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Branding · Published December 8, 2018

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

How Product Placement Can Drive Consumer Trends

product placement examples in movies and television shows
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The right product placement can prove to be a huge windfall both for the entertainment media and for the brand in question. Movie and TV producers make some extra money for their budget, and the brands get massive exposure as well as an emotional connection with the audience. But product placement can do even more than that. Sometimes, product placement creates cultural trends that last even long after the movie is no longer in theaters or the TV show is past its prime.

Mini Cooper Inspires in the Italian Job

If you wanted to argue that the multi-colored Mini Coopers were also a character in the 2003 heist movie “The Italian Job,” it’s doubtful anyone would argue. The cars were everywhere in the film, which sometimes looked like an extended commercial for the small, amazingly versatile and apparently fun to drive cars. BMW donated more than 30 Minis to be used in the film, mainly as an homage to the previous version of the movie, but the investment also proved to be strong. The company saw a 22 percent increase in sales the year the film was released.

Tom Cruise Helps Save Ray-Ban

In the early 1980s, Ray-Ban was hurting badly. The company was desperate for something, anything, that could help them pull out of a slump. Enter Tom Cruise in the role that catapulted him into superstardom. When a young Cruise donned the classic black Wayfarers for his turn as a high school escort service owner, the world took notice. A star was born, and a fashion trend was launched that would dominate the rest of the decade. Then, in Cruise’s next big film, Top Gun, Ray-Ban was back on his face, this time the retooled Aviator model. It’s reported that, thanks to Cruise, Ray-Ban sold hundreds of thousands of Wayfarers, and sales of Aviator shades jumped 40 percent.

Speaking of Wayfarers, Remember Miami Vice?

Ray-Ban benefited greatly from yet another 80s hit, quadrupling orders after appearing on the faces of the coolest cops on TV, Crockett and Tubbs. In the mid to late 80s no one on TV was cooler than Don Johnson, who played Miami police detective Sonny Crockett on Miami Vice. From his Ferrari to his totally tropical-chic wardrobe, Sonny was the guy women wanted and the one men wanted to be. Thanks to Crockett and Tubbs, the world wanted to wear t-shirts under pastel sport coats or skinny ties with double-breasted suits and relaxed trousers. The TV show, changed the fabric of fashion for nearly a decade and inspired After Six to create a line of “Crockett-inspired” dinner jackets.

Carrie Loves Manolo

Fans of Sex and the City are nearly as obsessed with that program and their favorite character as ‘Carrie Bradshaw’ was with her Manolo Blahnik shoes. Out of 94 episodes of the hit program, Carrie wore Manolos at least 16 times, and at least once in the follow-up movie, leading to the shoe designer becoming a household name for an entire generation of American women. What is your favorite or most memorable cultural trend inspired by product placement? 
Ronn Torossian

Written by

Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

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  • pr strategy
  • branding
  • Public Relations
  • strategy
  • advertising

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