Hey folks, we are back with yet another segment of #FunnyFridays. It’s also #BlackFriday today, the busiest shopping day of the year in the US- thanks to the insanely low prices and lucrative deals that retailers adorn their customers with.
Over the years, we have seen some of the most outrageous Black Friday commercials and the creativity used in many of them is impressive, to say the least. And many of these ads relied on smart humor to attract their potential customers. So, let’s take a quick look at some of the funniest Black Friday commercials that got even the cripples to limp their way to the store (kidding, they probably hailed a cab or a taxi)!
1. Bed Bath & Beyond: For the House (2019)
Any marketer worth their salt would tell you that the first rule of marketing is knowing your audience. And once you’ve figured out what they’re thinking, there’s no way you can lose. And this funny commercial from Bed Bath & Beyond bears ample testimony to that.
The ad showcases a woman deliberating over the amazing Black Friday deals that she can’t buy as she is supposedly “gift shopping”. And that’s when her subconscious kicks in in the form of a reassuring sales clerk who tells her that it’s all for the house. The woman gets wholly onboard with this idea and purchases everything that she wants- for the house, obviously!
2. Target: Crazy Lady (2010)
This Target commercial featuring a crazy woman getting ready for Black Friday is undoubtedly one of the most hilarious commercials online.
Sit-ups in the parking lot, bicep curls with Target shopping baskets, sprinting down the store aisles, comically reading and freaking out over the upcoming sales- the woman does everything weird that you can possibly think of to prepare herself for the big shopping day. While the ad is truly stereotypical of a Black Friday shopper, it certainly provides 30 seconds of nonstop laughter.
3. Macy’s: Screamers (2011)
What do you do when you see a celebrity shopping near you? Or from the store that you frequent or probably work at? Well, you just scream out loud like a 16-year-old fangirl.
This 30-second spot featuring Justin Beiber might seem a bit on the silly side, but the sight of a handful of well-built guys screaming in high-pitched voices at seeing Justin Beiber is funnier than it is in your imagination. Also, this ad makes you wonder whether or not Beiber knows his brand value since he just thinks that people are crazy about the sale when he sees them screaming.
4. SNL: Black Friday Parody (2010)
All right, this isn’t exactly a commercial but a parody advert. However, it could pass off as a real ad because of how accurately it describes the madness that ensues on this occasion.
The ad shows Mega Mart having a 12-minute sale, which is referred to as a “savings stampede”. The sale starts at 4 am and offers 3D TV sets at merely $71, iPads for $39, and other unbelievable (and non-existing) deals that will leave you rolling on the floor with laughter.
5. Target: Free Falcons (2015)
If the previous video was a parody ad, this one is a fake yet incredibly comical Black Friday ad. This mock ad promises that customers who spend over $75 will get to take home their own falcon. The ad even offers some suggestions on what you can name the falcon. Trust me, they are all equally ridiculous.
An independent gag retailer called Obvious Plant even posted this fake ad at its local Target store to confuse people, which is even funnier than the ad. Honestly, this would have been an ideal April Fool’s day advert.
Bottom Line
And that was a wrap of the best Black Friday as well as #FunnyFridays ads. As you can see, most brands rely on humor and laughter to get their potential customers to take notice and engage with them. Here’s a secret- humor comes in handy on almost all occasions, and its utility isn’t restricted to only Black Friday.
We’ll be back with more commercials for you. Till then, stay tuned!