The most popular brand of laundry detergent uses eye catching packaging to draw in customers
Last Updated: December 5, 2020 Show A school bus driving through a picturesque town stops to pick up students. The camera pans back to show a boy running across a yard, shouting for the bus to wait. He splashes through wet ground, and when he climbs onto the bus, he steps on his light gray sweatshirt and leaves a nasty, muddy stain. The image zooms in on the stain, and a voiceover informs the viewer that Wisk laundry detergent breaks down stains scientifically. As a smiling mother views a clean shirt, the voice remarks: “Fight stains with science.” This commercial for Wisk stain spectrum appeals to consumers by using proven expert knowledge to reassure viewers that when they use Wisk, their laundry will be clean—no matter how tough the stain is. All brands of laundry detergent have the same goal of cleaning clothes, so marketers in this industry must have a strong knowledge of consumer psychology and motivation in order to win consumers to their brand. The Psychology of Marketing Laundry Detergent
Marketing to the masses: How laundry detergent gets soldLaundry detergent is a common product that is purchased regularly by nearly every household in America. Marketers in this industry face several challenges, but in general, the toughest challenge is product differentiation. Target demographics are one way that marketers differentiate. Traditionally, the task of doing laundry has fallen to women. The majority of today’s laundry detergent advertising is aimed at wives and mothers. However, some companies turn this idea around and use the psychology of unexpected direction by marketing to men. One example is Clorox, with a television spot that is part of their “Bleachable Moments” campaign. This commercial shows two fathers at a park with their respective babies when a laundry disaster occurs. The commercial implies that dads do laundry, too—and they’ll do it best with Clorox.
Source: Laundry detergent (liquid). (2011, April). Grocery Headquarters Laundry detergent marketers also differentiate with an appeal to the consumer’s ego through personalization. A study from PackagedFacts.com finds that marketers who brand laundry detergents as “made just for me” are more likely to capture consumer attention. This type of personal appeal is apparent in the marketing for an increasing number of niche detergent products, such as alternative detergent forms like tablets and teabags, eco-friendly detergent, and allergen-free products. In addition to differentiation, marketers use the herd mentality of social media to boost the popularity of their company’s laundry detergent brand. For example, the makers of Gain laundry detergent launched a “sniff contest” via Facebook, inviting consumers to purchase a bottle of Gain, smell the scent, and share a brief story or video about their sniffing experience. The campaign drew more than 300,000 stories, videos, and new Facebook fans. Following the success, the company dubbed their fans “Gainiacs” and continues to engage them through social media. Whether they use differentiation or social marketing strategies, laundry detergent marketers are attempting to win consumer brand loyalty. Detergent is a frequently replenished household supply, and gaining loyal customers is the best strategy for success in this industry. Like many synthetic products, laundry detergent poses a risk to the environment. The phosphates used in most detergents are a significant source of pollution in United States waterways, particularly the Great Lakes. Growing consumer concerns about environmental friendliness led detergent manufacturers to investigate safer alternatives, and the first “green” laundry detergent brands entered the market in the early 2000’s. Why do consumers buy environmentally friendly products? Green psychology is driven by incentive, which can be either positive or negative depending on the consumer’s personal demographics. For example, some people enjoy the ego boost that comes with being perceived as environmental champions, while others are motivated to “go green” through fear of being stigmatized when their peer groups engage in eco-friendly practices. Companies like Method, Seventh Generation, and Restore are designed specifically to cater to the environmentally conscious demographic. Other green detergents are alternate lines from established companies, such as Clorox GreenWorks. This commercial uses the brand recognition of Clorox to instill trust in consumers, while also appealing to environmental responsibility. The psychology-marketing connection
Marketing and psychology require a similar understanding of the mental processes and behaviors that motivate groups of people. Marketers strive to learn about the underlying reasons why consumers buy certain products, and then create campaigns that appeal to those reasons. To learn more about the link between marketing and psychology, click here. Careers related to marketing laundry detergentProduct Manager A product manager coordinates all of the marketing efforts for a particular product. Typically in charge of a sales team, these professionals keep track of product data and inventory labels. In addition, their marketing duties include developing market research and preparing product forecasts, which rely on a strong knowledge of consumer behaviors. Learn more about Product Managers. Packaging Specialist The job of a packaging specialist, or packaging designer, is to create an efficient and attractive product package that will draw the attention of consumers. Packaging specialists consider ease of use, durability, and exterior design when creating packaging. These professionals have a solid understanding of the psychology behind visual impact, including the effect of color and imagery on consumer perceptions. Learn more about Packaging Specialists.
Source: Timeline: A History of Soaps and Detergents, NBC Learn Archives An unusual approach to laundry detergent marketingWith eerie strains of music pulsing in the background, a large man wearing overalls and a leather mask drags a dirty sack through the woods. His destination is a torture rack, where he proceeds to pin and stretch a helpless…shirt. It’s not a trailer for a bizarre horror movie. Instead, it’s a commercial for Woolite laundry detergent, directed by iconic metal musician-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie. The spot doesn’t have a voiceover—just spooky lighting and jittery jump cuts to text. The words STRETCH, SHRINK, and FADE appear between the torturer’s nefarious crimes against clothing, and the commercial warns, “Don’t let them torture your clothes.” The only spoken words are during the last few seconds, where an image of two Woolite detergent bottles on a washing machine are shown, and a female voice whispers, “Save them.” The spot ends with an appeal to “End the torture” and invites viewers to visit Woolite’s Facebook page. Deemed too scary for television, the commercial aired in theaters and on Woolite’s Facebook page, where it earned the company thousands of “likes” and spread virally across the Internet. It succeeded in reaching a whole new demographic of laundry detergent users. |