Author: mxmadmin

  • AdStrat: Mercedes Benz – Pillows

    Ambareesh Chakraborty, Creative Director, RK Swamy BBDO

     

    1. Name of the Campaign: Pillows

     

    2. Research insights: Pillows

    Sleep can suddenly steal upon anyone while driving. We wanted to dramatise its stealthy appearance through the analogy of the pillows and drive home the fact that the New Attention Assist on the Mercedes Benz will detect any such tendency to sleep and prompt the driver to take a break, an important and thoughtful feature from a brand that has pioneered most of the safety features extant in the automotive world today.

     

    3. The Brief:

    The task was to make potential customers realize that even though sleep can strike at any time and without warning while driving; the Attention Assist Feature on Mercedes Benz E-Class cars has been designed to tackle just this.

     

    4. The thought process behind the creative:

    Make potential customers realize the stealthy nature of sleep. This was done through the sudden conversion of the road marks into pillows. Let the visual cue the problem and have the copy simply state the solution.

     

    5. Media vehicles chosen: Print

     

    6. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad:

    It should look premium, and be noticeably different in the way it delivers the message. It should be understated in tone, in keeping with the image of the brand.

     

    7. Does the treatment do justice to the brief:

    Yes, it deals with the problem in a different way. The restrained tone of voice of the Mercedes Benz brand has been maintained. The look is premium and is capable of intriguing a reader.

     

    8. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad:

    It is simple, yet unusual. It does not have a crash scene, or a man drooling off to sleep, or a shiny car in it, and yet the tone of the ad is Mercedes Benz.

     

    9. Market and client feedback: Not yet available.

     

    AdStrat appears every Monday. Compiled by Shubhangi Mehta.

     

  • AdStrat: Honda – Rush Hour

    Titus Upputuru, National Creative Director, Dentsu Marcom

     

    1. Name of the Campaign: Honda – Rush Hour

     

    2 The Brief:

    The task at hand was to carry forward Honda’s global slogan – The Power of Dreams – in the Indian two-wheeler market. The brief was to create synergy with the Indian ethos, and structure communication that understands and empathizes with the dreams of every Indian. This would be the foundation stone to building a brand that every Indian can relate to and be the most accepted by the year 2020.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”225″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLPlGq3EpFo[/youtube]

    3. Research insights:

    Indian consumers are nurturing dreams and they want to fulfill them. They are more of doers than dreamers. They want to do their dreams.

     

    4. The thought process behind the creative:

    India is in a hurry. All of us want to fulfill our dreams fast. Honda is all about the Power of Dreams. Soichira Honda had said ‘products don’t lie’. And what a good thing it was to say. So we interpreted the philosophy of Power of Dreams in an Indian context. In India , we are not dreaming. We all have done our share of dreaming. Now is the era of doing the dreams. We have set out to fulfill the dreams, each one of us. And the creative layer we have added is the fact that we are all in a hurry. We all want to make them happen. Sooner than later. That is the core thought behind the creative.

     

    5. Media vehicles chosen:

    TVC, Print, Outdoor, Digital

     

    6. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad:

    It had to be real as against staged. We wanted to capture real India rushing out of homes to chase their dreams. In the process, sacrificing breakfasts, lunches and sleep. So we tried to keep it real. The casting and the location was not pretty or beautiful. It was supposed to a bit photo journalistic.

     

    7. Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    You tell us.

     

    8. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    The ad looks global and yet very India. It’s got a fresh take on India. The fact that the country is in a hurry. That stands out. Also, the use of celebrity is not to just look good or do some stunts. He has a message that rings true to every Indian and comes from his own experience.

     

    Compiled by Shubhangi Mehta

     

  • AdStrat: Zarvan Patel, ideas@work, Jumjoji -The Parsi Diner

    Zarvan Patel, Founder,  ideas@work

     

    Name of the Campaign: Jumjoji-The Parsi Diner

     

    The Brief:

    “We’re starting a real Parsi restaurant with real Parsi food with real Parsi recipes from real Parsi homes, what do you think of the name CrazyBawa?” was the brief given by Boman Irani.

     

    Research insights:

    Parsis are renowned eccentrics – quirky and idiosyncratic, they’re crazy about their food, they’re crazy about their drink, their bikes, Zubin Mehta, Sam Maneckshaw, filing lawsuits, cursing in languages they can barely speak, and are often caught laughing raucously at themselves, which just goes to show: Parsis are cuckoo.

     

    The thought process behind the creative: How do we finish this campaign in time for happy Hours?

