Kelly Bennett
It’s been a relatively stressful time for TBWA\ of late: around the same time the ASB account left the building, Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand (PlayStation) was also undertaking a thorough competitive review of its PR account. And it would’ve been a pretty bad look to lose that business too, but in news that’s sure to bring comfort to the Mayoral Drive offices, ELEVEN\PR, part of the TBWA\ Group, retained the account.
Who it’s for: 2degrees by TBWA\ and Film Construction
Why we like it: Rhys Darby has been the perfect frontman for a challenger brand like 2degrees and his quirky sense of humour certainly seems to have resonated with New Zealanders in the year or so since the mobile network’s launch. The ads are enjoyable in their own right, but they also seem to have had the desired commercial effect, and the company’s goal of gaining double-digit market share (oh, and giving Kiwis cheaper mobile calling) is apparently within sight. And that’s worth a bit of a nudge, a bit of a wink, a bit of self-deprecating laugh and a bit of a celebratory TVC.
All good things must come to an end (except for honey, which doesn’t have an expiration date) and the axe is currently hanging ominously over Ira Goldstein, the New York banker who, since 2000, has been the endearingly stupid face of ASB bank.
If you believe the company mantra, TBWA\ is all about ‘disruption’. And there’s been plenty of that in Mayoral Drive lately (although not of the creative kind it likes), after ASB decided to end its 12 year relationship and shack up with Droga5 last week.
ASB has scratched its 12 year itch, after long-time incumbent TBWA\ was ousted by new (but old) boys on the block, Droga5.
DDB and Liquid Studios hit it for six at Cannes last night, taking home six Cannes Lions from six finalist placings for their Arts Channel radio campaign for Sky Television. And Yellow has yet again turned to gold for Colenso.
On 21 May we floated Plankton IPO for a meagre $10 a share in the effort to raise enough cash to get us to Cannes. Against all odds and with the help of more than 70 investors from across the globe we actually made it. 30 odd hours and more than a few B-grade movies later and we’re here, eating croissants, dodging scooters and paying through the nose for everything.
The finalist announcements have been made for the Press, Outdoor, Media and Radio categories at Cannes. And the Kiwis have continued their good run.
Raising funds is a tough business. Some sell cheese rolls. Some sell sausages in bread. But TBWA’s Tara McKenty and Iain Nealie have taken an altogether different approach: they’re selling themselves – or, at least, their future – in the form of made-up stocks.
At the start of the year, Research Magazine asked a number of top UK researchers to sum up in one word what they believed 2010 held for the research industry. “Listen,” said respected research director Reineke Reitsma from Forrester Research.
The old theatre line “if it ain’t on the page, it ain’t on the stage” rings true whether it’s David Mamet’s latest taut masterpiece, or Tracy the acccount manager’s brief for new improved Wheaty Bites. But take a look at the majority of ads around you. Any memorable lines? Resonant insights? Emotional journeys? The results suggest all is not well in creative brief world.
Ray Avery, the founder, driving force and bona fide genius behind independent development agency Medicine Mondiale, has been chosen as the inaugural winner of TBWA’s new Disruption Award.
With all this talk of The Feelers and uninspiring marketing campaigns for the Rugby World Cup, it’s good to see some creative, interesting and slightly more challenging event promotion work from the folks at TBWA\Whybin\Tequila for the big dust-up between David Tua and Friday ‘The Thirteenth’ Ahunanya tonight.
New Zealand maintained its reputation as a direct marketing powerhouse at the 32nd John Caples International Awards in New York late last week, with Colenso and AIM Proximity’s Yellow Treehouse once again in the upper echelons and DraftFCB and TBWA\Whybin\Tequila also claiming some precious metal.
As two doors open, another one closes for TBWA\ Group: business strategist and online specialist Bonnie Frankland and Victoria Graves have added their names to the roster, while Ron Fielding and Tracey Fox have said their goodbyes.
Adshel is making a habit of bringing sports to the world of public transport and it did it again during January’s ASB Classic, treating commuters to some unique ‘courtside’ action by combining specially designed bus shelters, posters, decals and even the modern scourge of female tennis, ridiculous grunting.
Christmas has come early for DraftFCB after it was confirmed the agency would take over the Westfield account from TBWA/TEQUILA.
The world’s best financial services communications were honoured at the Midas Awards last week in New York.
TBWA\Whybin was the only NZ agency awarded this year. It won two gold ingots in the Best Online advertising category for ASB Bank ‘Crazy wwworld’ and in the Best Point-of-Purchase category …
Having made the decision to return to New Zealand after a long time spent working in advertising abroad, my colleagues and clients had difficulty understanding why I was choosing not to move to Sydney.
Months before “the best job in the world” competition grabbed the headlines, it seemed that Australia …
The Marketing Agencies Association Worldwide (MAA Worldwide) has announced the MAA GLOBES finalists for the Best of the Best Promotional Marketing Campaigns in the World for 2009.
Australasian Promotional Marketing Association (APMA) Star Award winners are eligible to participate in the GLOBES. This year Australian and NZ agencies are finalists …