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Heineken takes interviews to the extreme

Wednesday, 13th March 2013 at 3:32pm

Heineken CadidateHeineken CandidateHeineken CandidateInterviews can be stressful at best, but preparation is everything. That is however unless you were interviewing for Heineken's internship.

The company decided that they didn't just want someone who answered the right questions; they wanted someone up to the challenges that would lie ahead so they put the interviewees to the test.

During the course of the interviews the candidates were subjected to hand holding, fake heart attacks and fire alarms.

The one who kept their cool was voted for by the Heineken Internet community and the winner was taken to a Champions League game to represent the brand, having their success broadcast at the Juventus v Chelsea game on the 20th November 2012.

A great strategy for weeding out the chaff in the interview process or a very clever viral marketing campaign?

Watch the video below and choose for yourself.




Tagged Funny, video, Heineken, Champions League, Brand, marketing, internship, campaign, viral

V&A membership campaign

Saturday, 16th February 2013 at 10:00am

V&AV&AV&AIn an effort to boost membership, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, has teamed up with Rose Design to produce a series of print ads.

Rose Design worked with photographer Nick Turpin and copywriter Jim Davies to create the posters, which aim to highlight the benefits of becoming a member.

The posters all feature black and white shots of visitors enjoying exhibits and objects from the V&A's vast trove of historical artifacts.
Tagged Marketing, museum, poster, print, campaign, ads, creative, V&A

B&Q rolls out new brand strategy

Friday, 15th February 2013 at 9:39am

B&Q logoHandy PricesB&Q has released a new brand strategy, courtesy of Karmarama, to help drive sales.

Called "Handy Prices", the campaign will see the DIY business lower the prices of hundreds of products, predominately those used on a more regular basis, and keep them at this new lower price, permanently. 

The campaign is the first piece of work completed for them by Karmarama since their appointment last year, and may come as a surprise to some as they are without a Marketing Director since the departure of Katherine Paterson in October, the spot being covered in the iterim by brand director David Hutchinson.


The campaign will run on TV, radio and print. The TV ad is shown below, the most notable thing is the lack of products in this ad, so it will be interesting to see how this approach works for them. Take a look for yourself and let us know what you think.

Tagged Brand strategy, campaign, marketing, advertising, B&Q, Handy Prices, DIY, brand, TV, Press, Radio

A brand identity for a new way to power LED lighting

Sunday, 30th December 2012 at 5:43pm

Isotera Brand IdentityThe Think Tank was recently appointed to develop the brand identity and to launch a new way of powering and controlling LED lighting from a start-up company, Isotera.

The challenge was to develop a clear identity and messaging that allowed audiences to gain a quick understanding of what the company offered whilst explaining a completely new concept in installing LED lighting.

We worked with Isotera to develop their brand values and positioning and then created an identity that represented these and communicated the core offering of the business. The Think Tank developed a marketing strategy to bring the new product to market and launch the brand combining Press Relations, Direct Marketing and Events.

The initial response to the launch of this innovative new system has been very positive and it is set to change the way LED lighting is installed both in the UK and beyond.

for more information please view their temporary website here. A new website will be launched early in the new year.

Tagged LED, Lighting, Brand Identity, Marketing Strategy, Campaign, Development, Isotera, The Think Tank, Design, Creative

'C' word used in announcement eShot

Saturday, 27th October 2012 at 7:56pm

Hela and HeartyDisaster hit soup restaurant chain Hale and Hearty last week when an eshot was sent out  to its customers with some quite surprising text.

Don't read on if you are easily offended.

The eshot announced the opening of a 'new' location and then added, "As an added bonus: Mary- you know the cxxt from 47th street- will serve you personally in any manner you choose. So cum one and all to our new location at 464 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston, NJ."

So how did this happen? Was it a disgruntled employee or placeholder copy that never got caught? No, it was a case of email hacking.

