Back in the sixties there was a commercial playing David Roses’s “The
Stripper,” while a man shaved. “Take it off, take it all off...” a beautiful
Scandinavian looking blond cooed, quick, if you remember the commercial, what
was the product? Tick...tick...tick? My wife used to joke it was take it off
with Aqua Velva, but it was really for Noxzema Medicated Comfort Shave-shaving
cream! And it was such a hit, it was alter redone with Joe Namath and Farrah
Fawcett. Perhaps the best, or at least the most brazen use of sex in a TV
commercial to date-that was the 60’s! But sex has always sold, and continues to
sell today. Take even the most mundane product, add a scantilly clad female,
you have a hit. Turning every nerdy teen into Joe and shaving just because of
Farrah. Look at what you buy and why, you may be surprised. And hopefully it
sells the product-it did for Noxzema. From shaving cream to air filters, to
everything in between, sex adds to the ad, and sometimes is the ad. “Get your
product noticed, get them in the stores, we will do the rest” the sponsors are
told, and we the people go willingly to buy, all based on the sex in the ads.
Don’t deny it, remember the Norton girls? Ever seen a Pirelli calendar? Sex
has been the staple in a car dealers and repair shops for decades. From St.
Pauli girls to the Bud girls, they push sex, but the product is beer. All they
want to do is make you feel good about your decision... no matter how foolish
the premise it was based on. Sex was cool, it still sells, but today a new
competitor has arisen. Motorcycles.
Thanks to Hondas ads in the 60’s, Harley’s incredible marketing campaigns,
and motorcycles being cool anyway, they have found their way into numerous ads.
Lucky Jeans with their nostalgic Triumph shirts, soft drinks, snacks, and other
products are now finding that putting a motorcycle in their ad draws
attention-and not just to motorcycle related products. One year at Coke we
offered ATC’s to raffle off Coke products, a huge increase in sales. No data
available for women. Like the Noxzema commercial girl, we see bikes being
ridden in commercials, making a statement about the product. Having fun,
enjoying life, adding some excitement to a boring existence. Bringing out a
little of the bad boy, wanting you to be part of the excitement, without being
part of the scene. And in this golden age of motorcycling, where more people
are riding than ever before, cool is spreading its wings, and including all
social, financial, and ethnic groups. Who doesn’t want to be cool, and riding a
motorcycle is cool. And if you don’t, you can still wear the t-shirt, or use
the product. It is all about the image...what image are you portraying? If you
took it all off, what would we see? What ‘s underneath your leathers?
Now that we all must face the fact we are all suckers for two wheels, a
pretty face, and a sexy ad, what will we do? What do we buy any more that is
based on substance, how the product performs? For generations families have
used the same detergents as their mothers did, buy the same brand of cars as
Dad, and stick with traditional brands. But as new marketing sells us new
products, are we buying the new product, or its image? Tough question to answer
honestly...
It is all about the image...the take off.
I have a pet peeve, actually many of them, but one in particular. I detest
people using the Christian fish sign I their ads. And I find it even more
foolish for people who only shop or use Christian businesses. Just because you
portray your shop as a Christian shop, does that mean Jesus works there? Should
I just trust you because you advertise it? Yet many do, and miss out on one of
scriptures most important concepts-getting out the gospel. Many times
throughout Bible history, God has caused situations to spread the gospel in hard
times. From being fruitful and multiplying to the Tower of Babel forward to
going out into the world and making disciples, we are to get out among the
heathens, the Gentiles, and share the love of Christ. His message leading unto
salvation. Your chance to get out and into the world, and not be part of it.
When I worked for Coke, I got more Pepsi accounts when we would start eating at
Pepsi served restaurants. Soon our presence was felt and they would change. We
had evangelized them just by being there, and won a convert. We never drank
their Pepsi, and they respected us for it. How many chances do we get to share
Jesus by not getting out of Christian circles? Do we go where the sick and
needy are-Jesus did. He taught in the church, but ministered in the streets.
And even tough old Peter got it, when he was shown in a dream that nothing is
unclean, but that in Christ it can be made clean. Paul ministered to the
Gentiles. So many ride today, or want to, based on the marketing using
motorcycles. Sometimes I feel like I have been prostituted, our special
brotherhood being abused by others, but like the gospel, the more that hear
about it, will try it. But it is our job to take it out among the
heathens.
While some witness to each other, preach to the choir, others are out
spreading the gospel, and getting good deals. The best motorcycle mechanic I
know isn’t a Christian, but knows I am. The only church he’ll ever attend.
Like my sign says, “love in such a way that if someone doesn’t know God, but
knows you, they can get to know God because they know you.” Someone told you
about Jesus when you weren’t saved, enough said. The best deals are out there,
let Jesus show you. And what better product than salvation can you offer?
Someone once asked me to go for a ride and it changed my life. Another man
told me about Jesus and it changed my life. Who knows, there may be a lot of
those out there like you and me, just waiting to be asked for a ride, or a ride
to church. And you will never know if you don’t get out and find out. Sex
sells, and today motorcycles sell. Jesus saves. You mean you don’t ride, let
me tell you about my trip last summer. And you don’t know Jesus, let me tell
you how He changed my life. While you fix my car, cut my hair, or take my
groceries out. Someone is always listening, always watching. A whole audience
to reach you didn’t know existed. Now you do. Remember that next time you need
help-you may be the answer to their problem, by using yours. Only Jesus could
do that. Can you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com