Final answer:
GEICO's late 1990s aggressive advertising campaign was designed to win customers away from established competitors, capitalizing on the increased importance of advertising in a consumer-driven market post-WWII.
Step-by-step explanation:
The aggressive advertising campaign of GEICO in the late 1990s was primarily designed to win customers away from established competitors. Advertising has long been used as a strategic tool to increase market share and drive sales. In a perfectly competitive market, companies often utilize advertising to differentiate themselves and attract customers, despite the risk of short-term gains over long-term sustainability.
Historical context shows that after World War II, as the economy shifted from war-time production to consumer goods, companies began to heavily market to the American public. Television became an increasingly important medium for advertising as consumer affluence grew. Corporations that successfully protected their brand image and maintained consistent product quality, like Coca-Cola and Quaker Oats, solidified their national reputation. Hence, GEICO's campaign of the 90s was a continuation of this trend, seeking to solidify its brand presence and enticing customers with the promise of savings and good service, which were key differentiators from their competitors.