It Satisfies the Thirsty and Helps the Weary

Coca-Cola debuted in 1886 with a bang from use of posters to promotional items like trade cards; this particular print ad comes from 1905. Originally, Coke, a shortening of the brand name introduced later in the product's life, was advertised as a sort of remedy or cure-all but it was Coke, around 1900, who first changed their strategy to one that pushed the refreshing nature of the soda. This ad falls somewhere in the middle of those to advertising strategies. Targeted at white, working and business class men ages 16-35, this ad is selling the idea of being refreshing but still claiming to help the weary. This ad is was probably pretty effective in attracting customers to the product because it held true to the original audience of the product who believed it to relieve stress and other conditions, but also to the newer group of people who just want something to satisfy their thirst. This made it an important product of the time period because it's one of the first of its kind. There were few other products at the time that could compete with the satisfaction of an ice cold fountain or bottled Coca-Cola. This ad also seems to make the assertion that only white males are going to be thirsty and weary seeing as everyone enjoying Coke in the ad and the worker are all white males. Overall, the elements in the ad make it a perfect ad for the time period it was created.