There are some off-kilter celebrity endorsements that almost-maybe-kinda make sense. Take Miranda Kerr for Qantas – both iconic Australian brands, both international, both… big, rich and white? Miranda Kerr for Lipton – not so much. Jeremy Lin for Volvo is just one of those disparate celebrity endorsements that just doesn’t really, well, drive home the point too well. That was a terrible car pun. I’d better say something about #Linsanity.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Volvo senior VP and chairman of Volvo’s Chinese operations – plus guy with an awesome name – Freeman Shen, said that hiring Lin was essential to Volvo’s “brand rejuvenation,” showcasing the new Volvo brand strategy “Designed Around You” with “sportsmanship and intelligence.” What Mr Shen should have said was “brand rejuvLination” and “sportsmanship and Lintelligence.” Good recovery.
In a pre-prepared statement, Lin himself acknowledged what a far stretch his endorsement of Swedish automobiles was, and stated that although “You may not immediately see the connection between me and Volvo. But both of us are striving to be better and smarter at what we do, and to do it our own way.” Also a good recovery – Jeremy and I have that in common.
As someone who drove – and was driven – in a Volvos for the first twenty years of their life, I can attest to a couple of other parallels – or paralLins. They’re family friendly – like Lin – really big – also like Lin – will survive half a dozen minor accidents – that’s a bit of a stretch – and will almost definitely cost you a shit load of money to hold onto long after your winning streak is over.
Bloody Volvo drivers. Slow motLin:
