Ivanka Trump: Spokeswoman for Cheap Lunches?
Anyone who stumbles upon Ivanka Trump's new blog, launched earlier this month, is greeted with the glamorous business woman's thoughts on how budgeting during a slowdown need not mean boring midday meals.
She writes, "With gas and food prices on the rise, more and more people are skipping the deli line and bringing lunch to work to save money. This is great, but all I hear is how boring a brown bag lunch can get and how people want something different, especially when they are stuck at their desks—something I completely relate to."
Really, Ivanka? You relate to our bagged lunch struggles?
If you can suspend your disbelief for long enough to read on, you learn that Trump is actually being paid by ConAgra Foods's Healthy Choice brand to shill for its new lunch flavors.
All of which leads me to wonder: Do brands always benefit from hiring a celebrity, or do they need to be careful about picking one who matches their image? ConAgra has certainly gotten the attention of the blogosphere for hiring Ivanka, but will the connection inspire consumers to buy more lunches from the company? Or will they think to themselves, "What does Ivanka know about bringing lunch to work? She probably eats at the Four Seasons every day."
If I were ConAgra's marketing director, I probably would have chosen a celebrity with a bit more down-home flair—someone like country star Kellie Pickler or model Carmen Electra.
What do you think—does Ivanka Trump make you want to reach for a prepackaged lunch? Or roll your eyes and think of Marie Antoinette?
Tags: personal finance | celebrities | Donald Trump
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Reader Comments
Ivanka comments are harsh
I think this is a bit harsh. Perhaps ConAgra is aiming for a more young professional, upscale/corporate America demographic with this launch. Ivanka has been quoted saying that she admittedly was born into a privileged family and she was lucky that her parents paid for her education, but that she had to work for material things that she wanted. Perhaps not relatable but more down to earth than one would expect given her family ties. That said, her being the spokesperson for this product caught my attention but it doesn't make me want to go out and buy it. At least it's a new strategy -- country stars have been used to shill several other prepared foods brands (including ConAgra's Banquet).
Like Ivanka (or any Trump) brown bags it
I seriously doubt anyone with the last name Trump has brown-bagged their lunch in recent years.
I'd rather see someone like Carrie Underwood, or even Kellie Pickler (despite her ditziness). Heck even Denis Leary, who can pull off working class, is better than Ivanka.
To spice up the boring routine of bringing lunch to work, I will bring leftovers from dinner, or lean cuisines when they're on sale.
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