Hellmann’s will donate food for every spoiled turnip they get. Thoughts?

[wanderlust//]

Does it really matter if it’s for publicity? Let them have their damn publicity lmao, they’re still helping people have food to feed them and their families!

 

[Sheep Villager]

ultimately, i like that we have mixed opinions. people that don’t mind the marketing tactics & people that don’t like it.

however, i wish they’d elaborate what exactly about companies doing this that bothers them. obviously not everyone is gonna bite to the stunt and if does for other people, what does it affect on the game? i just wonder. are they breaking nintendo rules? is it because ac is just supposed to be a world of its own?

While like I mentioned in an earlier post I don't hate this particular stunt, I guess I'll elaborate on what about companies using AC as a PR tool bothers me.

It's true that companies have for a long time now jumped on any possible trend to be "hip" and get customers, but something about the idea of invading AC with aggressive advertising feels like it goes against what AC stands for. At least for me AC is an escape from reality, it's a small corner I can just go to to unwind and relax. To me it's meant to be a place far away from the bustle of real life where my biggest worry might be that I have too many flowers. I know I'm not the only one who finds AC the ultimate "chill" game.

So when you then have companies starting to use something that is intended to be chill as a way to shovel in ads, it feels like trampling all over that relaxing mood and the carefree nature of the game.

Obviously I don't have to visit the corporate islands or look at their QR codes, but I cannot help the sour feeling I get whenever I hear of yet another promotion of some sort that targets AC. It also doesn't help that before NH, AC was rather niche. I'm not saying it was a small indie game or anything, but for years no big eyes were on the community.

This is just my personal opinion on why I don't enjoy a good chunk of the AC driven marketing.
Again, I want to stress that I have nothing against Hellmann's. Giving free food to those who need it is a good cause.

As for Nintendos rules... that's a good question. I know we aren't allowed to advertise anything on our dream addresses, so it is a bit interesting if actual companies are allowed to do it.​

 

[Lavamaize]

I think its a pretty smart marketing move, but also I really support this as they are also helping people in need too. It also looks like they put a lot of time into their island too, so I see it as a really good idea as players can help others, explore and island, and the company gets a good public reputation.

 

[Stella-Io]

Yes it's a stunt. But it's a good one. While it does benefit the company in name, that outweighs the fact that the end result is meals being donated, which I'm sure ALOT of people could use, esp now with people losing their jobs to Covid.

 

[sunset_succulent]

i’m definitely going to be donating. this is obviously a pr stunt, but it is going to a cause, and if you think about it, the least you can donate is ten meals. that’s like, two big families. quit arguing over the ethics of it and know if you donate, people are getting food.

 

[JSS]

I like to use their mayo for cooking.

 

[Skunk]

Why does it matter they're using AC to promote something and especially a good cause...?? There are people starving, homeless, jobless while going through a pandemic, but AC community wants to be concerned about their game being used as PR..................

If they want pixel garbage in exchange for donating meals why does it matter if its just PR..
like yeah they set aside x amount of money they'd use to donate anyways, but why not get a community involved (animal crossing) in doing good, and feeling good that they helped contribute to something for those in need

 

[Athelwyn]

I love this! I mean, I'm not excited about mayo, but they didn't have to go to this effort to make something so fun and cute. It's really creative, and they could have just asked for money or done something typical. This is a great way for people of any age or income to be able to feel they've done something helpful. As for it being a publicity stunt, of course it is! But...so what?

 

[Kuroh]

I'm happy about the bottom line: donating food to people in need
I think the concept is cute and fun also! No issues here!

 

[Hilbunny]

Is someone working there getting paid to play ac?!? Lol how do I get that job.

I think it’s really smart to start marketing in this way. ACNH has a huge community and going virtual makes sense in a pandemic.

 

[BluebearL]

I'm not too sure how I feel about it to be perfectly honest but I would say that during these times when so many are struggling to make ends meat and keep business alive due to covid-19 I don't want to get on the attack towards this kind of advertising. I certainly won't be against them using it as a means to donate meals to those who have no access to food right now. It really is a creative way to advertise their product whilst providing for those who need food. A publicity stunt? 100% Is it wrong to do it through AC? I'm not too sure but if it's something they need to do then I suppose it's a creative strategy.

 

[niconii]

For me, I think it’s a nice gesture to do. Sure, it’s a PR stunt but at least it’s for a good cause. I just hope that even aside from the ones they pledge to donate via this AC stunt, they are giving out more to help those that need it since they seem to be a big company (personally I haven’t heard of them before this one ;.

 

[Kuroh]

The island is really wholesome and a lot of love was put into it It's really adorable! The creator is also so cute <3

 

[g u a v a]

when the intern figures out a way to get paid to play acnh

 

[nightglow]

yeah it is a marketing strategy but I think that when that is the only thing you are focused on, the purpose and point is kinda missed. But since this is done through video game playing it does give kids an opportunity to make a difference or teach them that they can make a difference by choice and action.
At the end of the day, someone out there is going to get help from this. Even if this whole thing was actually about increasing sales for whatever companies are involved (because Nintendo is probably involved). If this is something that greatly bothers you, then perhaps use this opportunity to seek out some other way of helping people that isn't advertised. That is how is just how I see it.
disclaimer: 'you' is a general term and not targeting anyone <3

 

[virtualpet]

I think it's a creative idea, but we probably won't participate since it feels a lot like a marketing gimmick and we do not trust that at all. We'd do it if it were not clearly for advertising, I'm thinking like what Ecosia or Freerice too, but since it seems to be tied to advertising for a large company we'll avoid it.

 

[naranjita]

I'm not giving them any credit for this. Hellmann's is part of Unilever, which like any other multinational company, is responsible in great part for issues like poverty and environmental destruction (it would take too long to list and source all the shady crap Unilever has been pulling in recent years, from buying palm oil from sources that use child labor and who were responsible for the devastating fires in Indonesia in 2019, to being one of the top contributors of plastic waste, to tax evasion). Hellmann's pulling this little stunt is like a thief breaking into your house, stealing all your possessions, then giving you a $5 bill and expecting you to thank him. there would be way less people in hunger if these multinational companies stopped exploiting their workers and started paying their taxes.

(sorry if this is too political. I understand that this goes outside of the scope of AC)

 

[Corrie]

It's for a good cause but I still don't like their mayo much.