Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

HeatherLeigh — Fri, 09 Dec 2005 01:06:32 GMT

I just read in Fortune, that Lenovo released a cell phine in China that infuses a scent when it's turned on. There's a folder calle "femenine secrets" and I am not sure at all what that it. COuld it be filled with "black makes you look thinner" and "use bronzer only where the sun would hit"? Probably not.

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

HeatherLeigh — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 04:07:05 GMT

John, that's interesting. I assume they had a product developed? How did they deliver the scent?

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

John Sauer — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:43:26 GMT

About five years ago a company called Digiscents started up in Oakland to do just that. Microsoft was interested in it, as was Sierra and Electronic Arts. The company got as far as a manufacturable prototype for both consumer and B2B, had code in games, and then their major investor pulled cash and they folded. I was lucky enough to do the technology marketing for them...it was a blast. Somehow, somewhere, someday...

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

HeatherLeigh — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 23:51:17 GMT

Oh yeah, good point Valerie. I swear when I was in Chicago, some of the food vendors piped smell outside.

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

Valerie Stiller — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 20:50:32 GMT

I used to work for a vending company and we were considering having the coffee vending machines emit a coffee aroma as you passed. We couldn't get it to be a cost-effective option, however, even though we could nearly guarantee the pavlovian response to the scent of coffee.

In general, the biggest problem I see would be the allergic reactions to perfume, nuts, etc. if it were used as a marketing tool.

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

HeatherLeigh — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 21:01:11 GMT

Steve, that is a great line! I'll have to remember that. Lukaszg-scratch and sniff is less obtrusive though, right? You could have to scratch before you sniff. I think that could still me OK. Kyle-agreed. I'm so sick of having to buy new cars to get that smell! ; ) Dale-funny, I have the blue raspberry one in my coffee table drawer (I know I need to grow up) and was just using it last night. But I still do love the Dr. Pepper.

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

dale anderson — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 12:59:31 GMT

Oh god I hate Dr. Pepper lipsmackers

That's why I buy my girl the Blue Raspberry Slush kind!

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

Kyle — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 03:12:51 GMT

I've always wished the makers of car air fresheners would get it right on the "new car smell." They never hit it spot on...

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

lukaszg — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 02:21:17 GMT

Marketing with smell? I don't know... at least with visual ads you can look away (assuming there's something you can look at in your immediate surroundings that doesn't have an ad plastered over it, which is still true for most places). With smell there's just no escape. I know that the theory is that the smells should evoke good memories, but somehow words "unobtrusive" and "ad" just don't seem to work very well together. Just imagine, walk into a grocery store and be assaulted by 10 competing smell ads. It does sound like an innovative marketing idea, I guess I'm just not that enthusiastic about the role and aggressiveness of marketing in modern world as a customer.

re: Huge opportunity...scent-based marketing

Steve Dispensa — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 01:30:10 GMT

I once had an interview candidate tell me that he was so good at HTML that he could make my web pages scratch and sniff if I wanted him to. He didn't get hired, but I loved the line. :-)