Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 462,792 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,975 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,243 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,975 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,215 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 462,792 cutting edge ideas.

Insult Advertising

Because You Know You're Annoying

— June 21, 2006 — Marketing
Why compliment the customer? You know they like to complain, so give them something to complain about. That's the theory behind the weather networks latest campaign from Holmes & Lee, Toronto. Sweet.

Implications - You might think blunt and bold advertising like this would offend people, but in fact many consumers appreciate the lack of pretense and disingenuousness that a campaign like this espouses. Today's modern viewer is constantly bombarded with phony sweet talk from companies that will say anything to appeal to them, but this only makes those companies that have enough respect for them to simply come right out with their marketing message all the more respected and appreciated.
Trend Themes
1. Blunt Advertising - Companies can embrace honesty and authenticity in their advertising to stand out among the constant barrage of phony marketing messages.
2. Pretense Rejection - Consumers are rejecting companies that use phony sweet talk and are increasingly appreciating those who respect them enough to be straightforward in their marketing message.
3. Complaint-seeking Campaigns - More companies are experimenting with 'insult advertising' by giving customers something to complain about, with some finding success in the lack of pretense and authenticity it represents.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising - Advertising firms can capitalize on the trend of authenticity and bluntness in messaging, and work with companies to develop 'insult advertising' campaigns that resonate with consumers.
2. Marketing - Marketing agencies can develop strategies that reject pretense and embrace authenticity to help companies stand out from the crowd and appeal to today's modern consumer.
3. Branding - Branding companies can help businesses establish themselves as authentic and genuine by incorporating these values into their messaging and strategies, and potentially embrace 'insult advertising' as a way to disrupt their industry.
3.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness