Hails & Fails – March 31st 2023
As we say ‘ta-ra’ to March and ‘ey up our kid’ to April there have been some fantastic PR campaigns to help usher in the new month.
This week, condiment king Heinz gave us an early taste of Easter with a seasonal sauce, Netflix brilliantly trolled singer Lewis Capaldi and publisher Penguin gave commuters a handy paperback vending machine. It has not been a great week for Forever Unique though, after the fashion label was threatened with legal action.
HAILS
Heinz means..err...Hot Cross Bun Mayonnaise
Heinz has announced a new limited-edition sauce just in time for Easter – Heinz Hot Cross Bun Mayo.
It’s too early for an April Fools surely? But fans are confused whether it’s ‘seriously good’ or not.
It apparently combines the classic rich and creamy flavour of Heinz mayonnaise with toasted hot cross buns, swirled with sweet cinnamon spices and speckled with real fruit pieces.
Traditionalists are outraged while some fans are positively brimming with curiosity. But widespread media coverage shows there’s only one winner. Hats off to Heinz!
Netflix lets loose on Lewis
Singer Lewis Capaldi has joked that Netflix should fire someone after a billboard advertising his upcoming documentary featured a young Liz Truss.
Capaldi is set to release his new documentary, How I’m Feeling Now, on the streaming platform on April 5.
On Tuesday, the singer shared one of the Netflix’s hilarious billboards advertising the upcoming music documentary on Twitter. Instead of Lewis featuring on the large screen, it showed a photo of Liz Truss in her younger days, who he has previously been compared to.
It’s won so much coverage this week that it has started conversations and raised the profile of the documentary everywhere.
Brilliant!
Penguin gives commuters a book vending machine
Commuters in Devon can now buy books using a vending machine, after publisher Penguin installed one at Exeter’s St David’s train station.
The machine includes titles such as Taste by Stanley Tucci and Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, works like a traditional snack or drink vending machine. Books are on sale for their recommended retail price.
The titles will be changed on a regular basis and will also highlight key moments throughout the year such as LGBTQ+ History Month, Black History Month and Cop28.
Really simple campaign that’s won tonnes of coverage everywhere this week. Bravo for books!
FAILS
Forever Unique in Love Island legal wrangle
Love island star Paige Thorne has threatened global fashion brand Forever Unique with legal action after signing a six-figure deal with the brand just six months ago.
Paige is taking legal action against the clothing brand due to an alleged breach of contract.
The former paramedic only signed a deal with the label six months ago but hasn’t shared an affiliated post with the brand this year.
The details of the fall-out are not yet public but, the story has had coverage everywhere this week and, frankly, it’s not good news for either camp, is it?
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