Monthly Archives: April, 2016

News
Uber driver ‘disappointment’ shows the perils of a gig economy
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Yesterday, Uber announced via an email and social media that it would be reducing its rates by 20 percent. We asked three Uber drivers how they felt about getting their pay rates cut by 20 percent. Understandably, the response wasn’t great. And what’s more is that with the gig economy growing every year, we could soon see their disappointment spread to other industries as well.

News
Boobs that aren’t censored
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Self-examination continues to play an important role in detecting some of the early signs of breast cancer. The problem, however, is that many women still do not know what to check for when investigating their breasts for lumps. And this issue is further exacerbated by the fact that it remains a taboo to show women’s breasts in full in mainstream media. What this means is that cancer awareness societies have a very difficult job when it comes to teaching women how to search for those tell-tale signs. Quite often, they have to use metaphors or euphemisms that are miles removed from actual breasts. Well, Buenos Aires ad agency David has found a possible solution: using a man’s chest instead of a woman’s.

News
The coffee cart that hatched a Kiwi brand: the design, purpose and ‘kaizen’ behind Kokako’s 15-year story
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Auckland-based coffee retailer and café Kokako started from humble beginnings in 2001 when former owners Helen Ollivier and Christian Lamdin slung their steamy brews out of a coffee cart. Now the Kokako brand can be seen in cafes and stores all over the country, while its flagship Grey Lynn store has become a hub for customers who enjoy slick surroundings, organic food and perhaps a glass of cold brew coffee or two. Having just celebrated its 15-year anniversary, it seemed like the perfect time to chat to owner Mike Murphy about the brand and why he thinks it’s been so successful.

News
Taking a stand?
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While New Zealanders are up in arms about Wicked Campers offensive vans, Z Energy might be the first to rise up and take action.

News
All Blacks fans get a vivid reminder of RWC 2015 in a new spot via The Gravity Bureau
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While a few months have past since the 2015 Rugby World Cup, All Blacks Tours is making sure our national team stays front of mind with a new campaign called ‘Be there’, with the aim of drumming up excitement for the team’s 2016 tour. A new TVC has been released featuring fans revelling in nostalgia, recalling their favourite memories from their experiences at the World Cup before being interrupted by some very tall men wearing black.

News
Pandora launches sponsored listening sessions, NZTA jumps aboard
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Forcing ads onto online consumers simply doesn’t work; to the contrary, it’s been posited as one of the reasons for the development of ad blockers in the first place. So, in this context, advertisers and media companies have had to devise new ways of communicating with consumers in a way that doesn’t annoy them. One way that Pandora has responded to this challenge is by introducing so-called ‘sponsored listening sessions,’ which give listeners an hour of ad-free listening when they engage with an ad served onto the platform. And NZTA is the first brand to have given the new offering a shot.

News
Tech Watch: a look at some of Facebook’s recent updates
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There’s a lot going on in the world of social media. Each week new updates see the platforms change and communication habits follow suit. So how can marketers keep up? In a new series we talk to people in the industry about what the updates mean to marketers. First up is Wendy Thompson, founder and managing director of Socialites, on how Facebook is making it easier businesses to talk to their communities.

Features
The rise of retail magazines
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Are branded magazines the new mail order catalogue? An increasing number of retailers are dipping a toe in the editorial waters, both online and offline. We talk to Crane Brothers founder Murray Crane and Barkers’ 1972 magazine publisher and editor Duncan Greive about this trend, and what it takes for companies to get into the content-creating business.

News
Special K encourages women to embrace their bodies, moves on from slim models in red attire
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Kellogg’s has launched a new campaign via Pead PR, Mindshare and JWT social for its Special K brand dubbed ‘Own it’, in partnership with Women’s Health Action, which celebrates women and encourages them to embrace their bodies, whatever the size, shape or form and celebrate their inner strength. The initiative is being pushed out through social media using some Kiwi role models to help get the message across. PLUS: while the message for women to embrace their bodies is good, is it going to be taken seriously when the Special K brand was built around the idea dieting and losing weight? FABIK’s Angela Barnett shares her view.

News
Matching eyeballs to videos: New Zealand Geographic and NHNZ team up to launch online streaming service
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New Zealand Geographic and NHNZ (formerly Natural History New Zealand) have formalised a partnership with the launch of a new digital platform and online streaming service. The new site, nzgeo.co.nz, contains thousands of stories and 10,000 images from the 25-year archive of New Zealand Geographc magazine alongside 160 hours of natural history and documentary programming from NHNZ. We chat to New Zealand Geographic editor and publisher James Frankham about the strategy behind this move.