Back To The Future
Ah! 1999—the good ole’ days! The time before AirPods, TikTok and NFT’s. When Fedoras were hot, and Instagram was not (not yet, at least).
Why the nostalgia? Well, on social media, there’s been a recent obsession with the early 2000s and late 90’s, and their respective fashion trends are slowly becoming in again (be right back while I go grab my mother’s platform flip-flops!) Because of this, I figured we might as well take a trip down memory lane! In this blog, Hollywood Branded revisits three of the most memorable celebrity endorsements from the year 1999.
Celebrity Power
Celebrities are the perfect figures to help spread brand awareness, and while it is expensive, it definitely is effective. Not only will their recognizable face make consumers more inclined to buy, but also, it will help leave a mental mark, and make your brand memorable. I mean, after all, I can't think of Carls Jr. without picturing Paris Hilton. That being said, let's take a look at some iconic ads of 1999 that perfectly exemplify the power of a famous face!
Britney Spears Sporting Sketchers
Back in 1999, Sketchers introduced the “Energy” shoe, and after its initial launch, pop-star Britney Spears became the face of these cute, chunky kicks. With Britney’s support, this product became a massive hit, and today, they have sold over 100 million pairs of this iconic shoe. Their partnership didn’t stop just there. In fact, in 2003, Britney collaborated once again with Sketchers to release her own line of rollerblade-shoes.
Credit: The Influence Agency
Dairy: The Key Ingredient To Austin's Power
Back in 1993, advertising agency Goodby Silverstein & Partners paired up with the California Milk Processor Board to create the unforgettable “Got Milk?” ads. They did this in an effort to make young girls and boys consume more dairy.
From Beyonce to Britney to Serena Williams, these ads featured a wide range of high-profile celebrities, and in 1999, they decided to feature none other than Mike Myers, a.k.a. Austin Powers.
In this ad, Mr. Powers is lying down in a silk robe with his chest hair in full display (typical Austin). Of course, he also sporting a milk-moustache. All of the “Got Milk?” ads are top-notch, but not all of them are as light-hearted and funny as this one.
Credit: The Influence Agency
Who's That Behind Those Foster Grants? It's Cindy!
In the 1960s and 1970s, the eyewear brand, Foster Grants, ran an advertising campaign where they would say the line “Who’s that behind those Foster Grants?” to then reveal the face of an A-list celebrity, such as Mia Farrow or Peter Sellers. Back then, the campaign was a hit, and in 1999, the brand decided to reintroduce it. This time, the “who” was none other than American Supermodel Cindy Crawford. Today, twenty-two years later, Sofia Vergara has become the face of these fabulous specs. Evidently, celebrities have played a major part in Foster Grants' advertising plan.
Credit: Ebay
Eager To Learn More?
Iconic ads of the past remind us that despite how popular influencer marketing may be, there is so much potential and power for your brand when you leverage a celebrity. I mean, after all, there’s a reason we’re still talking about these ads, 20 or so years later! That being said, if you want to find out a bit more about celebrity endorsements, check out these blogs by the rest of our team!
- 4 Celebrity Endorsement Ads Paired With Unexpected Brand Categories
- Top Ten Celebrity Endorsements
- Kristen Bell And Dax Shepard: The Unexpected Power Couple Of Celebrity Endorsements
- Celebrity Endorsement Ads: Heineken & KFC Poke Fun And M&M's Reminisces
- Using Reality Stars For Celebrity Endorsements: The Bachelor Contestant Influencers
If you want to find out a bit more about all things marketing and pop-culture, be sure to check out our podcast, "Marketing Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)."