Apparently the passwords have now been changed so hopefully it won't happen again.
Tagged Hale and Hearty, eshot, eDM, Campaign, Mistake, Funny, Soup, Email

Waterstones campaign that makes you think

Sunday, 21st October 2012 at 8:42am

Waterstones AdvertisingWaterstones Press CampaignWaterstones Creative campaignWe like this new ad campaign for Waterstones by Leagas Delaney. Nice copy writing that hits home and gets you thinking.

Tagged Waterstones, Leagas Delaney, Advertising, Ads, Press, Copywriting, Campaign

The Think Tank shortlisted for three Construction Marketing Awards

Wednesday, 17th October 2012 at 7:14pm

Construction Marketing AwardsRexel Case StudyThe Think Tank has been shortlisted for three awards in this year's Construction Marketing Awards for our work with SAS International and Rexel.

The shortlisted entries are:

SAS International - Best Product Launch
Rexel - Best Campaign over £25k
Rexel - Best Branding and Positioning

We are very pleased to have been shortlisted again this year and look forward to hearing the results on 6th December.

See the full CMA shortlist here.
Tagged Construction Marketing Awards, CMA, 2012, Awards, Marketing, Shortlist, Rexel, SAS international, Campaign, Launch

Muhammad Ali tribute by Louis Vuitton

Wednesday, 8th August 2012 at 9:27am

Louis Vuitton JourneysLouis Vuitton have been running a campaign called Journeys and in its latest release they have created a tribute to Muhammad Ali which sees hip-hop artist Yasiin Bey and calligraphist Niels Shoe Meulman get in the ring.

This is the first time they have released a short film as a part of the Journeys campaign and it focuses upon the enduring appeal of boxer Muhammad Ali with Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) reciting some of Muhammad Ali's immortal words combined with the brushstrokes of Niels Shoe Meulman.

Atmospheric, engaging and emotional.

Enjoy.

Louis Vuitton - Dream from Stuart A. McIntyre on Vimeo.

Tagged Niels Shoe Meulman, Yaslin Bey, Louis Vuitton, Journeys, Marketing, Campaign, Advertising, Muhammad Ali, Boxing

New campaign for the B2B Marketing Awards 2012

Thursday, 12th July 2012 at 10:58am

B2B Marketing Awards Creative 2012Having managed the B2B Marketing Awards event for the past five years, The Think Tank was approached by the organisers, Silver Bullet Publishing, to develop the creative theme for the 2012 awards.  

Seeking to engage a wider audience, and increase entry levels from all sectors of the B2B marketing industry, The Think Tank was asked to produce a campaign that would resonate with marketers from both agency and client side and encourage them to engage with the awards at various levels. It was also very important that the theme would work in an integrated manner across a range of marketing channels as well as provide an engaging and fun format for the Awards event itself.  

The Think Tank developed several concepts that would answer the brief and the High Flyers campaign was chosen. It is designed to celebrate the outstanding creativity in the B2B Marketing sector and to position the awards as the premier industry event, not only for agencies but also for client-side marketers.  

The flexibility provided by the 'retro feel' creative execution allows the campaign to be extended from launch to the event and beyond, offering B2B Marketing the continuity of message they were looking for in 2012.  

The Think Tank is continuing to develop an integrated campaign to promote the awards over the coming months and encourage entry and engagement.

With a 20% increase in award entries in 2012 the campaign looks like a success.

For more information about the awards please click here.

Tagged Marketing, Awards, B2B, Business to Business, 2012, Creative, Campaign, Advertising, Direct Mail, Digital, Event

Dad dancing, rapping and sandals with socks

Tuesday, 19th June 2012 at 8:34pm

Dads Life AdDads Life AdvertisingSandals with brown socks, ride on lawn mowers, Disney videos and BBQ's - all part of Dad's Life, an ad for American Greetings.

Celebrating Father's Day with four 'super cool' rapping dads is one not to be missed.

Who said dads can't dance, or rap for that matter.

Tagged Ads, Advertising, Advert, TV, American Greetings, Dads, Life, Funny, Creative, Campaign

Shock advertising for journalistic freedom

Wednesday, 9th May 2012 at 8:15pm

CJFE
CJFE 2CJFEThis hard hitting press campaign for the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression highlights the plight of correspondents working overseas and the risks they take to bring us the real news.

