Marketing new sires - What would you do???? How far is too far??

[clipperlice]

Hey guys, I just got home from Denver and the "New Sire" display in the yards is always a hoot!!  This year a new bull by name of GIGolo Joe was on display.  Guess what they were giving away in the place of the traditional business card ???  Key Rings?  NO  Glow in the dark pencils?  No  Beer cups? No.  These guys must have gone to school in Las Vegas!!  They were giving away custom printed condoms for a marketing tool.  Parents and FFA advisors were HOT!!!    Didn't take to long for NWSS folks to put the lid back on that can of worms.  Go to www.cowgirlslovejoe.com and judge for yourself.  Would your custom website feature chicks or EPD's and pedigrees.  You be the judge.  Whatcha think?????

 

[TxAdmin]

Ok that is pretty funny,

BUT

Way over the top and not the kind of marketing that should be done considering the audience.  They could get away with calling him Gigolo Joe and even the women around him, but passing out condoms is way past the line.  Was it done for a SHOCK value or did they honestly think this marketing ploy was a homerun?  Ultimately it may have done what they wanted as we are talking about it and it is getting more pub.  Also website is questionable in some aspects.

 

[cowz]

It is way better to have some pride, show a little class, hold your head up high.  Club calves are just that...they are supposed to be for the KIDS.

 

[TxAdmin]

I agree, but some of these kids are shelling out big bux on calves and in turn they can win big money.

When there is a lot of money is involved, these companies will market their product anyway they can to draw in the attention.

 

[black_angus]

Well, without the whole condoms part I could live with it, but the condoms are way over the top.

 

[cowz]

I agree....if you give it too much thought, its a little creepy!!   My idea about this whole mess is this:  I left the display wondering why the hype was "sex sells"  rather than "an awesome bull with TH and PHA free status, good structure, good bloodlines and a great phenotype sells"!

OK , I climb down off of my soap box.  I would have rather walked away with a mental image of a great potential sire and a brochure with his pedigree and EPD's on it.

Also, it was so cold in Denver that all the bulls were "sucked up" and really hard to read tied in the stalls.  Anyhow, any day you can be outside looking at cattle is a great day!

Where do you all like to go to look at cattle????

 

[KS Showman]

Hehe. The Gigolo Joe part is a good idea I think.  ;D

CONDOMS THOUGH? NO WAY! THAT'S WRONG.

 

[austin]

Hehe. The Gigolo Joe part is a good idea I think.  ;D

CONDOMS THOUGH? NO WAY! THAT'S WRONG.

I hate the whole idea of gigolo joe.  It seems entirely unappropriate. I would never want to be that parent that has to explain the name to his/her kids---Think about the kids.    The show ring is a family event.

 

[cowz]

Well all I am going to say is that if we all dont have some class, next year there will be a bull on display called "The Fornicator"  Try explaining that to the 4-H Club!!!  Oh, Yikes!  I think I have taken this discussion too far ;D

 

[gocalves]

This is a great read

 

[steerseller]

Epd and ped are what i look for. not gigolo joe

 

[Reggie]

Well all I am going to say is that if we all dont have some class, next year there will be a bull on display called "The Fornicator"   Try explaining that to the 4-H Club!!!   Oh, Yikes!  I think I have taken this discussion too far ;D

lol Wouldn't be suprised.

 

[austin]

Well all I am going to say is that if we all dont have some class, next year there will be a bull on display called "The Fornicator"   Try explaining that to the 4-H Club!!!   Oh, Yikes!  I think I have taken this discussion too far ;D

You haven't. It's all good fun and an excellent topic.

I've been reading more about this from other sources and find out that it was partially pornographic. People will do anything to make money, but the funny thing is...I don't think it will generate as much as they're pushing for.

 

[aj]

Bump. Just for zach. ;D

 

[Jill]

OMG, can we not just let well enough alone.  Why do these old threads keep coming up, do some of you have absolutely nothing to do?

 

[BadgerFan]

I will say that the club calf "promoters" have gone too far in their antics.  Take for example some bull names.  I'm not going to name the bulls, but many are inappropriate.  I sell calves to kids and their families, and I sell them to families that want their kid to have someone to deal with they can look up to.  An example.  I can't say, "Yeah, that's a Gigolo Joe out of Hoochie Mama" or whatever.  I'm not a prude either, but come on.

 

[CAB]

  Too far is going back almost 2 years to dig up a thread of bad feelings for no other apparent reason than to amuse yourself and get other PPL to join in.

  In my opinion, Brad & Juli's promotion strategy has worked better than most. Here we are talking about their promotional bull 2 years later. Kudos to the Nelson's. (clapping) <beer>.

 

[Show Heifer]

All I can say is "You made my day AJ."
Jill: Some threads and repeated questions (Lets face it, many questions are re-asked, with a few details changed)  because they are still relevant. Lets see what shows up in Denver this year.
I think Lautner has done pretty well promoting Heat Wave. Hook did pretty well with Heat Seeker. But that is a whole different ball stadium........

Merry Christmas to all and to all good travels

 

[mccartan]

I think the resurfacing of this thread proves exactly what Nelson's were seeking by their promotional tactic whether it is good, bad, or indifferent.  Since the number of outstanding animals displayed every year increases, you have to seek something unique to stand apart from the rest.  I salute them for their creativity. They were among the first people to have videos of every calf on their Labor Day sale, and they have a very unique bidding system.  Whether you like everything they do or not, they are stepping in a forward direction and aren't afraid to try new things.   Agree or disagree, I think they have accomplished exactly what they wanted and I commend them for it.

 

[common sense]

Really, after two years you have to dig this up again? You should have called, I actually have a 2inch binder with all of the posts that I printed from another website as well as this site. It's a great reminder of how hurtful and thoughtless people can be. I am shocked that during this season people can still find it in their hearts to be evil, mean hearted and judgemental. I have no regrets about anything related to our bull, Gigolo Joe. He is everything that we said he would be and is an asset to the Maine Anjou breed for maternal traits and calving ease.   This is a bull that we proudly raised from our own maternal genetics and promoted and continue to promote quite successfully. It is not so much thae name that should leave a bad taste in your mouth as the people that continue to try to damage and cause harm to people that are doing nothing more than improving a breed and promoting their program.

Thanks to Gigolo Joe, I have made many new and wonderful friends that I will cherish forever. As for those people that not only threatened to do harm to us and Gigolo Joe but actually accomplished the job, I hope you have a difficult time looking at yourselves in the mirror every morning. To cause harm to an animal is unforgiveable and you will pay for this in your next life. Now get over yourselves and move on!

Merry Christmas!
Juli Nelson
Nelson Cattle Company
Home of Gigolo Joe