Even these days, a campaign with plenty of cash behind it will infiltrate the consciousness of America. So it is with the campaign featuring "Flo," The Progressive Insurance girl, played by actress Stephanie Courtney.
I see these ads all the time.
I'm just curious what our readers think of this campaign. Like it? Hate it? Don't care? It ain't going away, that's for sure.
October 21, 2009 by Dan Goldgeier | Permalink | 16 Comments
Comments (16) | View blog reactions
DB-
Even by your reticence, you're being kind...
She is the female version of the "Do You Hear Me Now?" guy. Worse. If any of your readers -and I mean any- find her to be at all appealing I will be stunned.
@Steffan
I'm not being kind. It's Danny G.'s post and I don't edit him unless I have to ;-d
As for my opinion of the work, I would never recommend that a client set out to annoy people. However, when up against The Martin Agency and their slough of Geico cavemen, British-sounding lizards and other quirky spokesicons, I would suggest that a client do whatever it takes to get peoples' attention. Flo has our attention. But will we buy insurance from her?
Martin are also the evil minds behind Free Credit Report.
I've been a Progressive customer for several years now, because they've always done well by me and give me discounts when i demand it ;).
I also keep Progressive because Mr. Lewis (big guy behind Progressive) is a George Soros-style politically progressive multibillionare and i'd rather my paltry premiums go to his company than the typical right wing robber barons.
@ Steffan--
It was me, not David, that posted this.
Maybe you can enlighten us. I know you probably didn't bump uglies with Tony the Tiger in your time at Leo Burnett, but you did work in the house that famous spokespeople and "critters" built. So what exactly did they think was the lasting appeal of a spokesperson (or critter) like this woman?
As for me, I've seen way worse campaigns than this. Not saying it's great, not saying it's horrible. But some people, clearly, like this campaign. Otherwise, it'd be long gone. And hey, we've got 5 comments on this so far, when no one responded to my NYC ad agency post from yesterday. So it hits somewhat of a nerve.
I am absolutely totally in love with the Progressive girl. I find her totally hot. Pretty sure I'm not alone:
http://www.austin360.com/tv/content/tv/stories/2008/10/1020progressive.html
Aww, I love her. I think she's a hoot, not to mention cute as a button. And this from someone who usually doesn't care for characters/critters.
They are effective, though, and yes, once they invade our brains, they do sell product. LB proved time after time how powerful those associations can be. Tony the Tiger, Mr. Whipple, Toucan Sam, the chihuahua, the gecko, those wretched cavemen, the Roaming Gnome, the doughboy. You don't even have to think to name the brand with which they're all associated. And when you're sitting in front of the computer, trying to come up with insurers from whom you should request a quote, I'll bet you recall Flo, the gecko, and Dennis Haysbert, the State Farm guy with the incredibly reassuring voice before the others. It's not a question of, "Would they buy insurance from this woman?" It's simply about brand recall.
O...M...G...
Some folks are not only not annoyed by this chick but are actually "crushing" on her?!
Regardless of that strange fetish, I will not back down. The Progressive Girl is a pox on adland!
Danny-
While it's true that certain annoying characters have ingrained themselves in pop culture (Madge, Mr. Whipple), I still find them a torture. I think we "love to hate" these types, which, I suppose, is a partial victory.
PS: Who doesn't like Tony the Tiger? He's Greattttt!
I can't STAND her character and these ads - what a BIMBO! You say funny?! WHERE is there any comedy or humor?! DITZ is NOT funny. It is VERY passe humor and sorry, I just cannot stand watching or listening to this woman.... I actually have to shut the TV off or leave the room as my stomach starts to turn.
Also, as I am an insurance agent in 45 US States, take my strong advice: Don't believe the BS Progressive is throwing you.... do your OWN shopping around. Progressive offers great rates in many places and for different driving records, they do not offer great rates for everybody(just like EVERY carrier). They are especially decent if you have incidents on your record however they may or may not be the best rate you can get. And don't believe any agent who tells you they shopped every carrier and got you the best rate out there. They lie because there is not one broker that has been licensed to carry every insurance company. SHOP AROUND! A little known company in California and in Oregon offers THE lowest rates that I have found. They have an A+ rating with the appropriate agencies which is a lot more than many of them. The company is Wawanesa, http://www.wawanesa.com/
I am with them. I have been in an accident, they came out to my home to see the car the very next day! It was the other party's fault, they had a check cut for me one day after the adjuster came out. EXCEPTIONAL. For the heck of it though, I decided to get quotes with other agencies. AARP Hartford - what a joke! I think it was close to 4 times as much. Mercury, which is known to be one of THE lowest rates in the LA area and So Cal was DOUBLE. They quoted me a price for 6 months and I laughed, told the agent I was paying LESS than that for a one year policy with Wawanesa. Forget about AAA and 21st Century - in most places. There are a few scattered spots where they might be good but with ANY carrier, things change all the time. Wawanesa does not spend money on advertising, it is all word of mouth as this is one way to keep rates down.... PLUS to save their customers from obnoxious FLO-Like Ditzes.... for those of you who like her, good for you. Different strokes for different Flo-kes. Have a nice night and happy driving. Egads... she just came on again in the other room.... I have to vomit....
Hate her. Can't they move. Not only are they annoying ads, but they are no where near original any more. Someday hopefully, they will put the cavemen and Flo back intheir cave for eternity.
And no, I would never buy from a company who believes cavemen and fake people are the best way to represent their company in ads.
I love the Flo commercials for Progressive, she's got personality plus!!!!!!!!!!!
I love this gal, if they all had such a good sense of humor we would all be better off. It seems funny to me that all women hate her, makes me love her more. Keep up the good work Steph, call me.xoxoxo
I am sure she is a nice person in "real life," but if anyone remembers the first one she was in, she was not "Flo" and was not as wacky as she is now. She threw in a bunch of lame extras and middle america eats it up. She is annoying as hell. Also, Progressive sucks.
I think FLO is the greatest girl to represent Progressive. She has made a name for herself in the commercial that i seem never to get tired of. Go FLO!
Worst ads on tv. Thank God for the remote!
I don't have a problem with Flo the character, just the continual bombardment of every TV station in the country, 24/7! Enough is enough! These ads are as bad as the Geico cavemen! Please give us all a break and come up with a new ad campaign, or at least only run Flo 300 times a day instead of non-stop!