


December 08, 2009
Cermele: Why Your Wife Will Go to Bass Pro This Christmas
By Joe Cermele
Thanksgiving is over. I know this because every commercial on TV is now Christmas-related. I don’t generally pay attention to these rants about sales and holiday cheer, but I noticed something interesting this year. Bass Pro Shops is running loads of commercials, and I’m not talking about just on Versus and the Outdoor Channel. I’m talking Bravo and Lifetime. Why? Because these commercials are targeted at wives who don't fish. Here’s why they’re genius.
I don’t have any kids, but know plenty of people with little ones that cough up $20 or $40 to plop them on some mangy Santa’s lap in the local mall for a photo. My wife will fish on occasion, but spending a day at Bass Pro or Cabela’s is, for her, a fate worse than death. I’m sure she’s not the only woman that feels this way. Which is why this Bass Pro commercial only highlights the “Santa’s Wonderland” display, complete with crafts for the kids, elves, and free photos with Santa. You won’t find any reference to hunting or fishing. In fact, if you didn’t know what Bass Pro sold, you wouldn’t learn it from the commercial.
What Bass Pro has done is given the man with a non-hunting or -fishing wife and kids the opportunity to say “you know honey, I know where we can get free photos with Santa this year and where the kids can make Christmas crafts and play games.” You become the hero, and once she’s through the door, you can go scope the latest Christmas tackle sales and stock up for that winter crappie and muskie action.
So as a recently married dude without kids, I ask you, the wiser married masses: would this commercial be enough incentive to get your whole family into Bass Pro Shops during the holidays? - JC
Comments (15)
God bless Bass Pro Shops! That is pure marketing genius. We are actually headed to Severville Bass Pro this weekend so I will see how well it works. Why was this not thought of before?!
I'm not married nor do I have any kids, but I live 1.73 miles from a Bass Pro in Broken Arrow, OK, and have noticed my weekly trips have gotten a lot more crowded. Up until two weeks ago you could easily find a parking spot up front with minor searching. However, this past Sunday it took a good ten minutes of searching to find a cramped parking spot in the back of the lot. And I can certainly verify that there were some shoppers that were first time visitors, as I spent half of my time there helping people find items(note to self: NEVER wear a green shirt again ). Not that I really minded. It was encouraging to see so many youngsters interested in the outdoors and full of questions.
Yep pure marketing genius. My wife sounds alot like yours and she actually reccomend that we drive up to denver to Bass Pro next weekend. Hahahaa For once commercials helped me.
Unlike the yamaha women talk alot commercial that one got me into trouble after laughing hysterically
JC. My Visa Card is like Tinks 69 on a rutting buck. My wife will follow it anywhere.
My wife loves Bass Pro Shops! She can spend all day there, she love to shop and likes a store where she can buy something for me and I will like it. I am blessed.
Briliant!
Also seeing Cabela's commercials with Jim Shockey modeling fishing, upland, and big game gear (with muzzleloader, of course) for a wife.
LOL +1 for Buckhunter. Now thats funny
They had Santas workshop here in our Ashland store last year and again this year. So we went. My wife actually came this year ... and she bought me a present.. so anyways she doesn't mind shopping there and we even eat at their restaraunt as well on occassion.
Great Store !
I've been to Santa's House in North Pole Alaska, and all the nick nacks are made in CHINA!
Hey! Just realized - it's Cermele's first Christmas as a married man, and he's already got wives figured out. Let's hope Bass Pro can continue to spin this for years to come. So, where does she have you shopping?
Any woman that won't go to BP ain't gonna be my wife, or significant 'other', for long. Been there done that.
Good call MLH. It is JC's first Christmas with the new bride. It's the Christmas that will set the tone for the rest...it's when traditions begin...goodluck JC. If you want advice from an old married man I would suggest something really really big and expensive. Huge. I'm talking a Boone and Crockett sized gift. An IGFA all tackle sized gift. Something she'll remember forever and get you off the hook for screw-ups for years to come. Yep, that's what I'd do.
My kids are too old for Santa, but I was in Bass Pro a few days ago and this gimmick is working. The place was packed with mom's and kids and dad's running back & forth between various parts of the store and face time with the family. It looks like a new Christmas tradition has been born.
My wife even goes to Cabela's without me at times and brings me goodies!! Howsat for good?
Clay so have I and I refused to buy anything but some fireweed jelly!
Good thing is my wife can get a gift card for anywhere from WALMART!
My kids love to got to Bass Pro, and Cabelas. They like the fish tanks, and the lazer shooting game.
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JC. My Visa Card is like Tinks 69 on a rutting buck. My wife will follow it anywhere.
God bless Bass Pro Shops! That is pure marketing genius. We are actually headed to Severville Bass Pro this weekend so I will see how well it works. Why was this not thought of before?!
I'm not married nor do I have any kids, but I live 1.73 miles from a Bass Pro in Broken Arrow, OK, and have noticed my weekly trips have gotten a lot more crowded. Up until two weeks ago you could easily find a parking spot up front with minor searching. However, this past Sunday it took a good ten minutes of searching to find a cramped parking spot in the back of the lot. And I can certainly verify that there were some shoppers that were first time visitors, as I spent half of my time there helping people find items(note to self: NEVER wear a green shirt again ). Not that I really minded. It was encouraging to see so many youngsters interested in the outdoors and full of questions.
Yep pure marketing genius. My wife sounds alot like yours and she actually reccomend that we drive up to denver to Bass Pro next weekend. Hahahaa For once commercials helped me.
Unlike the yamaha women talk alot commercial that one got me into trouble after laughing hysterically
My wife loves Bass Pro Shops! She can spend all day there, she love to shop and likes a store where she can buy something for me and I will like it. I am blessed.
Briliant!
Also seeing Cabela's commercials with Jim Shockey modeling fishing, upland, and big game gear (with muzzleloader, of course) for a wife.
LOL +1 for Buckhunter. Now thats funny
They had Santas workshop here in our Ashland store last year and again this year. So we went. My wife actually came this year ... and she bought me a present.. so anyways she doesn't mind shopping there and we even eat at their restaraunt as well on occassion.
Great Store !
I've been to Santa's House in North Pole Alaska, and all the nick nacks are made in CHINA!
Hey! Just realized - it's Cermele's first Christmas as a married man, and he's already got wives figured out. Let's hope Bass Pro can continue to spin this for years to come. So, where does she have you shopping?
Any woman that won't go to BP ain't gonna be my wife, or significant 'other', for long. Been there done that.
Good call MLH. It is JC's first Christmas with the new bride. It's the Christmas that will set the tone for the rest...it's when traditions begin...goodluck JC. If you want advice from an old married man I would suggest something really really big and expensive. Huge. I'm talking a Boone and Crockett sized gift. An IGFA all tackle sized gift. Something she'll remember forever and get you off the hook for screw-ups for years to come. Yep, that's what I'd do.
My kids are too old for Santa, but I was in Bass Pro a few days ago and this gimmick is working. The place was packed with mom's and kids and dad's running back & forth between various parts of the store and face time with the family. It looks like a new Christmas tradition has been born.
My wife even goes to Cabela's without me at times and brings me goodies!! Howsat for good?
Clay so have I and I refused to buy anything but some fireweed jelly!
Good thing is my wife can get a gift card for anywhere from WALMART!
My kids love to got to Bass Pro, and Cabelas. They like the fish tanks, and the lazer shooting game.
Post a Comment