     

    Media vehicles chosen:

    Personal invites, e-mailers, Facebook, posters, internet, select foodie magazines and the Parsiana

     

    Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad:

    No one has ever been offended by a Parsi’s use of foul language or eau de cologne, in fact, they’re usually belly up, rolling on floors with laughter.

     

    Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    We ran the ads through the rigorous wringer of research and there was an overwhelming response of ‘Chalse Dikra’, and ‘tamharo kai aur kaam nathi?’ Translation: ‘Don’t you have anything better to do?’

     

    What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ads?

    They were created by a team of 2 authentic Parsis and 6 surrogates who all wore sapats.

     

    Market and client feedback

    What began a couple of months ago as a 24-seater, by-appointment-preferably restaurant, is now poised to expand into the Parsi owned garage next door, this will add on another 30 seats and give guests the authentic Parsi pleasure of polishing a motorcycle at no extra cost.

     

  • AdStrat: Fox Movies subtitle campaign

    Santosh Padhi, CCO & Co-Founder, TapRoot India

     

    1. Name of the Campaign: Fox Movies subtitle campaign

     

    2. The Brief:

    English language channels had struck a chord with the audience in non-English speaking markets due to subtitling. Of course, the next sphere of offering was the regional feed. This allowed the English channels to be relevant and come closer to their audience. Thus, this campaign was conceptualized with the brief of making the audience aware that Fox Channel is available inSouth East Asiain regional language.

     

    3. Research insights:

    No research was done as there was a simple thing to communicate.

     

    4. The thought process behind the creative:

    Since we had to communicate that Fox Channel now offers subtitle-free movies, so the product promise is generic, the challenge was how to say it in a way that Fox Channel is on the top of the mind. We thought whatever we say, it has to be entertaining in the first place, which is why one watches movies, hence a humorous approach. Since it was targeted for the Thai audience, the second challenge was not just humour, but very distinctive humour as they are known for their mad humours. We decided to highlight the problem, the whole idea of the campaign or creative device based on simple behaviour of the person who watches movies with subtitles.

     

    5. Media vehicles chosen: TV, Print and Outdoor

     

    6. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad:

    The ad should be entertaining and fun and humour should be top of the mind.

     

    7. Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    Yes, it’s bang on to the problem being highlighted to make the point.

     

    8. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    Simplicity and humour.

     

    9. Market and client feedback:

    The client loved it. That’s the reason it is on air in Thailand. But it is too early to get a market feed back.

     

  • AdStrat – Nescafe Cold Coffee

    Haresh Nayak, Managing Director, Posterscope Group India

    1. Name of the Campaign

    Nescafe Cold Coffee Campaign

     

    2. The Brief

    The Task was to give Nescafe outdoor a new and fresh look for the summers keeping in mind the existing Cold Coffee TVC on air.

     

    3. The thought process behind the creative

    With Deepika Padukone as brand ambassador of Nescafe the outdoor campaign was an attempt to highlight the COLD aspect of Nescafe. The creative were fresh and bright blue in color connoting Cold. It highlights Deepika Padukone with an appetizing glass of cold coffee with a clear cut message “Enjoy Nescafe Cold Coffee”. The idea was also to link it with our existing Nescafe cold coffee TVC that was on air in which Deepika does a jig and shakes it and makes her cold coffee.

     

    4. Media vehicles chosen

    Outdoor

     

    5. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad

    The messaging had to be very direct. The whole layout should give a cold effect. It should be on the lines of the existing Nescafe TVC.

     

    6. Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    Yes, it does

     

    7. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    The messaging was very direct so one glance would make the viewer recall the Nescafe TVC and also it would work in isolation if he has not seen it.

     

    8. Market and client feedback

    Nestle was quiet happy with the outdoors as they were eyecatchy and the messaging was very direct.

     

    Compiled by Shubhangi Mehta

     

  • AdStrat | Nutrasweet: Sweet Ban Gaya Nutrasweet

    Shekhar Pandey - Associate Vice President, Mudra Ahmedabad.

     

    1. Name of the Campaign: Sweet BanGaya Nutrasweet

     

    2. The Brief: It is a better tasting sweetener. Hence world number 1. The brand has to be born big.

     

    3. Research insights: There are lot of people who are convinced about the “no sugar” or “less calorie” story and have tried these kind of sweeteners and quit because they do not like the taste. These people would be the ideal segment for “Nutrasweet”.

     

    4. The thought process behind the creative: It is to take ourselves less seriously and not come across as cleaver, intelligent sounding but to sound warm, humane and endearing. Not to look at a particular class of people but look at every sweet loving person.

     

    5. Media vehicles chosen: TV

     

    6. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad: Just come across as warm and human.

