Out to Launch
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
EBates launches a support group. Norton tackles cyberbullying. Let's launch!
  • Svedka Vodka launched an amusing Halloween-themed campaign that depicted horrific events... for a Millennial. No surprise here, but social media plays a massive role. Each ad in "First-World Horrors" features Millennials dressed up and becoming overly dramatic about a minor incident... to us non-Millennials, at least. One woman's selfie only garnered four likes in three hours. If her friend looked up from her phone, she might offer some sympathy. Another Millennial is out of storage space and must tragically delete some photos. The last clip shows a man dressed as a taco, waiting for his crush to text him back. It's not looking good. Bensimon Byrne created the campaign.

  • Day of the Dead, a traditional Mexican holiday when families remember loved ones who have died, begins Nov. 1 and lasts for several days. Grey Canada and Bent Image Lab created a stop-motion, digital campaign to help el Jimador tequila join in on the festivities. The campaign, #welcomeback, welcomes everyone to the party -- including the dead. Each 15-second spot features skeletons who aren't ready to stop celebrating the holiday. One skeleton is carded and the bartender tells him that "he's decomposed so well." The next video shows a bartender mixing a drink and throwing a tequila bottle his way. Only problem is the bartender takes the skeleton's arm off in the process. The last video shows a generous skeleton buying a round of drinks for the bar, but he doesn't have a wallet  -- so a human pal steps in to pay. The campaign will run on el Jimador's social media channels.

  • Boo! One crafty Burger King in Queens, N.Y. pulled off an elaborate Halloween stunt and dressed as the ghost of McDonald's. The large outside Burger King sign was draped in a ghost sheet, with eyebrows that looked just like McDonald's golden arches. The menu sign read: "Booooo! Just kidding, we still flame-grill our burgers. Happy Halloween." The restaurant itself was also draped in one large ghost sheet with fog coming out. Created by David Miami. Check out a video of passersby seeing the stunt for the first time.

  • We're less than two weeks away from the Presidential election and GS&P launched a website that allows people to create their own custom anti-Trump ad.

    At HistoryIsWatching.com, visitors sign in with their Facebook account and create a video that combines a series of Trump's most cringeworthy quotes and ends with a list of reasons why the creator of the ad won't be voting for Trump. Each video also includes a snippet we are all far too familiar with, that the creator "approves this message." Check out a custom video by Rich Silverstein here.

  • Who Gives a Crap, an Australian toilet paper brand, launched an amusing online video that draws attention to a serious subject: clean water. The company donates half of its profits to WaterAid, a charity that helps build toilets and provide clean water supplies to people around the world.

    The ad features Australians performing normal daily activities: dropping the kids off at school, laying cable and baking brownies. Each activity is a euphemism for pooping -- my personal favorite was the man dumping Lincoln Logs out of a wheelbarrow. The ad notes that just one crap a day using Who Gives a Crap TP can make a difference for someone less fortunate.

    CHE Proximity created the campaign.

  • This is a rough one to watch. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and Norton created a 3:30 video to help parents and teenagers discuss cyberbullying.

    "Raise Your Voice Against Cyberbullying" reveals frightening statistics about the number of teens who are cyberbullied yearly. Nine out of 10 teens bullied will never tell an adult. The video features teens who have been cyberbullied and their parents listening to the horrible words their children were subjected to. Two parents describe how they never knew their son was being cyberbullied and thought he was safe because he was in the house with them. Sadly, this young man took his life seven years ago. "Words can end lives. Words can save lives, too," closes the video, as parents hug their children and assure them that cyberbullying can be addressed as a family.

    The campaign, by Grey San Francisco, also includes an e-book featuring illustrations created by children 11 to 18 who have been bullied, tips to help parents recognize the signs and a guide to assist them start a conversation.

  • The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence launched an eye-opening PSA that brings attention to one of the country's national security threats: toddlers. Last year, toddlers killed more Americans than foreign terror groups. A 60-second ad created by McCann NY shows pictures of small children holding hand guns, some with their eyes blurred out while actual newscasts are played, describing horrible deaths at the hands of a toddler getting hold of an unsecured handgun.

    One woman was killed by her 3-year-old and a toddler killed his 9-year-old sister, for example. The ad takes a satirical tone by saying that the kids, not the guns, need to be locked up, because locking up guns would be un-American. The Brady Campaign is using the PSA to encourage Americans to vote for leaders who support commonsense gun reform.

  • Beamer Solar went to the Republican National Convention and gave Trump supporters free shirts that read: "Build A Wall." Not surprisingly, the shirts were a hit, with many Trump fans donning the Ts on the spot.

    The shirts had a hidden secondary message  that only appeared when sunlight hit them. Each shirt wound up reading: "Build A Wall of Solar Panels on Your Roof," something Beamer Solar assumed Trump and fossil fuel supporters would be against. To the brand's surprise, the Trump fans were supportive of the cause.

    "Let's build a sustainable future. It's something we can all agree on," closes the video, created by Arnold Worldwide.

  • Stella & Chewy's is introducing "Everyday Awesome," its first integrated marketing campaign to raise awareness for the manufacturer of premium raw freeze-dried and frozen pet food founded in 2003 by Marie Moody, who nursed her sick adopted pup Chewy back to health using premium raw ingredients. Developed with agency Haberman, the creative centers around Stella & Chewy’s Meal Mixers, a product that can be added to regular dry dog food for enhanced nutrition and a flavor boost. A series of videos celebrate how dogs have the ability to turn everyday moments into awesome ones, and how their owners can help return the love with just one little scoop of Meal Mixers.  Another set of videos serves as a more tongue-in-cheek comparison with other "topper" options. Another campaign component: The Meal Mixer Challenge. People are invited to submit videos of their pets eating the mixer to win prizes, including a pet cam that allows you to check in and even interact with your dog while away from the house. There will also be additional regional and national support through search, social, native and influencer outreach.  

  • Ebates and its agency Duncan/Channon are turning to humor to dispel skepticism about cash-back shopping to support the online platform.

    While previous campaigns have showcased real members discussing their experiences, new TV and online ads are set in a "Skeptics Anonymous" support group where the attendees grapple with the idea that it's actually possible to get real cash back for shopping online. In one of the spots, the scene opens on the group lying on the ground, indulging in "laugh therapy."

    The ads feature actors Aaron Takahashi of "Mr. Robot" and Kimberly Robertson of "Twin Peaks," and were directed by Adam & Dave.

    The TV ads will appear online via Facebook and other select outlets, including Ebates' social channels. Holiday-themed spots are planned for later this year. In all, there are three non-holiday and two holiday-specific ads, each with a :30-second and :15-second cut.