Ding dong it’s Crispmas and a traditional brand continues to re-invent itself…..!

Ding dong it’s Crispmas, the 3 Ireland tv ad, a traditional brand continues to re-invent itself and a fundraising idea that made me open my purse…..!

Traditional Brand Re-invents Itself

For anyone interested in seeing a traditional business re-invent itself and be relevant in today’s world, Easons is worth watching.  Two years into their brand refresh, Catherine O’Mahony in the Sunday Business Post tells us that their new initiative ‘Easonology’ is being launched this week – it’s a space within the store where customers can try out challenging and/or creative products.  And the plan is to extend it to each of their 60 stores nationwide. http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/Home/Media+And+Marketing/Keen+on+self-development%3F+Now+there's+Easonology/id/74e8fa55-c164-4365-98be-05ff6ce6f5b3

Crispmas!

This seasonal marketing story just made me salivate – Keoghs Crisps are bringing back ‘Roast Turkey & Secret Stuffing’ crisps – yum! Wonder what they’ll taste like with a G&T?!! http://www.businessandleadership.com/marketing/item/43617-keoghs-farm-brings-back/

Lovely Irish Xmas Ad

After all my admiring noises about UK Christmas ads, it’s high time to give a big shout out for a really lovely Irish one – the 3 ad made by Boys and Girls  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odRFKBXYvDY

Innovative Fund-Raising Ideas

Fund-raising is exceptionally challenging and I really admire the creative ideas that some fundraisers come up with.  One that I really like – as seen on BusinessandLeadership.com - was this one – so much so I bought two – Silver Bells – that is!  Beaumont Hospital Foundation is selling silver bells (€20 each) and sterling silver bells (€170 each) – no prizes for guessing which ones I bought (!!).  Kudos to BHF also for the fact that the bells are designed by Irish silversmith, Seamus Gill and made in Ireland. http://www.businessandleadership.com/marketing/item/43658-beaumont-hospital/

In business & sport it's Tension V Support, good campaign for ALONE & what's a tired SME to do?

In business and sport it’s Tension V Support

The challenge for success is to get the right balance between tension and support – so said renowned sports coach, Dr. Frank Dick in yesterday’s Business Post.  He says a high wire performer is a great example – too much tension and the wire breaks, too little and it’s too slack for the purpose. I think we’re all fascinated by sports coaching and how it can be applied to business and this interview with Dick, who He worked with Daley Thompson and Boris Becker amongst others, doesn’t disappoint.  He believes that today’s athletes have too much support and not enough tension.  Might be worth checking out when he’s here in January at the Laya Pendulum summit.

http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/Living/Modern+Life/This+Life%3A+Frankly+speaking/id/6aa62cf7-efa3-4d86-9822-be12382ceef9

Kudos to all involved

A thought-provoking campaign has been developed by ad agency Bonfire who admirably gave their time for free to create a new outdoor campaign for Alone, the charity that helps older people in need.  According to the Irish Times, 500 Dublin Bus posters and 48 sheets have also been donated.  The visual in the print version of the Times had a really poignant message – “After three weeks on his own, the last thing Ed wants is ‘me time’.  Compassion alone is not enough. Please volunteer your time or money.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/media-and-marketing/putting-audience-in-older-people-s-shoes-1.1593669

What’s a tired SME to do?

Feargal Quinn in his weekly ‘Problem Solver’ column in the Irish Independent gives some really good practical advice.  In this instance, he offers tips to a café owner whose tired through and through after 12 years in business.  He also recommends expansion into Northern Ireland as the first step to a stationery producer looking at the export market – and details some of the supports available in that market.

http://www.independent.ie/business/problem-solver-how-can-i-breathe-life-into-my-cafe-after-12-years-in-business-29752931.html

£7m Xmas Ad, our favourite celebs, Facebook ads using their pix without approval....& more!

How I'd love a client to give me £7m for a Christmas campaign - that's what the new John Lewis Xmas campaign is costing!  Ireland's favourite celebs - and Facebook ads using their pix without approval, insights into older shoppers and a new-look SBP on the way - my pick of marketing and media stories from the past week!

£7m Sterling Xmas Ad!

As I’ve said previously, I’m a big fan of the recent John Lewis Christmas ads –and the 2013 version is lovely – quite quaint too!  But I saw in The Guardian that they’re spending £7m this year – £1m to produce the animated commercial and a £6m media spend!  This apparently included paying £750,000 to take over an entire ad break in X Factor on Saturday 9^th November to debut the ad!  Wow!   It’s going to take a lorra lorra Christmas shopping to make that pay!

