Le Charcutier plays its patriotic card

Photo by Natalia Nasser

Well, this might have several meanings. But let's recap. First this is taken right next to the entrance of City Mall in Hazmieh. So? Le Charcutier does not have a branch in that mall. But, competitor Le Carrefour does. So? Well, people have been calling for boycotts left and right ever since the whole Gaza issue exploded (sadly literally). So? Well, Le Charcutier is saying "From you and part of you (local expression), Lebanese from generations" (the actual words are "abban 3an jedd" - from father to grandfather - a term that TeleLiban used masterfully in the past - here). Now if you join all these dots, what do you get? Le Charcutier (at the time the name was Le Charcutier Aoun) which started as a small shop in Ashrafieh right across where the behemoth Spinney's is located, is actually sending a subliminal message to shoppers. If shoppers will connect to the emotionality and logic of it is a different matter. Since brand loyalty is out the window as of late (and this I pointed it out several times), and since shopping is more based on convenience (the closest supermarket etc....), I doubt people will click to it.

Anyhow let me tell you this story, when Spinney's implanted itself in Achrafieh - a supermarket literally 3 streets away (St. Louis) put on banners that said: "the sons and daughters of Achrafieh will shop local and will not go to the foreigner". Well, that supermarket which for a long time was actually part of the fabric of the several streets in which it was anchored, did close not long after the banners were put.

I am not accusing "the sons and daughters of Achrafieh" or the Lebanese at large of anything. But consumers are what they are.

Spinney's, cancer, and CCCL

Well "By buying Spinneys products you'll be donation (sic) to Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL)" which is in dire need for funding. Actually, yes, the initiative is laudable. Now "cancel cancer" has been done million times prior and now a cliche. Add a "can" to it and it all sounds like a broken record. Well, at least the cause is worth it - maybe if they added an L in the end they could have ended up with C(an) C(ancel) C(ancer) L which is the acronym of the Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon. Whatever it is, the add is a little too odd to make sense. 

Spinney's - Valentine's Day

"Why is Valentine('s day) more beautiful this year?" asks Spinney's supermarket? Enter a plethora of answers which include Lebanese loving one another, or "we're too old for that", or "my kids", or what not.... Only to end with "no matter how hard the circumstances, love is always the base". Ah, this is what you get when you mix mercantilism and marketing.... Check the whole video here.

Spinney's tries to do an ad about leap year

There are two ways of looking at Spinney's ad riffing on this leap year....
The first: The copywriting is not really a success (mind you that's a diplomatic understatement).
Let me explain: A leap year in Arabic is "sene kabis" (a pickled cucumber year), and I will try to unsee the word February on the jar in the ad, or the pickled cucumber going in! Then the second slide tries to "rhyme" kabis with "kebsin" (which doubles as "pickling" (cucumbers for example!) and "going pedal to the metal" (n this case "with our offers") - the result: A mess honestly.
Now as I said there is another way to look at it.

The second: Someone is advertising something in Lebanon, this in itself is a rarity!

To be honest I am not really in love wit the ad but hey.... At least it is an ad.