If you’ve been online lately, the buzz around the “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” movies has likely caught your attention. Seriously, they’re everywhere you look on social media. I mean, open any app on your phone, and boom! Barbie or Oppenheimer is right there, staring at you.
But, we’re taking a totally different angle on this hot topic. We’re putting on our business analysis hats and diving into this clash in a whole new light. Why? Well, we’re curious to see if this big showdown can actually give us some insights into where the future of ecommerce might be headed.
So, here’s the big question: Can this whole event spill some beans about the future of Ecommerce? And, can those online shops and e-commerce players learn a thing or two from the Barbie vs. Oppenheimer showdown that could shape the future of ecommerce?
Guess what? We’ve got the answers right here in this article.
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Where it all Began
It’s not unusual for movie studios to strategically schedule films of contrasting genres for a significant release weekend. But the most recent one was special. We’ve got a deep and wide chasm between a heavy, thought-provoking flick about the mastermind behind the atomic bomb, and this whimsical, colorful saga of a beloved childhood doll.
And guess what? It all blew up like wildfire on the internet. Comparing these movies became the major trend in social media for almost a month. Especially Barbie-related content which was stimulated by the marketing team of this movie.
Whenever one of these movies drops some fresh content—a trailer, a picture, or even an interview—the other one just skyrockets on social media at the same time. Marketing folks must be doing backflips! Awareness hits the roof; and the chatter? Oh, it’s like a bonfire.
Moreover, the intense debates among fans of each movie have become a central feature of this phenomenon. There is a fierce debate between film enthusiasts, each striving to prove that their preferred movie is superior. What adds an extra layer of interest is that these debates often incorporate humor, making them even more appealing for viral sharing and social media trends.
“Barbenheimer” is the new magic word in marketing, thanks to social media.
Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst at analytics firm Comscore
And believe it or not, both movies are benefiting from this wave.
So, why should you even care about what people say about two movies and how they related to the future of ecommerce? Well, when a considerable percentage of people from all corners of the world dive headfirst into something and react like there’s no tomorrow, it’s a treasure trove of information.
We connected the dots between the buzz around Barbie and Oppenheimer and what it might tell us about where the future of ecommerce is headed.
Presentation and Decoration Effect is Significant
Let’s take a look at some numbers:
Oppenheimer Production budget: $100 million
Barbie Production budget: $145 million
Oppenheimer Marketing budget: $60 to $100 million estimated
Barbie Marketing budget: $150 million estimated
Alright, let’s break this down. No official paycheck data is out yet, but hold up—when you’ve got Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey, Emily Blunt, and Rami Malek all in one movie, it does not look cheap, right? On the other hand, Barbie’s got two stars, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, reportedly cashing in a cool 12.5 million each. But hey, you don’t need to be Sherlock to guess that the Oppenheimer crew, especially with Christopher Nolan at the helm, might be draining some serious cash from the vault.
Now, here’s the kicker: Barbie has lower casting costs, but almost 50% higher production budget. With no need for expensive special effects or stunt scenes, where does all the money go to?
The answer is simple, the decoration! Or as we consider it, the “presentation”.We’re talking real-deal decorations, houses, and all the bells and whistles—crafted with oodles of effort and cold hard cash. That’s why Barbie’s world looks like a real dream.
Oppenheimer went full-throttle with superstar actors and a director who’s like a masterpiece magician, the famous Christopher Nolan. But In the race for sales, Barbie’s zooming ahead of Oppenheimer.
It may surprise you but, The future of ecommerce is not just about quality. Nope, it’s the way you package and present your products. And in Barbenheimer‘s debut, guess who’s acing that? Yup, Barbie’s got that down.
It is not just about what you are selling, it is about the way you wrap up your goods and present them to the world. And, believe it or not, we’re saying it might just be more crucial than even the “quality“. The presentation is the secret sauce that could steal the show.
How is it related to the future of Ecommerce you might ask. Well, it relates significantly.
Barbie is just another proof that shows the importance of the “look” of the product. The taste of customers is changing; thus, the future of Ecommerce will be affected by this trend. In the future of ecommerce, the visual appeal and overall experience of a product’s presentation will play a pivotal role.
Analyze your website while asking yourself:
- Is your site attractive at the “Barbie” level?
- Are you using high-quality pictures to present your products?
- Do you provide the perfect packaging for your delivery?
- Are you using appropriate colors that make your customers excited and feel that your products have high quality?
- Is doing business with you or purchasing from you, fun and entertaining?
If you did not get many Yes, you need to consider some fundamental changes in your business.
Word Is Becoming More Feminine Every Day, Respect That!