They were created by agency Juniper Park in Toronto, Canada

Tagged Ads, Advertising, Press, Campaign, Journalism, Canadian, Expression, Freedom

Toads take to the screen in Ford ad

Saturday, 5th May 2012 at 8:48am

Ford Advertising
This Australian ad for Ford brings two new stars to our screens - native cane toads.

Produced by JWT Melbourne it is quite humorous and reminiscent of the old Budweiser ads that ran some years ago putting toads (or were they frogs) in the limelight.

Enjoy.
Tagged Toads, Ford, Ad, Advertising, TV, Australia, Funny, Humorous, Creative, Campaign

Raising the profile of Signalling Solutions

Monday, 23rd April 2012 at 9:44am

Signalling Solutions Brand Campaign

In the build up to a period of significant investment in the UK's rail infrastructure, Signalling Solutions approached The Think Tank to raise the profile of the brand and support the marketing function of the business in a variety of ways.  

Signalling Solutions is a joint venture between leading energy and transport solutions company Alstom and Balfour Beatty, one of the world's leading infrastructure businesses. It was formed to provide advanced signalling solutions to the rail sector in the UK, combining the technology of Alstom with the contracting expertise of Balfour Beatty. The company provides design, installation, testing, commissioning and product support for signalling, power and telecommunications applications. 

In answer to the brief, The Think Tank developed an eye-catching advertising campaign which promoted the three core products provided by Signalling Solutions. These combined abstract images that represented the core benefits of the products alongside a new brand style for current and future advertising.  

This campaign was also extended to a corporate advert which brought together the three core solutions to demonstrate the opportunities for integration that Signalling Solutions offers.  

An advertising schedule was planned by the client with ads appearing across the rail press in the build up to a series of tender opportunities. The goal was to position the Signalling Solutions brand at the forefront of the minds of specifiers and purchasers within the sector during this period, raising awareness whilst also communicating the brand ethos and values.   

Find out more about Signalling Solutions here.

Tagged Advertising, Signalling, Rail, Campaign, marketing, Solutions, Brand, Support

Skype challenges impersonal social media in new ad campaign

Friday, 6th April 2012 at 9:33am

Skype advertisingSkype has launched a new ad campaign challenging the lack of humanity in social media and focussing on the theory that technology makes communication more efficient, but less personal.

In a $12 million campaign Skype looks to leverage consumer anxiety about alienation promoting that it is better to talk face to face than via text or Twitter. The campaign launched last week in transport hubs, like Heathrow Airport, with a series of ads by Pereira & O'Dell which challenge the superficiality of text-based technology like Facebook, Twitter and SMS.

Skype advertisingSkype advertisingThese are quite challenging and make you think about how social channels are changing our lives, similar to the impact that email had a few years back. We often talk in the office about how email has killed the art of conversation. How will social channels eventually change the way we communicate?

What do you think?

Tagged Advertising, Campaign, creative, Outdoor, poster, Skype

The Kraken - Myth or Reality

Sunday, 25th March 2012 at 9:39am

AttachmentWe recently found this great brand work for Kraken Rum by Brooklyn based agency 'Dead As We Know It'.

The campaign launches what was apparently the world's first spiced black rum. The agency developed the backstory of the Kraken’s true existence from a scientific point of view through a journal and a series of movies which brings the brand to life in an interesting way.

There is a series of animated videos for the brand which you can find here. We have added Chapter 3 of the series below which we thought was great fun.

Well done on a very engaging launch campaign.




Tagged Agency, Brand, Brooklyn, Campaign, Dead as we know it, Kracken, Launch, Marketing, Rum

Cadbury Dairy Milk launches latest 2012 Olympics video

Saturday, 28th January 2012 at 2:40am

AttachmentCadbury Dairy Milk has launched its latest online music video in its Keep Singing, Keep Team GB Pumped campaign, the most motivating arm of Cadbury’s London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games sponsorship - ‘Danger Zone’.

