What's the Big Idea?
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Canada on the world stage Canuck ad ideas bring it in Cannes New & improved! From social to virtual, advertising What’s evolves the big idea? Published in association with: CoverCannes11.indd 1 13/05/11 5:18 PM We have a head for business and a passion for creativity. At Astral, we believe in pushing boundaries and developing innovative ways to make our client’s shine day after day. TELEVISION | RADIO | OUT OF HOME | DIGITAL CONTENTS 4 Editorial 30 Social science The new ads How many friends does your brand have? Breaking down social media strategy 8 Canadian agencies go global Homegrown ad agencies fi nd success on the international stage 32 Brands’ new star roles Ads are overshadowed by compelling content creation 14 A year in creativity The gems among the trends in a year of ads, 34 See me, touch me, feel me plus industry pros pick their faves Physical meets virtual in the latest consumer experiences 21 The future starts now 39 Beyond advertising Making Minority Report a reality with new tech tools and toys From architecture to offi ce space, how agencies are expanding their remits 24 For the creative good 42 Canada @ Cannes Innovation boosts corporate social responsibility reach and impact A look back at 20 years of Lions at the International Festival of Creativity On the What’s the big idea? That always seems to be the question when it comes to advertising. After all, it’s the big idea that wins Cannes Lions, it’s the big idea that gets consumers to actually pay attention, and it’s the big idea that gets covered in the pages Cover of strategy. For this special Cannes issue, we asked illustrator Gary Taxali to create an image that embodies creativity and big forward-thinking ideas in Canada. We’re so creative in this country, it’s sometimes diffi cult to keep our heads on our shoulders. Check out more of Taxali’s work on the cover of strategy’s regular June issue, all about the power of creativity. Main image: Sid Lee’s Bota Bota (p. 39); Inset images, left to right: Doritos’ “The End” (p. 30); Vim’s “Prison Visitor” (p. 42); Fortnight Lingerie’s “Super Sexy CPR” (p. 14). www.strategyonline.ca STRATEGY Cannes Special Edition 2011 3 Contents.Cannes11.indd 3 13/05/11 6:44 PM EDITORIAL June 2011 Cannes Special Edition www.strategyonline.ca Executive Editor / Mary Maddever / [email protected] Creative Director / Stephen Stanley / [email protected] Editor / Emily Wexler / [email protected] Associate Editor / Melinda Mattos / [email protected] Senior Writer / Jonathan Paul / [email protected] Contributors / Simon Houpt / Carey Toane / The new ads Theras Wood Executive Publisher / Russell Goldstein / [email protected] Last summer in Cannes I fell in love with a vending machine. It was in the basement of the Palais, a bright spot in an otherwise bunker-like edifi ce that for one week in June houses the Account Manager / Neil Ewen / [email protected] best ad creative from around the world. Which, in effect, the vending machine was as well. Sales Agent / Mike Barrington / [email protected] Here’s why it won over hearts: when you smiled, it dispensed free ice cream treats. It’s Marketing Co-ordinator / Lauren Talledo / [email protected] hot in Cannes, everything is expensive (except the rosé) and who – other than lactose- intolerants – doesn’t love free ice cream? Production & Distribution Co-ordinator / Robert Lines / [email protected] The happy-inducing installation was the coolest new toy from Boston-based agency SapientNitro (see p. 21), developed for Unilever, and is part of a trend in advertising that Senior Manager, Audience Services / Jennifer Colvin / [email protected] deploys tech in nifty new ways to capture attention, like augmented reality and motion- Assistant Manager, Audience Services / Christine McNalley / [email protected] controlled ads. It’s this kind of innovation that drives the international advertising and marketing industry Administration to Cannes each year, to see what the latest zany tech marvels are and how they can be used to engage consumers. The best global ad ideas now range from social media programs and apps to other more physical manifestations, like vending machines that can detect smiles. President & CEO / Russell Goldstein / [email protected] As the business of advertising has become more complex, what began as a commercial VP & Editorial Director / Mary Maddever / [email protected] fi lm awards show in 1954 has added all manner of communications over the years, such as VP & Chief Information Offi cer / Omri Tintpulver / [email protected] Cyber, Design and Titanium awards – for the work that shows the way forward. Since the VP Administration & Finance / Linda Lovegrove / [email protected] focus has shifted to more subtle and innovative ways to connect with consumers, the Cannes VP & Publisher, Realscreen / Claire Macdonald / [email protected] International Advertising Festival rechristened itself as a Festival of Creativity this year. VP & Publisher, Kidscreen / Jocelyn Christie / [email