GLOBE SPOTTING – BUMPER FESTIVE EDITION!
PR CAMPAIGNS AND STUNTS
MCDONALD’S FESTIVE SNACK
What?
McDonald’s released an animated Christmas advert giving away free bags of carrot sticks for Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve
Who and When?
Leading fast food chain, McDonald’s is giving away free carrot stick bags, which they’ve renamed “Reindeer Treats”, on Christmas Eve this year
Where?
Coverage appeared across a number of national titles both print and online. The ad was also covered on multiple regional and broadcast titles
Why?
Simple but cute way to drive cut through and footfall at the noisiest time of year
THE ULTI-MUTT CHRISTMAS PARTY
What?
Following a survey that revealed just how pampered our pooches are at Christmas, Wilko gave the not-so-fortunate pups at Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home a fun and festive treat
Who and When?
Brazen client, Wilko, partnered with food artist Pru to create a giant, edible gingerbread house made entirely of dog treats
Where?
Coverage was secured on a number of national online titles, including The Sun, Metro, Mirror and Daily Star, as well as big-hitting lifestyle titles like MSN
Why?
The media couldn’t resist such a feel-good story borne from research stats – the adorable photography and videography were pretty pawsome, too!
LIFE SAVING LINGERIE
What?
Boohoo and Coppafeel! launch a new range of ‘life saving bras’ to encourage younger woman to check their breasts regularly
Who and When?
The online fashion retailer teamed up with Love Island’s India Reynolds in a campaign to encourage women to check for lumps when wearing their range of purpose-made patterned bras
Where?
The story was featured across key retail and marketing trade titles as well as readership title, Metro online
Why?
The brands worked with a key Love Island figure, as the hit realty TV show has massive appeal within the younger market and will resonate with the desired audience
I RUG YOU
What?
A woman so obsessed with her carpet… she married it
Who and When?
Becki and her now ‘husband’ Mat tied the knot earlier this month, in an official wedding ceremony sponsored by Brazen bonkers client and carpet cleaner manufacturer – Dr. Beckmann
Where?
The weirdest wedding of all time caught the eye of almost every national news outlet, with global hits as far-reaching as India and Nigeria
Why?
At a time when the media agenda is firmly focused on the future of our parliament, this random romance provided light-hearted relief for journos. A press release so completely crackers, you can’t not open it
INDY XMAS AD HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
What?
Welsh independent store joins the battle of the Christmas ads and takes on retail giants with its own homemade, heart-warming £100 video
Who and When?
Following releases of the famous festive ads, Hadfod Hardware’s owner placed his 2 y/o son Arthur at the heart of his own touching ad that shows him working away instore, and ends in a 30 y/o ‘Arthur’ doing the very same
Where?
The ad was hosted on YouTube, quickly racking up views and engagements, leaving not a single dry eye in the house. Eventually turning heads of nearly every UK national and international title CNN
Why?
Media hailed the ad as celebration of the value of the independent, the community and most of all, true Christmas spirit; crediting the wholesome vid as an ‘antidote’ to the big-brand peacocking of recent
TRENDS
BLACK FRIDAY
Britain has once again been caught up in the Black Friday frenzy which saw retailers slashing prices in the run up to Christmas.
Getting bigger and better every year, pretty much every brand under the sun offered some sort of deal.
But, with growth comes increased scrutiny and questions were raised on the legitimacy of Black Friday deals, as research by Which discovered that products with reduced prices could be found at the same price throughout the year.
A call for retailers to be honest and transparent with its pricing.
ELECTION INSANITY
From Brexit, Boris and a broken parliament, there hasn’t been much room left for PR stories in the last couple of months as the media has been engulfed in political prorogation.
While Brazen offered light to the otherwise shady media agenda, in the form of good old fashioned festive stunts, other brands favoured jumping on the political bandwagon.
Brew Dog and Burger King went for topical tactics, with the former offering free beers for
voters and the latter circling a bus around Westminster, cheekily branded “Another whopper on the side of a bus. Must be an election”.
CHRISTMAS ADS
It wouldn’t be November without the launch of long-awaited Christmas adverts from retailers like Asda, John Lewis and Aldi.
When the ads hit our screens we know we’re on the Christmas count down and we can’t help but shed a tear (or two).
But is the traditional Christmas TV ad out?
This year, new contender, Ikea, brought humour to the festive period and a local hardware shop in Wales has gone viral with their video which cost £100 to make, challenging the big boys to win hearts and minds this Christmas.
EXCITABLE EDGAR LEAVES KIDS TRAUMATISED
What?
John Lewis forced to issue a formal apology on the back of their Excitable Edgar Christmas TV advert which left children in tears
Who and When?
When Edgar the excitable dragon accidently melts an Olaf snowman lookalike, John Lewis issued a formal apology to kids and parents. But conversation kick started #ExcitableEdgar which began trending – so a win for the retailer!
Where?
Coverage appeared across national titles and broadcast including Daily Express, Mirror, The Sun, Metro, LADbible, Heart FM (and every regional title imaginable)
Why?
If you’re going for an emotive advert at Christmas, you’ve got to consider the feelings of all of your audience (kids, too). No one messes with Frozen and gets away with it.
CANADIAN CO-HO-HO-CAINE CLAUS
What?
Walmart Canada faced an avalanche of backlash for stocking a controversial Christmas jumper featuring Santa preparing to snort lines of cocaine with the tagline ‘Let It Snow’
Who and When?
At a time when most brands are aiming for wholesome, heart-warming campaigns, it seems someone at Walmart obviously decided to buck that trend to get the media’s attention. And that they did…
Where?
Despite the product only being sold in Canada, media around the world quickly picked up on it and the subsequent apology, causing conversations (and captions) on Twitter to explode
Why?
I mean, it’s the friendliest family man on the planet doing cocaine. *Adds Walmart to the naughty list*
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