The music video sees some of the UK’s biggest fans going to extreme lengths in a bid to get up close and personal with 10 unsuspecting racquet sport athletes.

Below you can get a glimpse of it in the making as well as the video itself - what lengths some fans will go to!



Tagged Advertising, Cadbury, Campaign, Dairy, Marketing, Milk, Olympics, Video

Can discounting serve to bring back consumer trust after a crisis?

Tuesday, 22nd November 2011 at 8:50am

qantas 2.gifThe Marketing Society Forum, published in Marketing Week and Campaign Live, has looked at the theme “Can discounting serve to bring back consumer trust after a crisis?”, referencing airline Qantas’s offer of free travel to passengers affected by its recent industrial dispute which grounded its entire fleet.  And that got the Think Tank’s PR team revisiting discussions about issue management.

It’s a fascinating theme in that it runs right to the heart of brand experience and corporate reputation.  In terms of PR, how you handle an issue makes all the difference, and ultimately as one of the commentators in the Forum points out; “we all mess up sometimes… apologizing and accepting responsibility for [one’s] failings often diffuses the situation”.

How you attract people back is another matter. Discounting or offering a free replacement of some sort is often the accepted short-term response to help ameliorate the immediate frustration that your customers have felt.  But the tone of that communication is also key, as is the way your employees/staff handle the situation.  If the whole process is felt to have been handled swiftly, in a straightforward and fair way, then most people will give you the benefit of the doubt.

Ultimately though, as the Forum respondents agree, this activity also needs to be part of a broader series of responses too to re-establish trust in a brand and ultimately as part of more regular, strategic reputation and risk management planning that the Board or senior management need to undertake.

See the full article here
Tagged Brand, Campaign, discounting, Forum, Marketing, Marketing Week, PR, Qantas

Social media campaign improves visibility for OKI C300/C500

Wednesday, 18th May 2011 at 2:19am

OKI_C3_C5.jpgOKI_C3_C5_Social Media.jpgThe Think Tank was asked to extend a pan-European OKI product launch campaign in the UK marketplace using social media channels to widen reach and promote the product in a non-traditional manner.

The creative campaign that was developed for the launch of the OKI C300 and C500 series of printers featured the products as real 'stars' on the covers of leading publications. A fanzine style micro site was developed to act as a focal point for the campaign and this included a blog which was used to deliver content for the social media element of promotion in the UK. The regular addition of content to this blog was communicated via Twitter over a six month period, with additional content being added to Flickr and YouTube to provide additional links back to the micro site

The campaign resulted in almost 12,000 views of content over the period and engaged a wide range of sector specific individuals, with Twitter followers reaching more than 1,300.
Tagged blog, C300, Campaign, facebook, flickr, Integrated, Media, OKI, printer, Social, Twitter

The Think Tank wins Best Launch Campaign at B2B Marketing Awards 2010 for OKI Printing Solutions

Friday, 26th November 2010 at 9:39am

a OKI_860_Intergrated small.jpgAt a fantastic night of mobsters and 1960's gangsters, The Think Tank secured the Best Product Launch Award at the B2B Marketing Awards 2010 for its EMEA launch campaign for the OKI MC860 multifunction printer.

Communicating the benefits of A3 colour printing at a price comparable to other A4 products, the campaign featured visuals demonstrating that you see the bigger picture with an A3 printer. This media neutral idea was used across the marketing material, both on and off line, and then executed by operating companies across the EMEA region to great effect.

This was one of the first campaigns that The Think Tank had developed for OKI Printing Solutions since winning the EMEA creative account in a competitive pitch.

Liam Bateman, Director at The Think Tank, commented, 'This is great news and testament to the hard work of both the OKI EMEA Marketing Team and my team at The Think Tank. Well done to all.'

The Think Tank was also shortlisted in the B2B Marketing Awards 2010 for its promotional work with AkzoNobel in the Most Commercially Successful award category.

See all the winners here


Tagged 2010, Awards, B2B, Best, Business to Business, Campaign, EMEA, Integrated, Launch, Marketing, OKI
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