FixdGearHead

May I humbly suggest taking a page from Nike's marketing handbook:

Hot Potato

What was MJ selling?

FixdGearHead

What was The Shack selling?

Both are 'awareness/branding' commercials...granted Radio Shack is tasked with bridging the gap between Lance/Pro Cycling and electronic consumer goods (and in this particular case, their mobile communication services/products), but still, can you argue that they've made the best use of their opportunity with such a high-profile athlete?

Athlete, Joe

*yawn* so it shows me what it takes to get a multi-bazillionaire and the greatest basketball player of all time psyched for a game. Besides, Lance already did that ad last year with Nike.

I like the Shack ad if not for the nice shot of Lance's bike position.

kindablue

Yikes thats bad. Maybe they were cutting back on their marketing budget...

Nike did have some awesome commercials

My favorite lance one - a lot classier

I suppose that radio shack doesn't care too much about lance's image, rather they need to get their name out there. In that case big cheesy displays will work.

Nachoman

Much.

Cra1g

Yeah, horrible RadioShack commerical. So boring. Nike has way better commercials. For instance, my favorite Lance commercial by Nike:

RacerOne

From a marketing standpoint it not that bad. Loud music to get you to look, bright colors and lots of action to hold your attention, then they put their name at the end. And most of all, you didn't like it and posted it on a cycling forum for everybody to look at.

Mission accomplished.

Besides, due to prior marketing with Jordan, if you care at all you already know that Jordan wears Nike Air Jordans. No need to tell you about it, this was simply a reminder. Radio Shack is just starting to introduce Lance as their frontman.

Yaniel

I'm a big Lance fan, regardless of how the forum feels, but I think this commercial is horrible. It looks like something out of the 80's.

Mekrob

... much like a trip to a radio shack store.

kindablue

Burn

a_thomasmr23

oh man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHtFi...layer_embedded

That one was funny

RacerOne

You must have been waiting for a long time to use that one.

dgasmd

Can't stand Armstrong at all. Despite that, I think the commercial below is by far one of the better ones he has had. Up until now, actually he has had pretty good commercials overall. The one above killed all that for sure!!

https://www.bikeforums.net/www.youtube.com/v/zHtFixj0cWk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1

Drag

Maybe this will change Radio Shack's impression by me, but, honestly, Radio Shack is not even on the radar for a place I would go to for consumer electronics. Come to think of it, do they even sell bike computers?

sfrider 

I go to the RS down the street for all sorts of things. It's not Jameco or Mouser, or even SparkFun, but they'll have a switch or connector, a roll of cable, battery holder, or prototyping board. Often I order a part online and then dash down to RS just to get something workable until the better part is delivered.

kayakdiver

This is the best one.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CbQOLqZ8IA

caloso

I actually bought something at RS this week: headphone to RCA plug cable so I could plug my iPod directly into my amplifier without a silly "docking station."

Less than $10 and less than 10 minutes.

teterider

Well many of those posted commercials may be classier or more poignant, but they are much longer - Radio Shack's ad campaign has ben quick 15 second spots that grab your attention for a second.

Break this spot down:
-Huge focuses head shot on Lance, with bold colors
-Slowish pullout to a unique visual of him riding on a planet spinning
-For a 15 second spot, its a long look at the Radio Shack name in the next scene.

If you are watching TV, it grabs your attention. But, if you are fast forwarding in Tivo, it does two things. One, it has long enough visuals to be seen in fast forward, that may grab your attention and you may actually stop to watch it. However if you keep the fast forward on, you still pick up on Lance riding, and clearly see the Radio Shack branding page.
And then if that weren't enough, its interesting enough that somebody feels the need to post a link on a bike forum - and the ad agency does a happy dance.

If you ask me, brilliantly done ad based on this.

Sardian

I like it myself

MegaTom

If I didn't already know who Lance Armstrong is, and that he is now sponsored by Radio Shack... I would have no idea what this "The Shack" commercial thing was trying to tell / sell me.

Joe Road

This one is not so horrid...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEh0L...ayer_embedded#

fauxto nick

This is an easy one, ride your bike instead of watching TV.

MDfive21

you watch commercials?

kleinboogie

The commercial did its job. Strictly branding. They want cyclists to feel good about well, cycling then they flash their name. That's all it's supposed to do. Retail stores' big challenge is getting people to like/love their brand and then go to a store or buy online. I think their big mistake right now is not flashing Lance's mug on their web site to tie it together but that to will come in time. It's a multi-step process. Make people feel good about their spokesperson, flash their name. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. As long as they can write the big check for the team it's all good.