     

    7. Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    Yes

     

    8. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    It does not talk “no sugar”. It does not talk “less calories”. It simply says don’t hesitate while having sweets because sweet has become nutrasweet.

     

    9. Market and client feedback: Extremely likeable.

     

  • AdStrat | Tata Salt: Mothers for Mother India

    Kapil Mishra, Executive Creative Director, Leo Burnett

     

    Name of the campaign/ad: Tata Salt – Mothers for Mother India

     

    The brief:

    The brief was very clear – to communicate the ‘Desh ka namak’ philosophy of Tata Salt.

    ‘Desh ka namak’ symbolizes the value of honesty, and the brief sought to take this forward in a very current context.

     

    Research insights:

    Tata Salt is built on the core value that is embedded in salt… ‘Honesty’. And it is this value that the brand is espousing at a time when the nation seems to be facing an honesty deficit. So, we examined the task at a dual level. First, a look at what honesty meant in today’s context.

    Second, we looked at all the possible influences/ factors that determined the value of honesty in a person’s life.

     

    The thought process behind the creative:

    In a time where the relevance of honesty seems to be getting questioned – we felt it was time to once again seed honesty as a value. ‘Desh ka namak’ symbolizes the value of honesty…and children learn the first lessons of honesty from their mothers. Thus, we looked at salt as that symbol of honesty which mothers feed their children.

    The very simple and powerful idea being – that if every mother were to decide that she would teach her child the virtue of being honest, nothing could stop the entire nation from being honest!

     

    Media vehicles chosen: Televison, POS, on-ground.

     

    What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad:

    It’s a very simple, yet powerful tribute to the singular, most powerful force responsible for inculcating the values of honesty – the mother.

    Secondly, it does not try to preach. That, according to us, was an obvious trap for a virtue like honesty. By staying away from it, we felt that the campaign will be well received and resonate better with our consumers.

     

  • Ad Strat: Havells Fans are Forever

    R Balki,  Chairman and Chief Creative Officer Lowe Lintas

     

    1. Name of the Campaign: Havells Fans are Forever

     

    2. The Brief: To communicate that Havells fans are forever

     

    3. The thought process behind the creative:

    Havells is known for interesting advertising and their association with the IPL. They have been associated with all the four editions of the IPL so far. This time round they are back with a new campaign for Havells fans which marks the comeback of the yesteryears’ superstar Mr. Rajesh Khanna in his first ever TVC. This iconic superstar is known for an unprecedented mass hysteria and a frenzied fan following in the history of Indian cinema. Never before or never after, has any film star been known for such a fan following. The new TVC for Havells Fans is a tribute to the phenomenon and the relationship he had with his fans.

     

    4. Media vehicles chosen: TV, Print, Internet and in-shop POSM

     

    5. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad:

    The ad has to be a Havells fans ad first, and should not get overshadowed by the presence of any celebrity.

     

    6. Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    Yes, as it clearly establishes the fact that Havells fans are forever.

     

    7. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    The thought that Havells fans are forever and the way Rajesh Khanna has been used, doing justice to the idea and the thought. This is the first time that in the fans category, a brand has spoken about this proposition, and in a way like this.

     

    8. Market and client feedback:

    We have got extremely encouraging feedback from the market, including the trade, consumers and also from Bollywood.

     

    Compiled by Shubhangi Mehta, AdStrat appears every Monday. If you wish to see your campaign, featuring here, please write to Shubhangim [at] mxmindia.com with a cc to editor@mxmindia.com

  • AdStrat: Limca ‘Pyaas Badhao’

    KV Sridhar, NCD, Leo Burnett

     

    1. Name of the Campaign: Limca ‘Pyaas Badhao’

     

    2. The Brief:

    Limca has been a long-standing brand with great equity among consumers, especially in markets like Punjab, Delhi, West U.P., Chennai and Andhra Pradesh.

     

    The ambition was to create a positive discontinuity for Limca that would build off the strong thirst-quenching & freshness credentials- while laddering upto a strong point of view as a brand philosophy.

     

    3. Research insights:

    While thirst quenching is the central attribute for the product, the brand needed to have a ‘larger than life’ emotional role in its story telling. With the feedback from the consumers, we had a well-researched and sharper take on what ‘freshness’ meant for the consumers. So we picked up this specific insight and created a communication interpreting thirst for a larger audience – the thirst to make it big.

     

    4. The thought process behind the creative:

    Limca’s took up the task of encouraging everyday ordinary people to aim higher and strive to reach their dreams – Where Limca quenches the physical thirst that one gets when one sets out to achieve more each time. And we encapsulated the thought in the call to action – ‘Pyaas Badhao’.

