Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > OK, is this "cool" brand thing is going a little too far???

[JasonBoswell]

I got in the post today an invite to a "champagne reception" at my local Alessi showroom to present the 749.... Alessi, for those that dont know, is an Italian designer tableware company (cutlery, crockery, etc).

So what with announcing new biro's in Harrods, and hooking up with trendy cereal bowl makers, is our 'sporting' brand being hijacked by those that want to make it a 'lifestyle' brand??? Or perhaps you only bought a Duc cos of the 'lifestyle' connotations???

[ali]

Complete toss for people that used to buy Porsche key fobs, wallets & baseball caps....

Shame really, as Alessi have done some entertaining stuff in their time.

These marketing tie-ins are getting waaay out of hand. Paul Smith (who makes a decent enough pair of jeans) really went off the rails for the Habitat VIP collection by designing............ a coathanger!

The truly remarkable feature about the coathangar is not that it's almost identical to every other coathanger, nor is it the 'unique' green crossbar, it's the fact that some f^cking pillock is actually going to buy one (or many, cos how sad would it be to buy one...) for £9.00.......

It's all spin. Wonder where that came from?????

Ali

[Iconic944ss]

Hmmmmmm......cum on guys - is there any business these days than can afford to ignore either promoting its products to as wide an audience as possible or reaping the best financial benefits going?

Just look at some racers leathers for example...

Natwest and Shimano are some that spring to mind - its all sponsorship and selling...sad, but true.

Franko

[weeveetwin]

Did someone mention..?

[ali]

Is that carbon or mag????

[AK]

Would be better in red!:P

[Dementor]

Originally posted by CK and AK
Would be better in red!:P

Perfect in Black:P

[electricsheep]

From the invite.
"Every customer that spends more than £100 wil receive a special limited edition mini ducati bike, one of only 50 produced."

I guess they mean the first 50 customers.

Wonder what the mini ducati bike is.. a model or a unicycle

[pguenet]

You beat me to it guys.

This is certainly taking the p*ss and milking the brand as much as you can.

I for one have been a supporter of the brand ever since I have been biking but I am so sadened to realise that none of their current production is aspirational and that the junk they are putting their name on to will only aspire to the yob-attention-seeker-cannot-ride-a-bike that will only bring tackiness to the brand.

Oh well at least KTM seem to have taken over the cool-hardcore-purposely-built flambeau. That gives us something to look forward to once our 916/998 will be officially ranked amongst "Classics" ....

Is Ducati UK looking at this Board? Do they realise that they are pi**ing off all the hard core enthusiasts that made their Brand?

[JasonBoswell]

I'm inclined to agree....marketing bullocks.

But, come on, admit it, each of us bought into the brand "image" just an incy-wincy bit. the statement your bike makes about you...the quick glance in the mirrored shop fronts as you trundle past... the nonchalent (sp?) wink as a lad on a scoot gives you a thumbs up at the lights...the furtive smirk as the ladeez heads turn....

oh come one!!! admit it - it wasnt just cos Foggy did the business surely?????