
Contacts: Jennifer Zaitz Bernadette Wallace
212-445-8273
336-519-6250
jzaitz@webershandwick.com
Bernadette.wallace@hanesbrands.com
Weber Shandwick
Hanes
Hanes® Launches New Michael
Jordan Television Ad to Cure T-Shirt “Bacon Neck”
America’s No. 1 Men’s Underwear
Brand Launches Humorous Marketing Campaign
That Supports Hanes Lay Flat Collar Undershirts
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.,
May 17, 2010 – Hanes has launched a
new men’s underwear marketing campaign starring basketball great Michael Jordan
in a new television commercial that shows Hanes Lay Flat Collar undershirts
will never suffer from wavy “bacon necks” like other shirts. The marketing campaign kicked off Sunday, May
16, and will continue airing on high-profile cable entertainment and sports
programming.
As part of his 20-year
relationship with America’s
No. 1 men’s underwear brand1,
Jordan will star in humorous ads set in an airplane that find him trapped next
to a chatty carpet salesman (Rick) with whom he has nothing in common except Hanes Lay Flat Collar
Undershirts. The multifaceted marketing
campaign will be brought to life through humorous television and
radio commercials, Internet content pieces, and digital activations.
The latest Hanes campaign reinforces the brand’s
continued commitment to providing superior comfort. Hanes
Lay Flat Collar innovation was born out of research that addresses consumer concerns
about the importance of a collar that keeps its shape and does not become wavy
(referred to as “bacon neck” in the new ads).
This innovation is now available in the fastest-growing men’s underwear
category: dyed tops. Hanes now offers Lay Flat Collar Dyed Undershirts
across all Hanes Men’s Pocket Undershirts
and Dyed Crews. Additionally, beginning
this year, all Hanes products will
carry the Comfort Guarantee seal, which reinforces the brand’s commitment to
superior comfort with a money-back guarantee.
“Hanes products are in nearly nine out of
10
New Airplane-Theme Ads Take Flight
The new ads,
created by The Martin Agency of Richmond,
“Bacon Neck” is the
first of two television spots and highlights the worn and wavy shape the collar
of an old undershirt takes on over time.
The spot features Michael Jordan on a plane sitting next to Rick who is
perturbed by a fellow passenger who keeps looking in their direction. Rick, now established as a clueless-yet-amusing
seat mate, jokes about the man’s undershirt.
Rick whispers to Michael to check out the man’s “bacon neck,” describing
his undershirt collar as “all curled up like bacon in the pan.” Rick references
how he and Michael – much to Michael’s amusement - look like twins in their “Lay
Flats.” The humorous spot and the bacon
neck terminology reinforce that no matter how many times you wear it, Hanes Lay Flat Collar Undershirts won’t
stretch or take on a wavy shape. A voice-over concludes with, “the Lay Flat Collar. Lays flat.
Won’t bacon. Only from Hanes.”
“We have created
some very funny ads and I’m excited for people to see them,” Jordan said. “I’ve been working with Hanes for 20 years, and this shoot stands out as one of my best
experiences. I laughed the whole time,
and I have had a lot of fun watching all of the ads come to life.”
The second spot titled
“Grammar” takes a lighthearted approach to the product name. The ad opens with Rick and the man with the bacon
neck speaking on the plane. The bacon neck
man explains that he overheard Rick talking with Michael Jordan about the Hanes Lay Flat Collar Undershirt (shown via
a flashback to the “Bacon Neck” ad) and that, according to grammar, the product
should actually be called “Lie Flat.”
Rick counters that Michael Jordan didn’t do “lie ups” during his basketball
career and the two argue back and forth while a voice-over ends the commercial by
saying, “the Lay Flat Collar. Lays flat. Or is it lies flat? Only from Hanes.”
The
Ultimate Travel in Comfort Experience
Hanes is proud to debut a new consumer Web site (www.HanesTravelinComfort.com) that showcases the humorous ads. Visitors to the site can also enter for a
chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Michael Jordan's
About
Hanes
# # #
1The NPD Group / Consumer Tracking Service, R12 Feb 10, Units