Out to Launch
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Sweden has its own phone number. Pepsi launches new cola, 1893. Let's launch!
  • SheaMoisture launched #BreakTheWalls, an ad campaign that aims to raise awareness about segregation in the beauty aisle. A 60-second video illustrates how hair products for women with wavy, curly or kinky hair is found in a separate "ethnic" section. The spot follows a woman walking through the beauty aisle, wondering how she can break down the walls separating ethnic products from the beauty aisle. "Is ethnic not beautiful?" asks one voiceover. The video ends with the shelves tumbling down and the SheaMoisture brand found inside the beauty aisle, where it belongs. See the ad here and visit BreakTheWalls.com for more info. Droga5 created the campaign.

  • Volvo launched a unique campaign for its XC90 T8 gas and electric vehicle showcasing competing automotive brands inadvertently powering the car. The initiative took place on a highway in Southern California in late March. Volvo "hijacked" part of the highway over the course of a 2-day period, installing a custom peristaltic pump over the road that generated electricity to fuel the nearby charging station -- and the XC90 T8 connected to it, whenever a car drove over it. Stealing energy is a form of highway robbery, apparently. As an added dig to competing brands, each time one of their cars drove over the pump to power the XC90 T8,  they were specifically thanked, in real time, on a nearby billboard. Imagine a driver of a blue Volkswagen, a black Audi or a Jeep being thanked personally for playing a role in powering a rival company's hybrid vehicle? Watch "Highway Robbery" here, created by Grey New York.

  • French patisserie Paul launched a dessert line in Romania that draws attention to gender inequality in the country. "Bittersweet pies" is a line of cake products sold in all Paul bakeries across Romania, where pie chart statistics become part of a dessert. Those with a sweet tooth can choose to buy the "Salary Gap" cake; "Misrepresentation" cake; "Extremely Rich" cake; "Startup Exclusion" cake and "Glass Ceiling Double" cake. For example, 88% of men make up Parliament, with only 12% women. Each cake is completely edible, including the statistics, and are based on Paul's original cake recipes (Fleur de Lys, Tartelette citron, Tartelette au chocolat). Five percent of revenue from all "Bittersweet Pies" will be donated to "FILIA Foundation," an organization that trains rural women for modern professions. See the treats here, here, here, here, here, here and here, created by MRM//McCann Romania.

  • Is this an analog version of Chatroulette? To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the abolishment of censorship, Sweden, along with the Swedish Tourist Association, has become the first country with its own phone number. The Swedish Number +46771 793 336 (+46771 Sweden) can be dialed from anywhere in the world, 24/7, and callers will be connected with a random Swedish ambassador for the country. The Swedish Tourist Association partnered with a provider of contact solutions to create a large switchboard. The cloud-based contact center is used to register ambassadors and connect all calls. No topic is off-limits, so if you want to discuss the Northern Lights, politics, or food, feel free. See an intro video here. Visitors can also check out TheSwedishNumber.com for stats on the number of calls and where they're coming from. Currently, the United States and Turkey are tied for countries calling the number. As of this writing, more than 8,500 phone calls have been placed. INGO Stockholm created the campaign.

  • Party like it's 1893 when drinking Pepsi's new cola, 1893. The soda is inspired by the original recipes created by Pepsi founder Caleb Bradham in that same year. The soda features kola nut extract, real sugar and sparkling water, and comes in two flavors: Original and Ginger Cola. 1893 can be enjoyed on its own or added to cocktails. A debut TV spot features a soda sommelier, played by actor Jeff Galfer, educating customers on the proper way to enjoy 1893: by swirling, smelling and sipping it. Unfortunately, the sommelier doesn't take his own advice and chugs his 1893, along with a customer's. See it here, created by Pitch.

  • J. Walter Thompson New York launched some adorable work for The Shelter Pet Project on behalf of the Ad Council. "Start A Story. Adopt," aims to increase pet adoption with a series of TV ads starring pets famous on social media that were once shelter animals. Did you know that Keyboard Cat, Toast Meets World and Hamilton Pug were shelter animals? They are all big deals now on YouTube and Instagram. A series of 30-second ads profiles their human owners and the story behind each beloved animal's adoption. See the ads here, here, here and here. Of the three million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters each year, approximately 2.4 million are healthy and treatable and would have made a great family addition.

  • I had never heard of skijoring until I watched this ad for McDonald's Mighty Angus Burger. In Canada, cowboys strap on a pair of skis and are pulled at a fast pace by horses. It looks hard, scary and a ton of fun all at the same time. McDonald's Canada visited cowboys at the Calgary Stampede who spend their downtime skijoring. A 360 degree video follows one cowboy from many angles as he's pulled through an obstacle course. When the ride's over, the men are treated to a Mighty Angus Burger. Watch it here, created by Cossette. OMD handled the media buy.

  • Gevalia coffee launched a print and digital campaign that takes direct aim at Starbucks, urging the brand not to be bitter. The campaign originated from blind taste test results that showed more coffee drinkers preferred Gevalia's house blend over Starbucks' house blend. The ads encourage Stabucks to stay positive because the brand still excels at artisanal cheese plates and cake pops. I can certainly attest for the cake pops; so good. See the ads here, here and here, created by Taxi.

  • Random App of the week:Yahoo updated its Android and iOS app, making it easier for users to sift through content. Rather than opening individual articles in multiple browser tabs, users can now scroll through related stories inline. At the top of the app, editors select important stories and position them alongside content most relevant to each individual. Users can read related stories by clicking the "heart" icon. Over time, as they click on more content, the Yahoo stream becomes more tailored to their interests. The clean layout makes it easy for users to share videos, stories and photos with others.