A debate developed this week about marketing beer to the ‘Y’ generation in my office this week. This makes sense as my current client is within the alcoholic beverage industry. I started researching this stream of debate and found some very interesting results. Australia’s buying power has shifted to the fickle nature of generation Y and no major brand has successfully catered to them to gain ‘brand loyalty’. *FAIL*

There are some memorable campaigns of past and present times.

The tongue commercials for the brand Tooheys Extra Dry:

Take 1

Take 2

West End Beer: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/gruentransfer/stories/s2960314.htm

Selling bottled water:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwcCECPvlts&feature=related

I feel partly guilty sometimes because I contribute to the commercial manipulation of consumers using my honed advertising sense to ‘sell’ and ‘brand’ products. Then again… not everyone can help what accidental talent they are good at. *OMG* Do I use semiotics to trick people?

Martin Lindstrom is an interesting marketing guru who discusses there is a part of our brains that consumer psychologists have discovered they can influence with key factors. Scary but true.

Another good reference is the Brand Channel.

So next time you step in the liquor shops of Australia… I apologize in advance because I am influencing you. I wrote this entry because frankly when I looked for a ‘how to brand drinks for y-gen for design 101’, all I found was some art book case study on Vodka when I wanted a wine book.

*Cheers*