Hails & Fails – November 8th 2024
Donald Trump is officially the 47th president of the United States of America. Gulp. But it wasn’t just Trump who brought home the bacon this week…
Taco Bell pranked their way to success, Ikea proved that they are a true brand of the people and mental health charity Calm won the world’s attention. While Kamala Harris’ PR strategy was criticised – becoming our fail of the week.
HAILS
Taco-mmodation
Fast food chain Taco Bell turned a student flat into a taco lover’s dream as part of its latest “Tacommodation” campaign to win the hearts of late-night taco lovers (aka students) everywhere.
The flat features purple Taco Bell décor, ordering screens in the kitchen and £1.99 rent for the academic year – the price of a burrito.
Arabelle Holme is the lucky Leeds University student to have her residency transformed – chosen as the biggest Taco Bell enthusiast.
“Students are the backbone of our late-night cravings, but rising costs are making it hard for them to enjoy student life fully” said the brand’s Head of Marketing. “So we have created a fun and completely unique solution that taps into the beautifully wild world of fandoms.”
Barnaby Kellaway – Account Director: “This one’s a winner for the ‘Tacommodation’ name alone in my book! Looks like Arabelle will be the biggest name on campus in Leeds this year.”
Ikea opens restaurant
You no longer need to buy furniture to eat meatballs, because Swedish furniture giant IKEA has opened its first dedicated restaurant.
The permanent restaurant seats seventy-five lucky people who can tuck into a range of Swedish dishes including the famous meatballs, as well as hot dogs, mashed potatoes and ice cream. Flatpack furniture is not on the menu, however.
With over 1,000 customers on its first day, the restaurant is expected to sell more than 100,000 meatballs before Christmas!
Here’s hoping they have a few seats left…
Jess Redfearn – Midweight Creative: “You know an idea is fantastic when you immediately ask yourself, how has this not been done before?”
Calm before the storm
With 7 in 10 Americans admitting to feeling anxious and frustrated ahead of this week’s presidential election, mental health and meditation app Calm decided to buy advertising space to air a 30-second advert of pure, uninterrupted silence during the US election coverage on American channels CNN and ABC.
The app has since been declared the winner of the election thanks to this outstanding creative thinking.
Ad of the year?
Mairi Hale – Senior Social Media & Influencer Manager: “Yep, Calm definitely won the 2024 US election. This isn’t just an ad – it is a masterclass in reactive, high-impact marketing. By placing a peaceful pause amid the chaotic coverage, Calm didn’t just advertise their services; they made a statement that resonated with viewers on an emotional level. The result? Massive brand visibility and engagement, with Calm showing how a well-timed ad can become a conversation piece in its own right.”
FAIL
Silence of the Kams
US election candidate Kamala Harris was accused of faking a phone call with a voter to thank them for their support this week amidst post-election criticism.
The Democrat candidate who lost to Republican Donald Trump on Wednesday has also been accused of going into hiding since her loss, with her team failing to answer any questions since Wednesday, and Harris pulling out of her election party speech last minute.
Chris Bradley – Account Director Newsroom: “Kamala Harris’ PR tactics on her campaign to become the 47th President of the United States have been skewered by pundits following her loss to Donald Trump. From ‘fake’ phone calls to criticism over podcast appearances, it all adds insult to injury after a crushing defeat at the US polls.”
Want more information? Contact us here