Brothers and Sisters introduce charismatic new mascot for uSwitch

uSwitch, the price comparison and switching service, is launching a new advertising campaign to encourage more people to switch their energy and broadband supplier. The brand is also unveiling a refreshed logo, identity, and brand slogan, “Switching made simple,” alongside the new advertising. The “Yes U Can” campaign is the first from Brothers and Sisters since it won the uSwitch advertising account in November, following the acquisition of uSwitch by ZPG in 2015. Breaking this week, the campaign introduces the line “Yes U Can” through the character of Coach, a motivator inspired by 1980s US sports movies. The campaign is based on an insight from Brothers and Sisters that people suffer from ‘action paralysis’ when it comes to switching. Many people know that they could benefit from switching but feel it will be more hassle than it actually is. Coach personifies the support that uSwitch provides by demonstrating, in an entertaining way, to Bev and Steve, just how easy it makes the switching process.

The campaign kicks off with two 30-second TV commercials. One focusing on uSwitch’s energy switching service (“Steve,” seen above) and the other on its broadband price comparison (“Bev,” seen below). The ads will subsequently be edited to run as 10-second spots. Building on the TV campaign, uSwitch plans to feature the Coach character across other marketing channels across 2017. Media planning and buying on the campaign was through Goodstuff with post production on the ads by the Electric Theatre Collective and sound deign from Wave Sound Studios.

Iain Hildreth, Marketing Director at uSwitch , said: “Millions of UK consumers could benefit from switching their energy or broadband supplier. We’re hoping that by showing how easy it is, our new uSwitch Coach will help inspire millions more of them to switch and benefit from lower energy bills and a better broadband deal in 2017.” Matt Charlton, CEO at Brothers and Sisters, added: “We believe the uSwitch Coach could become a hero for helping even more people save money – the happy ending we all want in 2017.”