     

    5. Media vehicles chosen:

    We chose various mediums like TV, Outdoors, Print and Point of Sales to reach more and more people.

     

    6. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad:

    It was important for us to strike the right balance between sincere efforts put in by the guy and the light-hearted ones. Also Kareena Kapoor’s tone and mannerisms were consciously kept towards the lighter side so that we don’t come across as preachy. The effort guy puts in the commercial also needed to capture the physical exhaustion he goes through to justify the well deserved and much needed bottle of Limca he gets in the end.

     

    7. Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    Yes! The creative assigned a clear role to Limca – the previously unanswered question, Why should I have a Limca? – now stands resolved. Limca is about the physical thirst that one works up while chasing his emotional thirst (of his dreams)

     

    8. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    Everyday people set goals for themselves and they go through a lot of hard work and perseverance in order to achieve it. With the powerful, real life message we as a brand have tried to talk to each one of those people inIndiawho thirst to achieve more and more.

     

    9. Market and client feedback:

    Early reaction is very positive from the market.

     

  • AdStrat: Volkswagen Polo & Vento – IPL Edition II

    Rajeev Raja, Consultant, DDB Mudra Mumbai

     

    Campaign Title: Polo/Vento Offer

     

    Brand: Volkswagen Polo & Vento- IPL Edition II

     

    The Brief:

    Keeping in line with its global tradition of sports affiliations, Volkswagen inIndiahas a partnership with the IPL, an innovative cricketing format. For its mass models, Polo & Vento, Volkswagen was launching a special edition model with added features (interactive pad that could be used to watch live media/ entertainment) for a cricket crazy nation.

     

    The task was to create awareness about the special edition models with this added feature and, thereby, create desire amongst the consumers.

     

    Media vehicles chosen:

    We sought to develop a full 360 degree communication for the offer, which included very interesting television commercials, print, OOH & digital work.

     

    Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad:

    Create a communication that would stand out in the overcrowded ad space during the IPL event. Yet it needed to be simple, entertaining and within the Volkswagen tonality and manner of communication.

     

    The thought process behind the creative:

    Volkswagen is the only official automobile partner for the IPL. Therefore, it was only fair to make Volkswagen the ‘official vehicle’ to deliver the IPL experience to the cricket crazy nation.

     

    Packed with IPL-centric features and branding, it gave the cricket enthusiast a chance to not just view the IPL, but also to live the experience of this cricketing extravaganza.

     

    No matter where you are or where you go, you will never be far away from the IPL action thanks to the Volkswagen IPL Polo and Vento Edition II. From this emanated our strategy for the campaign.

     

    What according to you is the differentiating factor about the campaign?

    It is one of the first campaign which has the IPL woven into the story line. It also manages to beautifully inject humour and heart into innovation and technology.

     

    Month and Date of Release: March 2012

     

    Credits:

    Unit Name: DDBIndia

    Office Head: Rajiv Sabnis

    CCO: Sonal Dabral

    Business Head: Anurag Tandon

    Creative Head: Rajeev Raja, Louella Rebello

    Art: Sreejith Kadoth

    Copy: Ranjit Sasidharan

    Account Management: Avik Choudhury, Monish Debnath, Aaron Dsouza

    Films Department: Michael Remedios

    Director:  Will van der Vlugt

    Production House: Caramel Pictures

     

    Creatives:

    Print: JPG format [up till 10mb]

    TVC: MPEG or MP4 format[without slate, up till 10mb]

     

     

     

  • AdStrat: IndusInd Bank Responsive Campaign

    Pranvir Singh Mann, Creative Head,Delhi, RK SWAMY BBDO.

     

    1. Name of the Campaign: IndusInd Bank Responsive Campaign

     

    2. The Brief: Build on the responsive theme by introducing innovative banking solutions

     

    3. Research insights: The core idea was IndusInd Bank is a responsive bank that is ever-ready to innovate in order to help customers lead an easier life. The objective is to establish that IndusInd Bank provides innovative, secure and hassle-free banking solutions.

    IndusInd Bank came up with 3 innovative banking services based on the real consumer insights.

    • The innovative ‘Cash On Mobile ATM’ service to help their customers when caught in an unforeseen emergency. The freedom to withdraw cash from IndusInd Bank ATM when you are without cash or card by just receiving a SMS from an IndusInd Bank customer.
    • Calling and getting connected to a bank’s customer care is a big challenge. IndusInd Bank understood this problem and came up with ‘Call Connect’ which allows the customer to get connected to the Phone Banking executive directly.
    • Generally no one bothers to redeem their Credit Card reward points as it’s a hassle and moreover the redemption process and rewards associated with it are quite ambiguous. IndusInd Bank came up with ‘Quick Redeem Service’ which gives the customer a choice to redeem the reward points on the spot.

