Celebrity Endorsements

Celebrity endorsements are something we see every day. While they're mostly used to sell beauty/grooming products, celebrities are also involved in fundraising for non-profit organisations - charities like comic relief.

We had the idea to write this article after we saw an advert for Beats headphones. Footballer Harry Kane was pictured wearing a pair of Beats headphones with some clever headline below. We thought, "What does Harry Kane know about audio quality?" and, "Is this really going to sell their products?" To be fair on Beats & their marketing division, these headphones turned out to be intended for sports/exercise, so their choice of celebrity endorsement was fairly relevant.

Odds are that this advert will increase Beats sales, at least enough to make their money back (and then some). But, is that due to the product or due to the celebrity wearing them? The fact is that you probably know someone who might want an Audi R8 because Tony Stark drives one in the Iron Man films, maybe Adidas shoes due to Kanye West's affiliation with the brand, or even wanting a certain type of food due to it being mentioned in a song...


Red Lobster saw an increase in sales after Beyonce mentioned the restaurant in her song.

 

Source: Wikimedia Commons.

American restaurant chain 'Red Lobster' recently saw a huge increase in profit due to a shoutout in a Beyonce song, as well as trending for the first time on Twitter and gaining over 42,000 mentions. Clearly celebrity mentions do have an effect.

Is there an ethical issue with these endorsements? Could it be considered that marketers are relying on easily influenced members of society? Adverts such as Beats' advert featuring Harry Kane mentioned earlier are almost certainly targeted at younger people. While Beyonce's lyrics weren't (as far as we know) sponsored by Red Lobster

Celebrity endorsement has come a long way since early American TV, where an actor, presenter or other famous figures would pause what they're doing, turn to the camera with a product in hand and talk about how good it is.

Current forms of product placement & endorsement are much more subtle, almost crossing the line into subliminal/subconscious messaging. You might not explicitly think about buying a product after seeing a celebrity holding it, however, if you later see that product online or in a store, do you know for sure that the previous image didn't influence your buying choices?

Written by

Total Merchandise | Editoral Team

Our editorial team is drawn from a pool of experienced promotional merchandise product team members, account managers, marketers and other contributors. With such a wide range of skills and experience, they write about many aspects of promotional merchandise, wider marketing and business matters, as well as company news updates.

Connect with Total Merchandise on LinkedIn Connect with Total Merchandise on LinkedIn

Total Merchandise
TM Edit: The Most Exciting New Promotional Items For 2024

TM Edit: The Most Exciting New Promotional Items For 2024

New year, new merch! The start of a whole new year is the perfect opportunity to give some careful consideration to the marketing and merchandise plans you've got coming up

Eco Friendly Promotional Gift Ideas

Eco Friendly Promotional Gift Ideas

It’s time for green to go mainstream, people. With more and more businesses becoming aware of their corporate responsibility to become more eco-friendly, it’s really

Egg-Cellent Printed Easter Gifts That Every-Bunny Will Love

Egg-Cellent Printed Easter Gifts That Every-Bunny Will Love

Easter is just on the horizon and if you're considering the seasonal treats you would like to gift your customers or colleagues, you've come to the right place because o

10 Exciting New Merch Ideas To Have On Your Radar This March

10 Exciting New Merch Ideas To Have On Your Radar This March

As we step into March, it's the perfect time to refresh your promotional strategies and stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming spring season. Whether you're pr

The TM Edit: 9 Must-See Spring 2025 Merch Ideas For Your Brand

The TM Edit: 9 Must-See Spring 2025 Merch Ideas For Your Brand

The days are getting longer, the birdsong is getting louder and one thing is becoming increasingly clear - spring is nearly here. If you're looking for a Q2 refresh

TM Edit: 9 Easter Promo Products To Help Your Brand Hop Into Spring

TM Edit: 9 Easter Promo Products To Help Your Brand Hop Into Spring

With Spring on the horizon and Easter 2025 fast approaching, consider this your sign to hop to it and get organised with your seasonal marketing plans. Whether you&rsquo