On Sunday, we all took a moment to remember the events that occurred 15 years ago that changed our nation forever. For those who were alive and witnessed the Twin Towers fall, watch the smoke rise from the Pentagon, and watched the wreckage of a plane in Pennsylvania, it’s hard to forget what happened that day. I know it still invades my thoughts; to this day, my heart still pounds whenever I see footage of the falling, towers.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 15 years; the wounds still seem fresh. But to some, it’s become a marketing opportunity.
Last week, a mattress store in Texas had used poor judgement and created this television ad for their 9/11 sale. The store had received a vicious backlash on social media for the “tastelessness” of the ad. The backlash has been so bad that the store not only had to apologize for the ad, but is now closed indefinitely.
Yes, the ad was in bad taste and the mattress store should have thought twice about running it. But is this a sign of what’s coming? Because let’s face it, no matter how many #weforget hashtags are thrown around, people are still going to try and market it. Will 9/11 soon become just another day where stores offer big savings? What are your thoughts? Because I think this is America’s way.
Before 9/11, the day of December 7, 1941 was probably the last time America experienced an attack of epic proportions. The attack on Pearl Harbor killed 2,403 Americans and catapulted the U.S. into World War II. It was a horrific moment in our American history. Still, the effects that were felt back in 1941 to what they are now are extremely different. I wasn’t alive when that happened so I will never know the horror, the fear, and the anger that Americans had felt afterward. So even though it’s an important day in the history of this country, I must say that I usually forget about it when the day appears on the calendar. Will our kids and grandkids feel the same about 9/11?
But to be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised that there will be more marketing stunts in the future, especially the farther away we get from the tragedy. And if you think about, it’s already happening. Just take a look at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City where for $24 you can relive that terrible day over again, and buy a t-shirt.
So let’s truly promise never to forget what happened on September 11 and let’s try not to make it another day for a holiday sale.
Keep marketing classy. At least for this one event.
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