5 Things That Caught our Eye This Week
The August Bank Holiday Weekend always feels like the end of summer here in London and summer 2020 has no doubt been the weirdest one yet. Although there’s no Notting Hill Carnival this weekend like there should be, there is still the weekly round-up of We Are Star’s top five most note-worthy and inspiring pieces of marketing, advertising and creativity in the industry.
From BBH’s fabulous new drag campaign to MediaCom’s stigma-busting money campaign with Lloyds Bank, here’s what caught our eye this week…
1. “Drag can change the world!” – BBH London interviews Vinegar Strokes
If you weren’t already familiar with London agency BBH’s Blacksheep podcast, every week they speak on cultural issues that inform and shape the creative industry as well as wide popular culture. This week, it was RuPaul’s Drag Race UK contestant, Vinegar Strokes. Talking to host Daniella Isaacs, about the politics of drag, she tells us where she finds her inspiration, and why drag is not an “act” for her.
It’s a great example of how agencies can create a brand community and show their clients and their audiences what they stand for and what matters to them. It’s not just about having up-to-date social media pages, instead, it’s about creating conversations and a having a unique voice.
2. XYZ Agency presents Hellman’s on the Southbank
With the long weekend just a matter of hours away, Hellman’s have kicked things off with a socially distanced barbeque on the bank of the River Thames. Experiential marketing is the bread and butter (or mayo?) of the team at XYZ London so pulling off a massive Southbank BBQ is exactly what they’re all about.
Working alongside W Communications, the agency created a pop-up space which will welcome groups of six to enjoy meat, vegan and vegetarian meals, of course with everyone’s favourite condiment; Hellman’s mayonnaise. As ever, there’s a social media element to the campaign where people can apply for a slot through Hellmann’s Instagram page and will be selected at random and notified of their group time slot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEQ-xpQoabO/
3. JKR Global creates Keys for Key Workers
There is no denying that at the heart of this really difficult year we have faced globally, those we owe the most to are our key workers. In an attempt to give back to our incredible frontline, Travel Chapter are offering key workers a break – quite literally – in the form of a holiday. Alongside JKR Global, they have launched the initiative and the social media campaign to go with it, encouraging people to nominate key workers who are in need of a well-deserved break. Those who are chosen are given a free stay in one of Travel Chapter’s holiday homes across the UK.
4. MediaCom’s M-word show with Lloyds Bank
With 1 in 3 people experiencing money stress in the UK, Lloyds has set out with a campaign to do away with the stigma that people face when talking about money. With the help of MediaCom, they have created a five-part Channel 4 TV show Save Well, Spend Better in order to tackle one of the most taboo topics – money. They even included a unique and interactive live chat service with counsellors from charity Relate, offered to viewers during and after the show.
5. Taylor Herring brings back Notting Hill Carnival with Samsung
The age-old West London tradition dates back to 1959 and has been a precious asset to London’s culture since then. With the pandemic meaning most, if not all plans have been postponed or moved online this summer, Notting Hill Carnival is no exception. Taylor Herring have created a stunning new campaign, Colours of Carnival to amplify Samsung’s “Shoot in 8K. Watch in 8K” campaign, showing off the capabilities of their S20 phones and QLED 8K TV range.
The London-based agency has pulled together a series of stunning films with percussionists, dancers, costume designers and chefs. The campaign takes off on London’s Piccadilly Circus screen today!
