Midwest Halloween Ads
January 18th, 2010 by John WolfeAnother awesome benefit of searching high and low for Halloween content on You Tube is that I often stumble on Halloween commercials for markets outside my part of the country. If it weren’t for YT, I’d never even know these little gems existed.
First up is an awesome ad for Meijer (pronounced Meyer), a grocery chain throughout the Midwest:
Meijer Halloween source: YT user, jambajon
This Meijer Halloween ad hit close to home for me, since I worked in grocery for almost ten years. Unfortunately, I never got to stock shelves wearing my costume. I do have to give the werewolf with the mop “big ups” for his hustle — ’cause that’s how we used to do it back in the day. 
Up next is a cool fairytale-like Halloween ad for the Mall of America:
MOA Halloween source: YT user, animasoy
Though I don’t enjoy shopping, the MOA did such a great job of setting the Halloween mood with this commercial, I’d want to visit during October if I lived in Minnesota.
January 18th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
I think that store one really did a fantastic job. That’s how Halloween should be portrayed, like an American holiday that’s not dark and nasty for the public, but everyone participates. Very cool.
January 18th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Now you knew what memories that first video would bring me, the same ones it does to you only in a different matter. Where you said, “I do have to give the werewolf with the mop “big ups” for his hustle” I can totally relate to. When I first worked for the supermarket where I live in the early 90′s I was a CC to start with. The big wigs of the store chain started a new program for CC’s which was, “Just Do It.” (I’m sure some of which was inspired from the Nike commercials at the time.)
The deal was instead of asking the customer if they WANTED help, we were to just assume that they do. If they refuse, grab their cart and start heading for the door anyhow. Granted all done respectfully but after putting that last bag in the cart, we had to have one hand on the bar of the cart to assume possession of it which would often make the customers just start walking to the door anyhow. After their car was full and our cart empty the managers would watch us from the window to ensure we were RUNNING back into the store, not walking. LoL, it was an insane program that only lasted a few months but that werewolf’s hustle reminds me exactly of that, zipping across the store floor.
Oh and I’m happy C7 is getting along. I know of Valerian root very well because it aids greatly for my sleep, that a dash of Kava Kava and I’m good to go. Valerian root has many wonderful properties though so I’m tickled to hear it’s in your system
January 20th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
autumnforest,
You’re absolutely right. Many groups will try to paint a negative image of Halloween by using the “dark and nasty” aspects to their manipulative advantage. Of course, it’s been said what I create for my yard haunt is “dark and nasty” as well. When people say things like that, that’s when I know I’m on track with my props!
Goldie,
I know what you’re talking about when it comes to grocery stores and their corporate sponsored, work “incentive” programs. We went through a few of those as well, even for the stockers. So, if the courtesy clerks at your store didn’t follow the “Just Do It” program, what was the penalty, a write-up?
I knew about your kava kava, but I didn’t realize you were on valerian as well. It seems to have helped me some. I’m still trying to not overexert the area and am giving the muscles ample time to recover before I get back on my exercise routine.