The Barbie movie is like a girl-power parade. The main characters? You guessed it—strong, fierce women. Heroes? All women, while the “villains” or grey characters? Yep, they’re mostly men. And get this—even the director of the show? A woman. And this movie goes and beat out the most anticipated movie of 2023. Now, what’s the story here?
The world’s taking a real feminine twist. It’s like the girl-power vibe is on the rise. If you’re in the E-commerce game, you better catch that wave and ride it. And it’s not just some passing trend. This whole shift is here to stay. That means the future of ecommerce is going to have a makeover, thanks to this feminine touch.
This trend can affect the type of products you choose to produce, the design of your products, your marketing strategies, and more importantly your Content strategy.
No matter what is your gender, you need to appreciate women in every corner of your business. Make sure to create a culture of respect and inclusion, where everyone feels they are valued and their voices are heard. Ensure that female employees have access to the same opportunities as their male counterparts, including promotions, leadership roles, and training. Finally, make sure to acknowledge the contributions of women in your business and celebrate their successes.
More importantly, try to show it to your customers. How you create your content marketing strategy should heavily depend on this trend.
You can read more about content marketing strategies and how to create one in the “Content Marketing Strategy Framework” article.
Competition can be Beneficial
Imagine these two films were released on separate dates, and the echoes of comparison remained unheard. The contradictory opinions, the fierce discussions, and the waves of excitement might never happen on our digital platforms. It’s all gone!
The spark that ignited debates, generated memes, and coined the term “Barbenheimer” could only have emerged through the vibrant interplay of competition. This scenario wonderfully illustrates how competition can be harnessed in this modern era.
No one can imagine that in the future of ecommerce, there will be less competition. Barbenheimer, however, proved that competitors can benefit one another rather than hurt each other.
Try to benefit from your competitors’ campaigns by starting a comparison. If you get lucky and the competitor answers your challenge, the whole debate will benefit both brands. Take a look at what Mercedes Benz and Jaguar have done in their advertising competition.
This method of marketing can be very beneficial in the future of ecommerce, especially for small businesses that do not have enough money to compete against big online retailers.
Believe In The Magic Of User Generated Content (UGC)
We’re basically living in a “Barbie World” this summer. You can’t scroll without stumbling upon memes, videos, pics, and even those AI magic tricks—all screaming “Barbie.” It’s like there’s a pink party everywhere you look. The folks behind the Barbie movie knew what they were doing—they cranked up the excitement, and that’s why your feed is flooded with folks rocking pink outfits and flashy colors. It can be a classic example of the importance of User-generated content in marketing books.
Now, here’s the twist. Oppenheimer didn’t quite catch the same wave. But hang on, here’s the cool part: that whole “Barbenheimer” thing? That was a chance for Oppenheimer to jump on the user-generated content train too. They could’ve ridden that wave to boost their online presence big time. However, probably because the genre and the subject of the movie (bombing an entire city) are not suitable for humor, they decided not to exploit this opportunity.
Oh, and don’t forget, one of the reasons the Barbie movie sold like hotcakes? Yup, strong user-generated content. Those viral posts and buzz from fans played a major role in making Barbie a hit.
Even though most of us don’t have the budget behind the Barbie movie, we can still take some insights and benefit by applying similar logic. You need to understand that people love to share their experiences, they try to react to new trends and they also want to be liked in social media. So next time you try to run a marketing campaign for your online store, you need to ask yourself how you are reacting according to the future of ecommerce.
Remember that:
You need UGC if you want exponential growth.
You need UGC if you want to obtain real benefits from your marketing investments. In other words, UGC can help you to get positive ROI faster and easier.
You need to motivate your target audience to create content that aligns with your business goals while having fun and satisfying their own needs.
You can read more about User-generated content (UGC) and how to use it in the “Decoding the Meaning of User Generated Content (UGC)” article.
Besides the mentioned trends, there is another major trend that is occurring right now. The AI trend in businesses. Read more about the impact of artificial intelligence.
Key insights
- Competition Ignites Engagement: The rivalry between “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” sparks debates, discussions, and memes, underlining the dynamic impact of healthy competition.
- Presentation Trumps Quality: Barbie’s lavish presentation triumphs over Oppenheimer’s star-studded cast, showcasing the importance of packaging in modern e-commerce.
- Visual Appeal Drives Sales: Evolving consumer preferences emphasize the significance of a product’s visual appeal, shaping the future of ecommerce experiences.
- Embrace Feminine Trends: As the world leans towards femininity, integrating female-centric elements in products and strategies becomes pivotal for e-commerce success.
- Leverage Friendly Competition: “Barbenheimer” demonstrates how competition can mutually benefit brands, generating engaging conversations and driving attention.
- UGC Powers Growth: User-generated content fueled Barbie’s triumph, highlighting its potential to drive e-commerce growth through audience engagement and ROI.
Image credit: Risa Rodil