Orchids and Onions – Lexus puts the Greta in Green

If you want to see which way marketing is headed in the future, then pay close attention to the Greta Thunberg Phenomenon.

Like few others, she has shoved the Green agenda to the fore of geopolitical debate, posing the accusatory question: “How dare you?” to all of those contributing to choking and roasting the planet to death through our profligate emissions of carbon dioxide. To prove the point, she travelled to the United Nations in New York in a state-of-the-art “green” yacht with a virtually undetectable carbon footprint.

The colour of money in the years ahead is certainly going to be green, so stand by for brands to start “greenwashing” (providing misleading information to indicate products are more environmentally friendly than they really are), as well as playing on the guilt of consumers.

If an environmentally friendly product does help reduce emissions, I don’t have a problem – what irks me is that many wealthier consumers buy these “conscience” products solely for virtue-signalling they are better than everyone else in helping to save the planet.

Hybrid cars, first put into serious production by Toyota with the Prius, are a case in point. Technically, they are the practical middle ground between conventional petrol and diesel powertrains and all-electric. In our country that makes sense because electrical charging stations are few and far between.

Yet, many who buy the hybrids or even full electric cars, often have a gas guzzler parked in the garage, or sport hundreds (not kidding) of blazing lights every night at their palatial residences.

Despite all that, though, I am rather taken with the latest local Lexus TV ad for its hybrid range. It plays on all the usual suspect clichés about greening, saving the planet and ruinous fossil fuels. But it does make the point clearly that you can have your cake and eat it: a hybrid is not only good for the environment when used in an urban setting, it also provides serious extra power if you still like flying around.

The other thing about the ad is that it positions Lexus as being on the cutting edge – whether it is or isn’t is moot, because that is certainly its brand image.

The graphics are well done and provide the almost science fiction setting required to showcase the car and its technology and in case you don’t get the point, the ad shows how the car actually generates electricity through systems like regenerative braking.

If you aren’t prepared to forego all of your luxuries in the Green cause and if you’re aware that pure electricity (in this country at least) must be produced by dirty, coal-fired power stations, then a Lexus hybrid is not a bad compromise.

So, Lexus gets an Orchid.

On the other hand, if you don’t want to go full Greta, but you want to do your bit, why don’t you buy a Toyota Ayo and use the R600k or so you’ll save on the Lexus to buy trees to plant?

Transport minister Fikile Mbalula is almost a caricature of himself, so often is he on Twitter opining about things which have little to do with his portfolio. That speaks to an ego which is well-developed. And confirmation of that came in the form of the Transport Month campaign. In common with most ANC ministers, Mbalula believes he is central to the whole country being able to move.

So, his mug is front and centre in the campaign designs, like the one on this page. What got me smiling, though, was the fact that, in this execution, Mbaks’ head has been surrounded by a halo-like pattern, more at place in a Catholic book of patron saints than in 21st century communication from a minister in a technologically driven department.

Given that, despite all his soothing words to the contrary after his appointment, he is now thumping the “pay your e-tolls” drum on behalf of the ANC, I propose we call him Saint Fikile, Patron Saint of Gantries…

In the meantime, you get an Onion for spending too much time on your own ego, Minister.

• Last, but by no means least, a nod to two PR (Public Relations) people who helped renew my faith in the over-bimbo’d profession this week.

Anele Motha from Havas PR came back quickly and efficiently to meet my request for pics for a feature on the Blue Train.

And then Samantha Choles produced a well-written and reasoned piece on the power of print on behalf of the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa.

In both cases, the efficient way they dealt with the publicity process – and both their clients will get coverage from me – was a clear demonstration of the “force multiplier” power of public and media relations done properly.

Anele and Samantha are now on my list of PRs I will listen to. And, trust me, that is not a very long list…

And because good PR is good marketing, you each get an Orchid from me.

Brendan Seery.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.