Valentines Day seems to be the Super Bowl of romance in terms of ad campaigns, as many brands compete for a strategic (yet highly creative and aww-inspiring) marketing push. Unlike any other seasonal celebration, Valentines Day honors all the cheesy and bonding elements of love, even managing to elicit a response from those who plan on spending the day just loving themselves. It’s purely a dream for marketers, who churn out original and quite imaginative campaigns each year in the honor of love…and erm…sales. Here’s my top 5 campaign picks for this V-day.
5. Personalized Innocent Smoothie Bottles
As a highly original present (and a change from the usual cheesy card), Innocent created a label generator, allowing you to choose whatever graphics and messages you want for your bottle. According to an Innocent spokesperson, “We’re a bit sick of Valentine’s Day cards. Not everyone’s a fan of Cupid’s arrows flying across the page or doe-eyed teddies holding shiny hearts hopefully.” Seems like quite a yummy present to receive from a loved one, or even a friend.
4. Field Notes’ Red Blooded Notebook
Notebook retailer Field Notes decided to launch their new Red Blooded Notebook with a totally adorable video campaign for Valentines Day. What can be more touching than a love story played out on a little red notebook? Extra kudos to their marketing team for managing to tie in their product with something that will surely bring out an “aww” from anyone.
3. Ikea Australia offers free baby cots
For any baby born 9 months from today, Ikea Australia are offering a free cot. Seems like the folks over at Ikea sure know what today is really about. And hey, it’s always good to be prepared! Loving their humorous touch to a day that many marketers sometimes try too hard for.
2. Channel 4 Wedding Proposal
Channel 4 decided to jump on the Vday bandwagon by offering one (incredibly enamored) viewer the chance to propose to his or her loved one through a 30-second prime time advertising slot. All for the incredible price of £130,000! VeryFirstTo.com are the advertising company behind the wedding proposal campaign, and according to founder Marcel Knobil, “Such a remarkable, groundbreaking proposal will surely be very difficult to refuse”. Would be quite harsh to get refused after such a daring (and expensive) proposal…
1. Uber Romance On-Demand
Uber, a private hire car-service in the US, are offering clients the possibility of picking up your loved one with a bouquet of roses, a gift package, and a serenading band. They’ve provided a list of artists they have on hand, and it’s all for the price of $150! The romantic gesture can be easily ordered through Uber’s mobile app service. Just tick the Romance On-Demand box and, voila, you’ve got your very own incredibly grand gesture!
hype&spin 