How Much For The Little Boy?

by John Hawkins | September 22, 2005 6:45 am

I keep going back and forth on this[1]. On the one hand, I think this couple came up with a brilliant marketing idea and on the other hand, I think it’s disgusting. That’s how it has been for the last few minutes, disgusting — brilliance — disgusting — brilliance — disgusting — brilliance.

Here’s the article that inspired this back and forth: “Florida couple auctions ad space – on their baby![2]:”

“They’re offering advertising space on their 4-month-old son, Gavin, until he is 1-year-old!

Their goal is to be able to have “mommy” Sadie be able to stay at home for Gavin’s first year.

The eBay auction winner can have their logo placed on Gavin’s clothes: a baby beanie cap, a onesie, on a T-shirt, on his stroller or even an upcoming Halloween costume, it is totally the bid winners choice.

The father, Jeremy Naylor, came up with the idea from seeing eBay ad bids from goldenpalace.com.

…Sadie was able to stay at home for Gavin’s first month, but then they had a bad luck streak.

The unlucky streak started with Jeremy being in the hospital for the first week with a collapsed lung, then there was a failed business partnership, and most recently a car accident.

They say if they exceed their goal, 100% of the bid amount will go towards the little guy and not towards some silly frivolous spending.”

On the one hand, this is a pretty nifty idea. I mean, the baby is going to probably have some kind of logo on his clothes anyway and he’s not going to care what it is. Furthermore, the family has also said they won’t allow anything obscene to be used and it would probably be good for the baby to have mom at home looking after him.

The flip side is that the way they advertised this on eBay[3] is appalling.

First of all, they titled it “Pimp My Baby” Till he is 1yo!” That’s just cringe worthy. Then they have the kid looking at a beer can and title it “early product recognition.” Then there’s this:

Although it doesn’t say so on the eBay page, in the article, the mother says they’re not actually willing to put a logo on the baby’s forehead. Still…

Maybe they’re going to be laughing all the way to the bank; in fact, they’re already up to $560 bucks, but in the end this comes across as a little too creepy and exploitive for my taste.

PS: Here’s another freaky one[4]:

I am shaving all my hair off!!! I’m putting a tattoo on my shaved head and my Mom is too. I will Paint my entire body the color of your choice, with your AD painted all over me. Run in the City of your choice in nothing but a bikini! On any given day, even if it’s Freezing!!!

…Speaking of stunts… We will be doing a stunt at the end of my run in the near buff!!! This stunt involves us eating earth worms,grub worms, & crickets followed by a BIG drink of????

Yes, My MOM is going to shave her head, and get a tattoo too!!! But only if the bidding reaches $35,000.00.

Endnotes:
  1. this: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=19099
  2. Florida couple auctions ad space – on their baby!: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=19099
  3. advertised this on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Advertising-Ad-Space-Pimp-My-Baby-Till-he-is-1yo_W0QQitemZ5616045705QQcategoryZ102333QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
  4. freaky one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Advertise-on-Mom-Daughters-Streak-Shave-Tattoo-Us_W0QQitemZ5617373109QQcategoryZ102333QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Source URL: https://rightwingnews.com/uncategorized/how-much-for-the-little-boy/