The advertising industry in general is not a friendly place for conservatives, I once had a Republican Creative Director that had anti-death penalty pro-bono work in his portfolio. Why not pro-death penalty? Pro-gun? Pro law enforcement? Because it’s just not done.
That’s why I was very honored when the Creative Director and Owner of Spur Creative Studios got in touch with me, after finding some of the ads they created for Ergo Gun Grips on my site.
1. Can having a gun or gun product account hurt your chances of getting “mainstream” accounts? Most of the ad agencies I have worked for are terrified of controversy, are their fear justified? Have you ever heard a client say, “I can’t hire your agency because you advertise Ergo Gun Grips?”
As with anything, it depends. If you strictly work with gun accounts and only have gun accounts in your portfolio, then it may end up affecting you negatively since you won’t have other work to show to new clients. I personally have never encountered any resistance from my clients in other industries. I’ve always been a believer that it is important to work with a diverse group of clients because insights in one particular industry may serve as advantages in another.2. Has a gun ad ever won an advertising award such as Clio, Addy, etc?
We have not submitted any of our ads to award competitions.
3. How did you get your ideas the Ergo Grip campaign? What was your inspiration?
We worked closely with the marketing group to gain customer/behavioral insight. Ultimately, we wanted it to resonate with their target customers, which can range anywhere from sport shooting to military, but tend to lean toward law enforcement. We kept this in mind by creating a look that was tactical yet rugged.4. Some TV stations won’t air gun ads, Google is also anti-gun, Facebook has disapproved ads that featurethe word “gun,” so besides magazines, what other alternatives exists for the firearm industry to get the word out?
Short, informational and engaging videos are a great way to get across your message because not only are they easy for people to find, but easy for them to share as well. The expense of creating a high-quality video these days has really decreased so its a great tool to take advantage of.
5. How do you feel about the Starbucks red cup controversy? I have noticed that brands such as Sneaky Pete are proud to embrace Christmas, they will use Santa Claus imaginary, Christmas trees, even write “Merry Christmas” as a headline. “Mainstream” companies are doing the opposite in the name of being inclusive. Which side is right?
I think the uproar is a bit over the top. In the end Starbucks is only benefiting from all of this chatter. I don’t know that there’s a right or wrong, since a business is not a person and is void of morality; its main focus should be its brand and its customers. Saying “Merry Christmas” to your customers if you are a Jewish deli is probably not the best call, so its all about knowing your base and what will resonate with them.
If you’re looking for an ad agency that’s eager to work with guns and gun products, check out SPUR at http://bornonthefrontier.com
I really love my Ergo Deluxe grip. It fits my hand as though it was made custom for me – unlike the Magpul grips which feel square like a Glock and hurt my hand when firing (due to 40% Neuropathy).
The one .. well, one of two … gripe with it was I had to pay $6 to buy a separate piece to fill the big gap between the beavertail and the AR-15 receiver. I believe they now include this piece with the grips. My other gripe is they don’t have a cap to use the grip as valuable storage space.
Well, I have no experience buying gun grips, do they improve shooter performance? Aiming, accuracy, and comfort? I know one gun does not fit all, so I can see the appeal Ergo will have.
Do you keep the grip in the gun, or do you remove it to clean it? Either way, thanks for reading the interview.