• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, October 11, 2022

You’ve seen him on TV. You’ve heard him on radio and encountered his likeness on countless billboards, indoors and out. Now Smokey Bear, the face of fire prevention campaigns for nearly eight decades is embracing a new medium—delivery robots.

This latest campaign is from the Ad Council is in partnership with adtech startup Nickelytics and Serve Robotics. Nickelytics is a provider of technology that brands can use to execute hyperlocal out-of-home ad campaigns while Serve Robotics is a five-year-autonomous delivery company that spun off from Uber-owned Postmates in 2021.

Smokey will be wrapped around select Serve delivery robots in a new campaign to increase wildfire prevention awareness in Los Angeles.

“At the Ad Council, we’re always strategizing innovative ways to reach people that compliment or go beyond traditional media,” said Laurie Keith, vice president emerging media & technology at The Ad Council. “Our new partnership with Nickelytics will allow us to share Smokey Bear’s message on eye-catching delivery robots and share critical information in an unforgettable way.”

Serve Robotics and Nickelytics have also entered into a partnership to offer other brands ad space on delivery robots in high visibility areas.

Judah Longgrear, Co-founder and CEO of Nickelytics, stated. “Launching this campaign with Smokey Bear is a significant milestone for our team and only the beginning of our expansion in the Los Angeles market. We look forward to amplifying Smokey’s message and measuring the expected increase in campaign engagement using our real-time digital measurement capabilities.”