History of Advertising

Early Advertising

The most basic (and still the most powerful) form of advertising, has been around ever since humans started providing each other with goods and services, advertising as a discrete form is generally agreed to have begun alongside newspapers, in the seventeenth century. In England, line advertisements in newspapers were very popular in the second half of the seventeenth century, often announcing the publication of a new book, or the opening of a new play.

Advertising and the Industrial Revolution

When goods were handmade, by local craftsmen, in small quantities, there was no need for advertising. Buyer and seller were personally known to one another. Packaging and branding were unknown and unnecessary before the Industrial Revolution. This created a need for advertising. Manufacturers needed to explain and recommend their products to customers whom they would never meet personally.

Bubbles — the Pears' Soap Advertising Innovation

An early advertising success story is that of Pears Soap. Thomas Barratt married into the famous soap making family and realised that they needed to be more aggressive about pushing their products if they were to survive.

The First Advertising Agencies

It was not until the emergence of advertising agencies in the latter part of the nineteenth century that advertising became a fully-fledged institution, with its own ways of working, and with its own creative values.

Advertising and the First World War

Poster advertising was much more common in Europe than the US before 1914.  When war broke out, all the various governments involved turned to posters as propaganda. The main requirement of fighting in World War I was young men to use as cannon fodder. The 'ENLIST!' posters dreamed up by advertising agencies on both sides of the Atlantic ensured a plentiful supply of recruits.

Advertising Through The Great Depression

Post war affluence and optimism was short and sweet. Spurred by the introduction of "hire purchase" agreements, consumers treated themselves to costly new goods such as cars, washing machines, and radiograms, which all needed ads.

Advertising & TV

The 1950s not only brought post-war affluence to the average citizen but whole new glut of material goods for which need had to be created. Not least of these was the television set. The UK and Europe, with government controlled broadcasting, were a decade or so behind America in allowing commercial TV stations to take to the air, and still have tighter controls on sponsorship and the amount of editorial control advertisers can have in a programme.

Madison Avenue - how the Mad Men came to be

By the 1950s, advertising was considered a profession in its own right, not just the remit of failed newspapermen or poets. It attracted both men and women who wanted the thrill of using their creativity to make some serious cash.

Advertising has changed due to technology because due to internet, companies are able to promote their products via adverts on ads. This would enable more people to know about the products and more people might buy the product. On the other hand, in the 50s this type of technology which we have today didnt exist back then.