protected] Like any other area of business, creativity needs training. To keep ahead of the game, marketers and agency execs bone up on best practices and soak up professional development, learning about new trends from Cannes keynoters like Foursquare and Google. How to reach us The weeklong festival culminates in Lions – the Oscars of the adworld – being doled out. Strategy, 366 Adelaide Street West, Suite 100, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 1R9 Tel: (416) 408-2300 or 1-888-BRUNICO (1-888-278-6426) Fax: (416) 408-0870 While the Oscar comparison is often used (and both hand out gold statuettes), Cannes is Internet: www.strategymag.com arguably akin to the Olympics in terms of delegates rooting for their country’s contingent. And Customer care Canada’s creativity has made a good showing. Over the last decade we’ve typically been in the To order a subscription, visit www.strategymag.com/subscribe. To make a change to an top 10 most-awarded countries and won several Grand Prixs, two of which went to “Evolution,” existing subscription, please contact us by email: [email protected]. Tel: (416) 408-2448 Fax: (416) 408-0249. PO BOX 369 Beeton ON L0G 1A0. the Dove Real Beauty viral fi lm (see p. 43). Since “Evolution” espoused self-esteem for women, it Subscription rates also helped build Canada’s reputation for excelling in the realm of social cause marketing. STRATEGY is published 12 times per year by Brunico Communications Ltd. In Canada: One year CA$80.00 Two years CA $144.00 As we prep for the annual trek to Cannes, strategy rounded up some of the best advertising (HST included. Registration #856051396 RT) ideas to see how Canada’s creativity quotient stacked up this year (p. 14). This issue also Single copy price in Canada is CA$6.95. Please allow four weeks for new subscriptions and explores the latest trends in marketing, and checks in on Canadian ad agencies that have address changes. Copyright and trademark parlayed creativity into growing their businesses abroad (p. 8). STRATEGY and the tagline “Bold vision brand new ideas” are trademarks of Brunico Increasingly, brand building is becoming a much more physical exercise than crafting ads. Communications Ltd. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reproduced from STRATEGY in whole or Simon Houpt’s feature (p. 39) checks in on the range of activities that can entail, spanning in part without written permission. Reprint requests should be sent to [email protected]. © 2010 Brunico Communications Ltd. design, architecture and programming. Postmaster notification Constant reinvention of the advertisers’ remit is now the norm. We’re closer to the futuristic Canadian Postmaster, send undeliverables and address changes to: Strategy, PO BOX 369, Beeton ON L0G 1A0 [email protected] adscape of Minority Report these days than Mad Men, and while the glamour of that Madison U.S. Postmaster, send undeliverables and address changes to: Strategy PO BOX 1103 Niagara Ave. era (and perpetual scotch and smokes) may have ended with the ’60s, advertising’s Falls NY 14304 Printed in Canada. Canada Post Agreement No. 40050265. ISSN: 1187-4309. infl uence potential and powers of persuasion are more intriguing than ever. Plus, there’s that Member of free ice cream! Cheers, mm Mary Maddever, exec editor, strategy, Media in Canada and stimulant We acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Using FSC certifi ed products supports responsible forest management. 4 STRATEGY Cannes Special Edition 2011 www.strategyonline.ca EditMasthead.Cannes11.indd 4 26/05/11 10:08 AM WELCOME Repping Taking Canada the leap at Cannes Few things get done well without The Cannes Lions International effective collaboration and Festival of Creativity is in its 58th partnership, and breakthrough year of celebrating and recognizing advertising is no exception. While the innovative imaginations the ultra-fine targeting capabilities afforded by digital technologies that make up our profession, and Canada stands proud among those and media are a natural pull toward data-led approaches to marketing recognized throughout the years. communications, there is no getting away from the game-changing power The Globe and Mail is honoured to be Canada’s official festival of raw emotional connections that consumer brands can harness through representative as it allows us to show our support, enthusiasm and brilliant creative ideas. The best work always begins with an insight, but the encouragement for the vast creativity within the Canadian advertising best collaborations usually begin with clients taking a (strategically-aligned) industry. This role also affords us many opportunities to reach out to creative leap of faith with their agency partners. the advertising community, whether to encourage and support their Strategy and the Globe and Mail have teamed up to deliver this Cannes participation as entrants or to share the inspiration and learning gathered special edition to put an exclamation mark on the power of creativity in from the festival each year.