Radio and Audio > Radio & Audio: Sectors
ALLO ALLO FRANCE!
MORGENSTERN, Oslo / MAXBO / 2023
Overview
Credits
Overview
Write a short summary of what happens in the radio or audio work.
Maxbo is a home improvement store. Think of it as a Norwegian Home Depot.
An english voice with a strong mock-french accent is pitching home improvement products from Maxbo to to French tourists. Why? The voice argues that because the exchange rate between Norwegian kroner and the Euro is unusually good in favour of the Euro, they should consider buying some untraditional souvenirs from Maxbo before going home to France.
Background:
Norway is historically an expensive country, something visiting tourists have experienced over the years. In the summer of 2023 all this changed. As global inflation hit the Norwegian krone, the currency's exchange rate plummeted in comparison to the Euro and Danish kroner. And suddenly Norway was a cheap holiday destination for tourists from all over Europe. Instead of the usual price-shocked, I-can't-believe-a-beer-is-15 EURs-complaining tourists, Norwegian media was full of stories about visitors who were pleasantly surprised about the prices.
Riding this wave, Maxbo aired a series of radio commercials that seemingly tried to sell products like garden furniture, paint and floor boards to tourists driving around Norway in their RVs. This was just a gimmick to get attention from Norwegians, but it worked.
Please provide any cultural context that would help the jury understand any cultural, national or regional nuances applicable to this work e.g. local legislation, cultural norms, a national holiday or religious festival that may have a particular meaning.
The radio spots was aired in August, when the amount of foreign tourists visiting Norway Europeans reaches its peak.
The spots are intentionally acted out with a bad Norwegian French-English to underline the pretended target group and humour in the spots.
Describe the Impact:
Inflation, rising interest rates and historically high energy prices are all taking its toll on the home improvement sector. Maxbo however is doing better than their competitors, and are growing their share of the market as the sector as a whole is dropping.
Also:
Maxbo has historically lost market shares to their competitors. But now Maxbo is increasing their shares in a falling market
Translation. Provide a full English translation of any audio.
Allo Allo French tourists!
Because Norwegian currency is so low a lot of things are very very cheap right now.
So how about bringing home some Royal impregnert furu terrassebord(wooden floor boards) from Maxbo as a souvenir. HA! Perfect when you drink wine and eat cheese! AND the price is just MOAH(kissing sound)!
Maxbo! Bien sûr, tu peux (off course you can(in French)).
That means Off course you can in Norwegian
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