The three founders of ‘The People of Walmart’ site say they have nothing against Wal-Mart; in fact, they shop there. That didn’t keep them from creating a site for the "satirical social commentary of the extraordinary sights found at America’s favorite store," or from offering prizes to others who want to help do the same
In August, Trend Hunter’s Marissa Brassfield wrote about ‘The People of Walmart’ photoblog, but there’s more: Several videos have appeared on YouTube and a photo contest has popped up on the site.
Tacky and strange Americans come in all shapes and sizes with behaviors that shock, amaze, and just plain make you want to bust out laughing.
As if crowd-ridicule weren’t enough, the founders are crowdsourcing material for the website by offering stalkers - a.k.a., interested individuals with cameras - a chance to win a $100 Wal-Mart gift card by submitting a Wal-Creature photo. The challenge comes with a disclaimer:
We would also like to stress that we are in no way liable if you get your ass beat by Bubba when he catches you taking his picture."
Good luck and good hunting!
Money for Being Mean
'People of Wal-Mart' Adds Cash Contest for Crowdsourced Photos (UPDATE)
Trend Themes
1. Crowdsourced Contests - The creation of a crowdsourced photo contest demonstrates a trend of companies utilizing user-generated content for engagement.
2. Satirical Social Commentary - There is a trend of companies using humor to engage their audiences by creating satirical social commentary on popular topics.
3. Crowd-ridicule Media - A trend in media is the use of crowd-ridicule strategies to generate attention and engagement on social media platforms.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - The retail industry can utilize crowdsourced contests to engage their customer base and promote brand loyalty while also making product recommendations.
2. Tech - The tech industry can create platforms that promote the creation of satirical social commentary to increase social engagement among users.
3. Media and Advertising - The media and advertising industry can use crowd-ridicule strategies to create awareness and drive engagement on social platforms to generate ad revenue and increase brand awareness.