After a record 290 entries across 21 categories, 99 finalists have made it through to the final rounds of judging for the Media Awards. And the usual suspects are on top, with OMD on 36 finalists (11 from its Wellington office), Spark PHD on 20 and DraftFCB Media on 16.
DDB took a summer quinella by winning both the December and January rounds of the newspaper ad of the month comp with its YWCA and VW ads. And now it’s claimed yet more Beetle/paper-related victory with a classified ad to promote its Beetling campaign.
In addition to the usual suspects of ‘market share’, ‘customer retention’ and ‘campaign ROI’, Dennis Kibirev found that warm-and-fuzzies such as ‘lives changed’, ‘worthwhile causes supported’ or ‘communities improved’ were cited at the Marketing Association’s first Not-For-Profit event last week.
The inaugural Glossies Magazine Advertising Awards kicked off last night to smoke, meat and unfurling banners. Ecostore, Special Group and Naked Communications take top prize.
How much would you pay to directly message the Prime Minister on Facebook? Ten dollars seems reasonable. Also, changes to Facebook news feed on the horizon.
If you log into Google+ today you’ll notice a facelift on the social network and the addition of a few new features including reviews and juiced up cover photos.
Twitter, noun: A service for communicating in short bursts, typically up to 140 characters, which is creating a vernacular of its own. This infographic helps break down some of the jargon being created on the social network [ed: does anyone use any of these words in real life?].
Snakk has become the first company to list on the stock exchange this year, with its addition to the New Zealand Alternative Exchange (NZAX). The mobile advertising startup is expanding its sales presence in Australia.
Ian Moody switched from Westpac to BNZ to take up the head of brand role in early November last year, which made for a fairly difficult acceptance speech when he was named as marketer of the year while between jobs. And he has resigned just a few months in to the new job due to what external relations manager Emily Davies calls “personal reasons”.
Trade Me says it’s selling daily deal site Treat Me for an undisclosed amount, in a management buy out led by Treat Me head James MacAvoy.
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.
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.
In an increasingly digital world, speed is of the essence. And Tom Bates says modern agencies need to think agile if they want to keep up.
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.
TBWA\ welcomes more new blood, Brendan Hewitt gets the nod as a rising media star, Marlen Smith pushes the CAANZ advertising barrow, Beat gets growing and Hotwire launches new analytics tool.
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.
