Simon Bird finds that the industry’s preoccupation with ‘a point of difference’ probably isn’t the best use of time. However, he adds that getting marketers to buy into this could prove as hard as getting 19th Century doctors to believe that hand-washing was a good way to stop the spread of disease.
Monthly Archives: April, 2016
Kellogg’s NZ commercial director Will Brockbank responds to recent criticisms from FABIK’s Angela Barnett about the company’s motives behind its new ‘Own it’ campaign, saying the most important aspect of the campaign is that the “disconnect” from women has been recognised and changed.
Wellington agency GSL Promotus has the independent spirit, but the size to take on the old boys as well.
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.
To celebrate the 46th annual Earth Day we took a look at what brands are doing to encourage humans to think about the planet and how it can be saved.
Industry happenings at Coca-Cola Amatil, Bloggers Club, Method, Cheapflights, MediaMath, Jade Software, Eyeota, TEDx Auckland and Mobile Embrace Limited.
There will not shortage of pencils in New Zealand’s creative agencies next month, as they continue to dominate the international awards. This time seven agencies are adding 30 wins to the country’s hall of fame.
Our weekly wrap of good things, strange things, funny things and other things from inside the intertubes.
Tauranga-based agency Woods Creative has collaborated with the University of the South Pacific and designed what is believed to be the first detailed book on the Cook Islands’ rich traditions, art and architecture written from a local perspective. Here’s a look at some of the creative.
A MediaWorks employee who faces fraud charges amounting to $458,094 will retain name suppression until the case appears before the court on 22 June.
Fonterra has released a new campaign via Colenso BBDO for its Anmum milk formula, which launched in New Zealand this year. Each ad features a different parent dealing with the daily conundrums of looking after a child, and shows how the formula can be an aid.
Three New Zealand PR agencies are hoping to open opportunities for local businesses looking to expand into offshore markets. Blackland PR, Cadence Communications and Ogilvy PR Australia have teamed up, while Boyd PR has opened an office in China.
Sony and FCB have unveiled a new project, DEFY, to show how deaf people can enjoy music with a dancer who literally feels the music.
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.
Ben Reid, creative director at design agency Milk talks authenticity and changing consumer behaviour through brand and packaging.
The New Zealand Fire Services is set to educate New Zealanders about fire safety after FCB won $300,000 worth of free advertising to be used in a single day across newspapers, web and mobile.
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.
While New Zealanders are up in arms about Wicked Campers offensive vans, Z Energy might be the first to rise up and take action.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Take a bow New Zealand Transport Agency, Health Promotion Agency and Auckland Transport.
This week, WPP AUNZ confirmed industry veteran John Steedman would be appointed to the newly created executive position of chairman of WPP Media Services across Australia and New Zealand. We chat to him about what motivated him to return to the coalface.
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.
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.
NZME is combining its rural media channels to create The Country, a cross-platform brand with better access for audiences. However, with its goal of reaching a wider audience, concerns have been raised that the new offering will lose touch with farmers.
In a business categorised by change, creative agency Goodfolk maintains focus by having a good sense of self.
Saatchi & Saatchi has picked up the My Food Bag creative account, following a pitch that kicked off earlier this year.
Bonds is taking ‘The Boys’ to new heights, dangling them on a seven-story-high billboard in downtown Melbourne.