekend of yardwork and my $20 Big Dog cargos will have that same look. But hey, the only nudity featured in a Big Dog catalogue is the other kind of bi*ches so its not nearly as shocking and rebellious.

Sapphire · « **Reply #14 on:** December 08, 2003, 03:29:23 PM »

Oh of course it did. A&F was already a popular brand. Don't know why they felt the need to stir up so much controversy.

Remember the CK billboard ads? provacatively dressed prepubescent teens. the heroin chic phase. Disgusting, imo. Nothing like a bunch of publicity to boost sales, though.