Author Jessy Edwards

Powershop is cashing in on the gaffes of politicians through a refer-a-friend campaign that laughs at our past and present leaders in various states of strife. After poking fun at Judith Collins and pissing off John Banks, the retailer is back with a campaign that has Mana Party MP Hone Harawira the butt of the joke.

There aren’t many things more tedious than trying to find a park around Lambton Quay, Wellington, even on a good day. But if there is one thing that can quell how harrowing it is driving around in circles just to be pipped at every post by aggressive drivers with sharp parallel parking skills, it’s free parking.

When Apple first contacted the producers of ‘Sunday’, an independent film set in post-earthquake Christchurch, made by a group of New Zealanders and Australians, the producers weren’t surprised. What they’re doing is a world first in film distribution, and an experiment in tackling Internet piracy. As of 7 December, ‘Sunday’ will be the first independent film to be launched over five different distribution platforms at the same time.

Clemenger BBDO has done it again for NZTA, this time with a new TVC that shows how everyone has a part to play in stopping a drunk driver. Released this morning on NZTA’s Facebook page, the ‘Local Legends’ ad plays close to home for anyone who might feel anxious trying to convince someone they don’t have much influence over not to drink and drive.

Hyundai launches a customer platform that acts as a rewards system, entertainment centre, and Hyundai community hub all in one.

A new B2B app allows businesses to sports-pick outside the immediate workplace, with a view to “cut through the clutter” and inspire commitment from customers who are inundated with deals.

Powershop Australia has been forced to pull a billboard campaign, featuring a power socket as Darth Vader, due to a complaint from LucasFilm. This is the second time Powershop has used the Dark Lord’s image in vain – in 2011 they also pulled an ad referencing Darth Vader after copyright scares.

Hell’s pizza-and-fireworks campaign has proved to be sales dynamite, with the company recording its busiest week ever over Halloween and Guy Fawkes.

After thirteen months and 5.95 million tweets, the Chorus Gigatown campaign is now playing its closing scenes, and there can only be one winner. Next Wednesday the long-awaited Gigatown victor will be announced.

Stretchmarks, acne and cellulite are all selling points of the new children’s doll on the market, sent to replace Barbie. And not only are they selling points, the acne for the Lammily, which went on sale this week, will actually cost you more.

The first dog vending machine has arrived in New Zealand, dispensing doggie treats and balls to fetch. But the vending machine-in-marketing category is not a new one. Heck, even vending machines for dogs aren’t new. We take a look at some more illustrious examples of zany vending-machine marketing stunts.

Fiji Airways picks three deserving competition winners and gives them a holiday to remember in this new, people-centric brand campaign.

Punk-zine turned media-empire Vice re-launched its website this week with the promise of an “explosion of new content,” and New Zealand is not being left out of the blast. Vice head of communications for Australia and New Zealand Josh Gardiner says Kiwis can look forward to more local stories, including a New Zealand documentary.

Two years ago, after a trip to Wellington Zoo, Chris Smith and Ezel Kokcu founded STQRY, a “storytelling mobile experience company”. The story goes that the pair was reading about pelicans at the zoo and wanted to know more, sparking the idea of an app where people could garner more of an experience from an object. This idea was pitched to the zoo, which picked up immediately. Soon thereafter, Gareth Morgan also threw its weight behind the company. Now, STQRY has 17 staff, and the company’s young founders have set their sights on a range new projects. So, StopPress sat down with the pair to find out where they’re headed next.

Consumer New Zealand is calling for door-to-door salesman to be locked out in a new campaign released earlier this week. The consumer watchdog’s chief executive Sue Chetwin says the organisation often gets complaints about the “hard-sell and exploitative sales tactics” the doorknockers use. To counter against this problem, the organisation is distributing free “Do not knock” stickers to protect consumers from unwanted intrusion.