The latest agency news, campaigns and client wins (and losses) making headlines across Aotearoa.
In the battle of the premium cars, New Zealand is something of an anomaly, because unlike most markets around the world Audi has been top of the pile for the past six years. But by rethinking its marketing tactics, tailoring its products and comms to suit the New Zealand market, standing up to HQ and targeting new customers, BMW managed to reclaim the throne last year.
A few New Zealand marcomms folk will be making the trip to Sydney for AWARD later this month and, just as the speeches and seminars have become a major drawcard for the Cannes Lions, they’re also a big drawcard for the Circus Festival of Commercial Creativity. So the The Communications Council decided to remind the region’s most experienced chief marketing officers that when it comes to creative thinking we still have plenty to learn.
Daikin’s last big splash involved a surprisingly creepy Dan Carter hanging on a wall and plenty of come hither eyes. But the agency behind that campaign, The Works Sydney, has now been exchanged for Sugar & Partners, which won a two-way competitive pitch for the New Zealand business.
Ooooh, suits you Air New Zealand, NZTA and VW.
Government launches a million dollar ad campaign to bring investors to the sale of Mighty River Power, spanning across TV, print and online. But where is it? [Updated: Oh, here it is.]
Get the right people in the room, and magic can sometimes happen. Synapses fire, tangents are explored and ideas are developed. And Lifehack is hoping the same is true when it comes to dealing with youth mental health issues.
In April last year, VW released a series of ‘the same, but different’ ads to run before the main One News weather bulletin. And it’s back for more in 2013, with five more weather sponsorship idents that are imbued with VW’s now well-renowned sense of humour and show how the various features make life more enjoyable for people. And dogs.
Over the years, the worst case scenario approach has typically been favoured to drum home road safety messages in New Zealand. And a degree of complacency has now developed among some who simply block those messages out. But the new ‘Drive Social’ campaign by NZTA and Clemenger BBDO has moved away from targeting specific groups with blood and guts and into targeting all drivers with warm fuzzies.
Alt Group’s no stranger to winning things, but its latest accolade is a pretty big one: a German Design Award in honour of its work for architectural practice Warren and Mahoney.
News Limited to sell its stake in Sky TV, assures us all it won’t affect Sky’s ability to source content from around the world.
APN New Zealand is shutting up shop at Sella, incorporating the auction site – and Trade Me’s last significant rival – into its classified services for the NZ Herald and other mastheads.
When we spoke with TVNZ’s head of sales Jeremy O’Brien last year about its new branded content initiative, he said he made no apologies for TVNZ being a commercial broadcaster. And, unlike many other commercial broadcasters in this part of the world, it’s actually making a profit and is on target to meet its full year Statement of Intent forecast.
Over 600 media and advertising movers and shakers attended the third annual Friends in High Places party last night at Mantells on the Water in Westhaven, Auckland to see Funkommunity, Latin Aotearoa, David Dallas, PNC and Aaradhna take to the stage. And here’s what they got up to.
After last year’s Axis Awards, shit hit fans when two of the country’s best campaigns—NZTA’s Ghost Chips and Steinlager’s ‘We Believe’—were largely snubbed. Since then, CAANZ, the CAANZ board and a collection of the country’s executive creative directors have been working together to make sure it doesn’t happen again. And a few important changes were announced at an event last night at The Bluestone Room in Auckland.
Roy Morgan Research last night revealed the 24 winners of its 2nd annual Customer Satisfaction Awards at a dinner in Auckland, and SBS Bank, Kiwi Bank, Subway, Kirkcaldie & Stains, Suzuki, 2 degrees, and Paradise retained their crowns from last year.
Further cost reductions and efficiency measures could see APN New Zealand outsource up to 24 jobs overseas, and has resulted in the sale of four of its Capital Community Newspapers.
Last week was a rough one for Ogilvy, with Kiwibank deciding to scratch its seven year itch and shack up with its STW stablemate Assignment Group. But it’s balanced out the bad with a bit of good after winning the remainder of the Pernod Ricard New Zealand account and being installed as its strategic and creative communications agency.
Adam Strange was killed in a shark attack as he swam off Muriwai beach last night, and tributes are flowing for a great father and husband and a talented artist and TVC director. Updated with trust account details.
For some, advertising is an irritating intrusion to be avoided at almost all costs. But every once in a while a great campaign comes along that gets everyone talking. And for the third year, TED has compiled a 10-strong list of Ads Worth Spreading, honouring ads in just this vein.
I may be the only person to ever come out of the Sub-Continent to think cricket is boring, but even I’m more likely to head to a game if my mates tagged along. This is the idea at the heart of Fuse’s recent campaign for New Zealand Cricket.
Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook says there’s “great stuff” on the horizon. And we think we may have found it.
It’s been a while between drinks for Sony PlayStation, with the PlayStation 3 launched in 2006. But given the first three generations of the machine sold more than 300 million units, there was plenty of interest in the announcement about no. 4, which some have said is a ‘tablet-inspired console’ that hopes to face up to the host of new screens it’s now competing against. And the hype film showing how to ‘push the boundaries of play’ was no.1 on AdAge’s viral video chart, clocking up more than 18 million views.
Digital Arts Network’s Ross Howard talks about the year-long development of TVNZ’s OnDemand app, building an in-app advertising platform, and the possibilities of integrating major social elements into the product in the near future.
Vodafone launches 4G internet in New Zealand, leaving Telecom looking rather silly with its 100-person trials. Includes new TVC featuring Boy star James Rolleston, and a time-travelling DeLorean.
Digital, online, interactive, cyberspace, the intertubes … whatever you like to call it, there’s no denying it’s all up in everyone’s face at the moment—and it’s growing rapidly (not your face, the techy space). And, as we’re sure you’ve noticed, this evolution is having a rather large impact on the marcomms industry. So, not surprisingly, there is a huge appetite for stories and information on the subject from those who are hoping to harness it. As such, the March/April edition of NZ Marketing magazine is dedicated to all things digital, from search engine marketing to the changing face of TV to the importance of social media to the need for agile thinking to the rise of collaborative consumption and plenty more inbetween.
Understanding what gets consumers buying is a core marketing skill, but in the world of retail, experimentation is often limited to a few variables—and expensive. So Colmar Brunton has launched a new product called CXS, or Customer Xperience Simulation, to solve those issues by allowing products and shopper marketing campaigns to be tested virtually.
The mobile age is most definitely upon us. And, after hitting the $1 million turnover mark recently, doubling its growth rate in the past year and upping the number of employees from four to 15, Sush Mobile is welcoming it. Co-founder Sheenu Chawla dials in.
The winner of the annual Glossie Award—and of the $10,000 travel prize from OMD—will be announced at an event next week. But we wanted to know if our dear, opinionated readers felt the same way as our dear, opinionated judges about the country’s best magazine ad. So select your favourite ad (the list is made up of all the winners across the competition plus a few wildcard entries we felt deserved to be in the hunt for the major prize) and then click on the vote button down below.
Outdoor media is doing it pretty tough at the moment, but Adshel had a stellar 2013, both here and in Australia. And now it’s got something else to shout about because, after 15 years of loyal service from the old brand, it has unveiled its new one.
Hobbit mania has thankfully subsided (although some embers sparked yesterday after the release of a few interesting emails). And Air New Zealand is back with another new safety video, this time featuring intrepid explorer/eater/showman Bear Grylls, who traipses around the Fiordland wilderness and helps to promote the airline’s $3 million commercial partnership with the Department of Conservation.
Victor Hugo said “puns are the droppings of soaring wits”. But while it could be said the new ad from New Zealand labour provider Allied Work Force fits the first half of that quote, it’s doubtful it could be included it in the latter.
Kiwi directing duo Mark Albiston and Louis Sutherland, collectively known as Mark & Louis, have picked up a Grand Prix at the Berlin International Film Festival for their feature Shopping. And, in more good news for The Sweet Shop gang, it has also been named as one of Creativity magazine’s stand-out production companies of 2012.
Last year, when Lindsey Redding passed away, one of the posts he had written called a ‘A Short Lesson in Perspective’ started circulating again. In it, he concluded that life in this industry didn’t really pass his ‘overnight test’ and that those sitting in “a darkened studio or edit suite agonising over whether housewife A should pick up the soap powder with her left hand or her right” should do themselves a favour and go home to see their family. There’s no doubt this profession is a demanding one—and it seems to be becoming more demanding by the day—but it’s also got plenty going for it and, in a new video series aimed at promoting the industry, the Marketing Association has decided to get some of those positives from experienced campaigners.
Ogilvy’s ode to the magical, wonderful pig, Lisa Carrington’s gentle encouragement for Southern Cross and Sorted’s closure of the loop reach the dais.
According to the latest figures, Kiwis consumed 20 million fewer litres of beer in 2012 than the year before, something put down to a combination of average summer weather and a general shift away from the brown stuff towards wine and spirits. But there is growth in craft beer and Lion is continuing to get in on that act with its new Crafty Beggars range, “a craft beer you can actually drink”.
It’s been more than a year in the making, but TVNZ has finally launched its OnDemand app for iOS, meaning Shortland Street and Seven Sharp is now viewable across iPhone and iPad.