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/08/department-stores-christmas-advertising-campaigns

Insights into Older Shoppers

Ethical, brand loyal, into organic and fresh food, with convenience and location being important shopping considerations – these are all insights into the older shopper which featured in Adworld late last week. http://www.adworld.ie/news/read/?id=47cb4e06-af15-45d9-aaf7-10f18b014812

Top 3 Sports & Radio/TV Presenters:

Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubridy and Ray D’Arcy are our favourite radio and TV presenters according to a report by Siobhan Brett in the Sunday Business Post last week – Newstalk will be happy to see Pat at number one!  Brian O’Driscoll, Katie Taylor and Roy Keane are the sports personalities we admire most according to the Online Sponsorship research.  O’Driscoll has been the most admired sports personality on 4 occasions in the last 5 years – losing out to Katie Taylor last year.

http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/Home/Media+And+Marketing/O'Driscoll+regains+sports+personality+top+spot+once+more/id/010bbc49-3118-466b-b03f-a7839a46aea1

Celebrity endorsement – without their approval.

The fact that no-one seems to be able to do anything about this makes it quite worrying for celebrities - and potentially for us lesser-known people to have our photos used to promote something or other amongst our friends!  I’m sure we’ve all spotted well known faces seemingly endorsing weight loss and other products on Facebook ads.   These ads have not sought or received approval from the celebs for their endorsement – and according to Miriam O’Callaghan, attempts to get her image removed from one of them came to naught.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/technology/facebook-ads-use-images-without-approval-1.1590376

New Look SBP!

From this Sunday 17^th November, we will have a new-look Sunday Business Post with a sneak peek being provided by SBP journalist and interim editor of ‘Agenda’ magazine, Gillian Nelis on Twitter – and it’s looking good! https://twitter.com/gnelis/status/399476316237361153/photo/1

'Every little Big Brother helps', iconic Xmas ads, Powering Kindness and more!

Iconic Christmas ads, Powering Kindness, ‘every little Big Brother helps’, Twitter gets more visual and Teens using Facebook less……….my marketing moments of the past week!

Christmas Ads

No, I don’t want to talk about the C word yet either – but the recent call for ‘iconic ads only’ from RTE for broadcast on Christmas Day got me thinking.  I have a soft spot for ads which at other times of the year, I would regard as saccharine-sweet – but at Yuletide, I indulge them wholeheartedly!

I wasn’t in Ireland for Christmas last year so I didn’t realise that RTE showed ads on Christmas Day for the first time ever.  The Irish Times recently reported that RTE want ‘iconic ads only’ – that’s putting it up to the brands and advertisers!  But at €10k for a 30 second spot, it’s only an option for the bigger brands!

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/media-and-marketing/rt%C3%A9-repeats-offer-for-iconic-tv-commercials-on-christmas-day-1.1578012

My all-time favourite Christmas ad must be 20-25 years old?  It’s the Kelloggs one with the most adorable little girl ever – and still brings tears to my eyes! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aI74-YHQGY

But since 2011, it’s had very, very strong competition from the beautifully crafted John Lewis ad.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSLOnR1s74o

Continuing with the feelgood factor, I have to mention the excellent Electric Ireland ‘Powering Kindness’ campaign which really is ‘Big Picture’ stuff.  Details are here - https://www.poweringkindness.ie/?gclid=CJ-o8ufay7oCFTAq2wodyXwAAw  They’ve got numerous broadcast stations on board including the daytime shows on Newstalk and 2FM all supporting one of 3 different charities and getting people to text in pledges of good deeds.  One charity will get €50k, one will get €30k and one will get €20k.  TV3 is also on board and features regular clips of various presenters pledging their Act of Kindness.  The campaign is also activated online via their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  No losers here, a really great campaign.

So now, “Every little Big Brother helps” or so it would seem - The Guardian reported earlier this week that customers will be scanned in Tesco forecourts.  Is it only me that wonders about the damage this technology might do to us physically i.e. to our eyes?!!  Never mind the moral dilemma of a complete invasion of privacy!  Maybe I’m just an old fogey!  http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/03/privacy-tesco-scan-customers-faces

The Sunday Business Post reported that Facebook is to limit news feed ads as they’re trying to tread the fine line between annoying people and maximising revenue.  Interestingly, they noted that younger teenagers are using the site less.

http://www.businesspost.ie/#!story/Home/News/Facebook+to+limit+news+feed+ads+as+younger+teens+use+site+less/id/19410615-5218-5272-127e-a24fe7201420

Krishna De reported in a recent blog that Twitter now automatically will show images and video within the feed.  It’s all about the visual folks – as Instagram’s success is showing.  http://www.krishna.me/2013/twitter-and-visual-content-marketing/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+KrishnaDeInsights+%28Krishna+De%3A+Insights+Blog%29