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February 2013

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The above videos are part of a campaign for Nivea Deo. The selling point is Stress Protect (‘Extra protection even in stressful situations’). The idea is being brought alive across different platforms, using each platform’s unique characteristics to its advantage. I thought the stunt at the airport was a tad extreme and could have resulted in consumers suing the brand. But it brought alive the proposition well as an activation. Ditto with the YouTube video…

Apple Inc., delivered record results for the Oct-Dec’12 quarter and the stock market responded by pulling the stock down dramatically. Amazon delivered sub-par results for the same period and the stock went up 10%. What gives? Stock markets analysts have their own technical theories but I believe it boils down to a simple thing: high expectations from a brand. Not all brands and brand categories witness this phenomenon. You don’t really expect great things from…

Stephen Fry wrote that a single human year is really three digital years. By that yardstick, 2008 was 15 digital years ago. I was intrigued to see some of the popular and award winning work from that era, if you can call it that. What won in ‘integrated advertising’ or ‘media innovation’ were largely devoid of any ‘tech inputs’. In contrast, technology (mobile phone apps, augmented reality, digital platforms etc.) is playing an increasingly  vital role…

Agency: DDB, New Zealand Amazing how all it takes to get genuine, enthusiastic consumer participation in a brand’s Social Media activity is a simple idea, anchored to the product. Volkswagen is urging consumers to get ‘beetling’ (Urban Dictionary: ‘the act of curling up and lying on your back, just like a flipped over beetle. Sometimes tricky to get back up’). They have to upload a picture of themselves doing their best impression of the car…

What a difference a week makes. With the introduction of a new product which got largely positive reviews, a Super Bowl commercial and this new global ad, the cool quotient seems to be returning to Blackberry. I liked the ad it seamlessly showcases the Z10’s features and its got a unique ‘ownable’ look to it. Loved the track too. Stephen Fry raved about the Blackberry Z10 too, in a recent article saying: I think the…