# Real World-Referring Advertisements IKEA is Known for Its Witty Ads & This Poster is No Different By Kalin Ned | Published 2019-01-18 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/witty-ad References: [designtaxi](https://designtaxi.com/news/401940/IKEA-Takes-A-Swipe-At-Stolen-Bench-Incident-With-Cheeky-Ad-Promoting-Its-Seat/) & [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/IKEASingapore/photos/a.185457688197644/1904062629670466/?type=1&theater) Furniture megastore [IKEA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/life-is-not-an-ikea-catalog) has turned [witty ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-rewards-program) into a signature of its practice. This becomes evident with the company's promotional posters which usually reference some type of occurrence whether that be a cheeky social dispute or a social media phenomenon. IKEA Singapore, for example, pushed the agenda of its ultra-convenient 'INDUSTRIELL' bench by referencing a criminal act. Tan Ke Wei was convicted and sentenced to a seven-day detention for stealing a bus stop bench under the pretenses that "the bench looked nice." Capitalizing on the absurdity of the event, IKEA cheekily responds to this with a witty ad of its available [flat pack furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-revealed) options. The poster reads 'Comes flat-packed. No dismantling required' and the brand added in a social media post, urging consumers to "bring home a way more affordable bench from [its] store (not the bus stop)." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.1/10 - Popularity: 76% | Activity: 70% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Witty Advertising:** Opportunity for brands to create witty and humorous advertisements that reference real-world events or phenomena. - **Absurdity Marketing:** Opportunity to capitalize on absurd and unusual events to promote products or services in a humorous and attention-grabbing way. - **Social Media Engagement:** Opportunity to engage with consumers by referencing popular social media trends or discussions in promotional materials. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Furniture Retail:** Opportunity for furniture retailers to use witty and clever advertising strategies to attract customers and differentiate themselves from competitors. - **Advertising and Marketing:** Opportunity for advertising and marketing agencies to develop creative campaigns that leverage real-world events and absurdity to capture consumer attention. - **Social Media Platforms:** Opportunity for social media platforms to facilitate brand engagement by providing a platform for creative and witty advertisements that reference popular trends and discussions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Candid Furniture Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/life-is-not-an-ikea-catalog.md) - [Humorous Pet Furniture Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/utsdd.md) - [Therapy-Encouraging Furniture Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/couch-counseling.md) - [Playful Pet Accident Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dont-worry-you-can-afford-it.md) - [Retail Advertising Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-hides-price.md) - [Plush-Starring Sitcom-Style Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/life-in-stitches.md) - [Invisible Furniture Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invsbal.md) - [Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ikea-sleepfluencers-campaign.md) - [Furniture-Honoring Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wherever-life-goes.md)