     

    4. The thought process behind the creative:

    The creative had to be clutter breaker and highlight the key benefit of the respective service very clearly.

    • Cash on Mobile: To deliver the message through a situation that one can relate to. Thereby, highlighting the main benefit of the service clearly.
    • Call Kabaddi: Create a visual of the hassle that one goes through while calling up the bank. To make people immediately empathize with the protagonist
    • Quick Redeem Service: to exaggerate the benefit and its impact on the customers.

     

     

    5. Media vehicles chosen: Primarily TV, Outdoors, Radio

     

    6. Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad: It was kept in mind that the service message should be brought out clearly and people should not get confused in the delivery and functionality of the service.

     

    7. Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    Yes

     

    8. What according to you is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    • Cash OnMobileATM: Neetu Singh
    • Call Connect: Visual device
    • Quick Redeem Service: The whole set-up and aura

     

    9. Market and client feedback:

    Have a good feedback from the client:

    Cash on mobile and Call connect: Many customers called the bank for the service related query.

    Quick Redeem Service: Many customers called for query related to reward points redemption

    Overall, we got a great response from the customers.

     

  • AdStrat: Best Rice, The Perfect Match

    Ajay Gahlaut, ECD, Ogilvy Delhi

     

    Name of the campaign/ad

    Best Rice: The Perfect Match

     

    Brief

    Reposition rice from an uninvolved product for the consumer to a desirable brand. Best rice needs to be in everyone’s mouth and the brand name on everyone’s lips.

     

    Research insights

    India is a country that believes in forgiving and forgetting. They are all the more hasty when it comes to advertising of products they hardly want to waste time thinking about. And even more when it’s about everyday consumption happening within the confines of their homes. Nobody walks in to ask what brand of flour one is using. Or, what mustard oil brand you love. The same has been the case with rice, even when India is known to be a country of rice eaters.

     

    With the advent of brands into flour and mustard oil, how could rice companies be left behind? Many of them braved this uncertain market about 10 years ago. They introduced packaged rice, of course with a premium. Thus began a flurry of advertising campaigns trying to sell the white grain. They cited a better product than the unbranded, open rice that one gets at the friendly neighbourhood grocer. The claim worked and the packaged rice market started to grow at a rate of 35 percent every year. But it came with a problem. The consumer would pick any rice brand, with the thinking that any brand is better than unbranded rice. The result, in the long run, was a total absence of brand loyalty.

     

    The thought process behind the creative

    Rice is never the main dish in the menu. We cook rajma, dal, fish curry, chicken curry, sambar and take rice for granted. But if rice is not cooked well, even the perfect rajma will not taste good. Thus, we arrived at a very simple insight – that rice is never eaten in isolation. Voila! The idea: Best – The Perfect Match. In brief, rice complements the food it’s eaten with in the same way that a perfect couple complements each other.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TMkAjn4Z3c[/youtube]

    Media vehicles chosen

    While it was principally led by television, print has been used interestingly as a reminder medium.

     

    Key issues kept in mind while executing the ad

    While all three ads were in three different languages, they were to be universally understood and enjoyed. To personify rice and the accompanying dish that belongs to a particular region, the ads had to look authentic.

     

    Does the treatment do justice to the brief?

    There are various ways of bringing the thought of “The Perfect Match” alive and several were tried. But experience shows that consumers always warm up to human stories. Specially love stories, which is where we hit upon the idea of using different couples to make our idea talk.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifEWu_4EnVg[/youtube]

    What is the differentiating factor about the ad?

    These couples in the commercials, and the chemistry they shared with their partners, brought charm to the commercials while effortlessly communicating the brand benefit. They were definitely clutter-breaking, and the stories made people smile.

     

    Market and client feedback

    In the last few weeks, these little white grains have become the talk of the town. There was a 30 percent hike in sales in Delhi/NCR within the first week. All in all the campaign managed to fulfil its quintessence, by helping the brand capture the consumer’s eye in an age of utmost competition. We might well say that men, too, are now interested in knowing the brand of rice used in the house.

     

    [youtube width=”400″ height=”200″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkEJzotfgM4[/youtube]

    Credits

    Company: Best Foods Ltd

    Product: Best Rice

    Agency: Ogilvy, Gurgaon

    Creative Director: Ajay Gahlaut, Nitin Srivastava

    Writer: Umesh Grover

    Art: Jonathan George

    Client servicing team: Sharmista Dev, Vineet Kindra, Shivani Sharma, Lagun Sehgal

    Production House: Chrome Pictures

    Director: Amit Sharma