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# Brace-Face Busting Security
The Coimbra 'Ex-Girlfriend' Ad Gets in the Way of Love

By Emily Evans | Published 2011-06-07 | Marketing
Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coimbra-ex-girlfriend
References: [adsoftheworld](http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/coimbra_exgirlfriend)

Have you ever found yourself [pretending to text](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weetabix-have-you-had-yours), making a fake phone call or ignoring the doorbell just to stay away from an ex, like the one in this Coimbra 'Ex-Girlfriend' ad? Well if you have, you are certainly not alone as many people dodge interactions like that on a daily basis.

Pretending to text or [faking a phone call](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/exitcall) seems to be a daily routine for many people who dread certain [awkward social interactions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crush-feelings). This Coimbra 'Ex-Girlfriend' ad showcases an extreme scenario in which a love-infested young girl is attempting to reach the object of her affection -- unsuccessfully, that is. The text featured in the print ad reinforces Coimbra's humorous message "don’t let anyone pass through your door."

## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter)

- Score: 1.6/10
- Popularity: 7% | Activity: 32% | Freshness: 8%
- Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women
- Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial
- Top markets: North America, Europe

## Categories

[Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Print](https://www.trendhunter.com/print)

## Key Themes

### Why This Trend Is Growing

- **Avoidance-socializing:** Opportunity for companies to create innovative solutions that help people navigate and avoid uncomfortable social interactions.
- **Humorous-advertising:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for brands to use humor as a way to engage with consumers and deliver memorable advertising.
- **Unconventional-messaging:** Opportunity for companies to break traditional advertising norms and employ unconventional messaging techniques to capture consumer attention.

### Industries Being Reshaped

- **Technology-apps:** Opportunity for app developers to create social networking apps that provide users with tools to avoid certain social interactions or awkward encounters.
- **Entertainment-advertising:** Disruptive innovation opportunity for advertising agencies to incorporate humor and comedic storytelling techniques to create engaging and memorable advertisements.
- **Marketing-communication:** Opportunity for marketers to experiment with unconventional messaging and communication strategies to stand out in a crowded advertising landscape.

## Related on Trend Hunter

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- [Humorous Mens Fragrance Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/axe-campaign.md)
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- [Swapped Phone Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kitkat-phone-break.md)