BBH London – Tesco
When I was a wee lad (in the heady days of the mid-90's), Halloween wasn't a particularly big deal. Sure we got together to watch movies we probably shouldn't have been watching and hit up our neighbours houses for Dime bars and Curly Wurlys, but the furore behind the international holiday that isn't really a holiday (where's our time off?) never really reached these shores until the last few years. Recently, brands have really struck onto the idea that Halloween pays off, and pays off big, and not because it's scary, but because it's actually quite funny. Tesco has created a new social campaign with BBH London to tap into this modern fascination with the “So bad it's good” aspects of Halloween, which helps customers enhance their Halloween celebrations easily and conveniently, and serves up some entertaining content and genuinely helpful advice.
Tesco has created a new social campaign with BBH London to tap into our modern fascination with the “So bad it's good” aspects of Halloween
The “Spookermarket” (see what they did there?) launches with a silly online film set in a Tesco supermarket, which has been given a distinctly spooky makeover. Hidden cameras capture the reactions of unsuspecting customers as they encounter a series of spooky situations. Yes it largely involves staff members popping out from behind counters dressed as skeletons, but as ever in these situations, it's the public's reactions that sell it. The campaign also contains four fun, helpful 40 second videos that demonstrate how people can achieve the same impressive spooks at home. All five films were produced by Black Sheep Studios, BBH’s in house video production studio.
RKCR/Y&R – Lloyds Bank
I see a lot of adverts, then again, so does anyone who watches an inordinate amount of television. But considering it's my job (or one of them at least) to keep a finger on ad land's pulse, I see more than my fair share, and sometimes, it's actually quite refreshing to come across a campaign that doesn't try to be funny or do anything particularly inventive, but just presents the brand and its product or service in an approachable and realistic manner. This latest campaign for Lloyds Bank from RKCR/Y&R is one of those campaigns. It's not flashy, but it does the job and humanises the brand without patronising the audience. The idea behind the campaign is to celebrate the country’s small business owners in order to promote the brand's Business Current Account. It features three online films showing different small business owners getting their time in the spotlight that Lloyds Bank thinks they deserve.
The latest campaign for Lloyds Bank from RKCR/Y&R celebrates the country’s small business owners in order to promote the brand's Business Current Account
The campaign aims to show that the new Lloyds Bank Business Current Account is designed to support Britain’s small businesses. “Florist” launched on Monday, October 26th, followed by the two other video on demand films, “Electrician” and “Courier”. The campaign also includes a 40 second radio spot voiced by Countdown host Nick Hewer. Richard Carpenter, head of B2B marketing at Lloyds, said: “We believe small businesses play an incredibly important role in the UK economy, and this is often overlooked. In this campaign we wanted to first and foremost recognise and celebrate the contribution small businesses make, and at the same time demonstrate how our new current account delivers value, simplicity and shows our commitment to the prosperity of this brilliant British business segment. RCKR/Y&R in combination with some excellent media planning have truly delivered the right balance of a highly targeted campaign with the right creative standout and message.”
M&C Saatchi – NatWest
Acting as a nice contrast to the Lloyds campaign, this new integrated campaign from M&C Saatchi and Rapier for NatWest takes a lighter approach in order to promote the brand's new Rewards Current Account. The campaign, which features a single Dad struggling to keep on top of managing his household bills and his three kids, debuted as a featured spot during “Homeland” on Channel 4 last weekend, and also screened during the premier of the new Bond film; Spectre. OOH, digital OOH, social media, in branch, digital display and press activity will also go live across the following week with social experiential and digital editorial content breaking across the months of October and November.
This new integrated campaign from M&C Saatchi and Rapier for NatWest takes a lighter approach in order to promote the brand's new Rewards Current Account
We see the warm, loveable Dad juggling the needs of his family while trying to keep on top of managing the impact of his household bills; from switching off the bathroom light that’s been left on, to closing the open fridge door after his son. It's light, breezy and relatable, and gets the message across in 40 seconds. Again, if this is the direction our banks are taking their creative in the near future, then I approve. Jason Lawes, creative director at M&C Saatchi, said: “I think NatWest is the bank that understands real family life better than any other. So by offering their customers a straight forward 3% back on household bills, they are offering them real value where it really matters. I mean, who doesn't get annoyed when someone keeps leaving the loo light on?”
Saatchi London – EE
Bacon is back in action for EE in this latest campaign by Saatchi London, and I for one and glad. The Kevin Bacon EE campaign has been surprisingly divisive, with many finding them a little cheesy and contrived. I've always liked them though, and am glad to have bacon back on our screens, this time to launch EE's largest brand campaign to date. The “Connected World” campaign shows off the brand’s investment in connected products beyond mobile, such as its innovative in-car Wi-Fi device, and the world’s first 4G-enabled action camera. The TV ad at the centre of the campaign sees Bacon once again traversing the streets of London interacting with the public as they showcase a number of EE connected devices. It climaxes at Wembley Stadium, bringing to life EE’s partnership with the UK’s national stadium in above-the-line communications for the first time.
Kevin Bacon is back in action for EE in this latest campaign by Saatchi London, which shows off the brand's “Connected World”
The 40 second ad will aired for the first time on Wednesday night (October 28) and will also appear during primetime TV on Saturday night, including during the X-Factor live shows. The Connected World campaign will also run across print, social and digital. The TV ad was developed by EE’s advertising agency, Saatchi & Saatchi London. EE’s media buying agency, MEC, has led the multi-million pound investment in placement. Spencer McHugh, brand director at EE, said: “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do and we’ve launched some fantastic, truly ground-breaking connected products in recent months. We wanted to create a memorable campaign that showcased the very best of what we do. And getting Kevin Bacon to Wembley Stadium for the first time was the icing on the cake.”
AMV BBDO – THINK!
AMV BBDO has turned potential hazards into helpful hazards in their latest work for the Department for Transport’s THINK! Campaign. The stunt shows a farmer spray painting his sheep with messages such as “Slow down” and “Sharp bend ahead,” his tractors with “Beware concealed entrances, “ and his cows with “Anticipate hazards.” OK, my mind honestly couldn't help but go to a decidedly scatological place with that last one, but the campaign is surprisingly light for a THINK! Campaign, so I'm going to assume that was deliberate. The clever stunt aims to draws the attention of drivers to unpredictable nature of country roads (many of which still have a frankly ridiculous 60 mph speed limit) in a manner they really can't ignore.
AMV BBDO has turned potential hazards into helpful hazards in their latest work for the Department for Transport’s THINK! Campaign
Phil Vickery, former England rugby player and countryside resident has also got behind the campaign by using the same stencils to spray paint his horse, helping to spread the message and warn other drivers of the dangers on country roads. The tone of the film is quite different for a road safety ad; rather than use shock tactics to scare people into changing their behaviour, THINK! has chosen to use charm and humour to communicate the key message. The hazards will then act as triggers to drivers when they pass them in the countryside, reminding them to think about how they should avoid hazards hidden by blind bends: by “Braking before the bend, not on it.” The campaign launched on Thursday October 22 and will run online for 5 weeks. I'm really feeling this one, but then show me a sheep in any unconventional situation and it'll probably be worth a laugh nine times out of ten.
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and struggling musician from Kidderminster in the UK.
