Or has it?

The answer, given by a grinning Netflorist Managing Director, Ryan Bacher, is ‘yes and no’. ‘Yes, Netflorist is providing followers on Twitter and Facebook with daily news updates’ but ‘no, the service is more tongue-in-cheek, more social commentary than strict breaking news’.

He explained: “#haroldsnews is the result of a brief we put in to our marketing partner, Draftfcb Johannesburg. We wanted a campaign that would create associations with everyday occasions and give people reasons to buy from NetFlorist.

“The agency’s solution was to continue to use Harold, who has featured in NetFlorist’s advertising before, on radio but to also give him a more socially-relevant voice by taking him to Facebook and Twitter.

“The creative team of Chief Executive Creative Officer Brett Morris, creative director James Cloete, copywriters Candice Hellens, Este De Beer and Lee Goodall and art directors Moira-Gene Sephton and Murray Sparg, created his social media presence ... and are responsible for crafting his news posts – with a twist.

“Everything Harold tweets or posts is done so in the witty – and sometimes below-the-belt – tone the public has come to expect from the character. You can just imagine what he has to say about the Gupta wedding, the meat scandal, Reese Witherspoon’s arrest and Gareth Cliff’s school-boy crush. It is great fun.”

The #haroldsnews campaign started on April 8 and will run indefinitely. The radio element, which includes a news show hosted by Harold during which he discusses some of the topics he is commenting on in social media, is being flighted mainly on 94.7, Highveld Stereo.

“As far as we are aware, no other floral brand has created a character and placed them in a social networking realm,” said Morris. “The content of the tweets and posts is also quite unique: although products may be mentioned every now and then, they largely deal with newsworthy stories in Harold’s irreverent style.

“Humour is the key, and we expect many consumers to subscribe to #haroldsnews in a bid to add some spice and alternative thinking to their day.”

Client Credits:

Client: NetFlorist

Managing Director: Ryan Bacher

Marketing Manager: Alison Kuhlmann

Agency Credits:

Creative agency: Draftfcb Johannesburg

Executive Business Director: Mike Di Terlizzi

Senior Account Director: Wendy Pringle

Account Executive: Nicole Combrinck

Chief Creative Officer: Brett Morris

Creative director: James Cloete

Copywriter: Candice Hellens, Este De Beer, Lee Goodall

Art director: Moira-Gene Sephton, Murray Sparg

Strategic planner: Ashleigh Albertyn, Rita Doherty

Radio production: Evelyn Bonase

Photographer: Amoret Botha

Radio production house: Freqncy

Briefed to meld tech and creative to engage children between the ages of 4 and 10, participants and their creations were judged by Danette Breitenbach (Advantage), Fran Luckin (Ogilvy), Brent Singer (Network), Brett Morris (Draftfcb), Theo Ferreira (Aqua) and 6-year old twin boys.

The winning entry was a hacked kids’ room which was converted into a gaming station. Sensors allowed kids to jump on the bed while being mirrored by their imaginary friend, pilot a rocket-propelled dinosaur through space as well as play a multiplayer pillow fight and – via a score counter – see who won (http://instagram.com/p/ZLSb8Ohjsb/).

It was developed by Team Ah Yeah! which comprised Eras Gous, Rory Macrobert, Munyaradzi Nyikavaranda, Chando Karidza, Dani Meneghin, Ryan Groenewald, Janine Kleinschmidt, Roelf Daling.

The kids’ choice was a very cool Scalextric set activated when they ate their veggies. The more they ate, the faster their cars went (pic.twitter.com/XflOWZmL3Z). This was developed by Team Deep-fried Netduino.

Other entries included an Oreo Launcher from Team fearandloathinginhackvegas

(http://instagram.com/p/ZLXzXXwhuX/),Thingking's Pancake Assist which automated pancake making (http://instagram.com/p/ZLWXGrwhsB/), and Team Borris the Animal's interactive bedtime story (http://pic.twitter.com/jLLhSbsH4z). ‘Team last min’ converted a shoebox into a cinema projector.

Said Hellocomputer’s executive creative director, Mark Tomlinson: “This was another awe-inspiring event resulting in incredible innovation. The theme – Hack4Kids – was very cool and all teams rose to the challenge, unleashing the power of their inner child to create some funky applications that had grown-ups and kids alike enthralled.

“Much respect to Hellocomputer’s executive creative director in Johannesburg, Kerry Friend, whose idea it was to initiate our Hack-a-Thon programme, and who has been critical to its successful incarnations in October last year and now in May. Her efforts and enthusiasm are contagious and we’re all already looking forward to the next hack.”

Judges concurred with Luckin tweeting “Enormous fun at #HCHack. Brilliant hacks - gold stars all round!” while participant Ben Fourie tweeted “Unforgettable! Looking forward the next merge between creative & tech.”

ends

Note to editors:

An intense 48-hour caffeine fuelled event pitting teams comprising sharp tech minds and top-shelf creatives, hack-a-thons involve bending, forcing or breaking old conventions to create something new and innovative out of the chaos.

Created to showcase that Engen 1-Stop and Wimpy’s wide range of offerings make sure that you’re in the right frame of mind to love the journey of your road trip, the TVC highlights that holiday isn't just about where you're going; its it's about the experiences you have along the way.

It features a young man filling up his petrol tank who dances on the forecourt to attract the attention of a beautiful girl sitting in the Wimpy and sipping on a milkshake. He’s dejected when she leaves the table, but there’s a happy ending as she returns with a second straw, clearly inviting him to join her.

The concept was conceived by Draftfcb Cape Town’s team of executive creative director Mike Barnwell, creative director Aaron Harris, copywriter Chris de Villiers and art director Scott Fowler, and brought to life by Egg Films’ director Jon Ronbeck and Black Ginger editor Gordon Midgley.

“Our insight was that long journeys on the road aren’t always enjoyable; most of the time you’re just focusing on the end destination and, as you get hungry, annoyed and tired, you start wishing the hours away,” said Harris.

“However, when you take the time to stop and refresh, the journey becomes part of your adventure, and you enjoy every experience on the way.”

Creative credits:

Client: Engen Petroleum and Wimpy

Agency: Draftfcb Cape Town

Key account management: Jonathan Chipps

Executive creative director: Mike Barnwell

Creative director: Aaron Harris

Copywriter: Chris de Villiers

Art director: Scott Fowler

Strategic planner: Robin Nixon

TV production: Caz Friedman

Media planners: MediaShop

Production company: Egg Films

Producer: Jon Ronbeck

Director: Kevin Fitzgerald

Editor: Gordon Midgley

Post-production: Black Ginger

Durbanite Balram has more than 10 years’ of marketing and sales experience and 8 years’ management experience.

Her successful business development track record includes stints with Unilever, GSK, Beiersdorf, TBWA Durban, Reckitt Benckiser, Royal Metropole, Cadbury, Whalley & Associates, Tigerbrands and Magna Carta.

Over the years, she has contributed to the success of brands such as Axe, Knorr, Magnum, Cornetto, Shield, Lipton, Dove, Impulse, Sunsilk, Lux, Flora, Omo, Nivea, Milady’s, Illovo, Spar, Strepsils, Nurofen, Vanish, Veet, Simba, Tata, Coca Cola, Lucozade, Halls and Endearmints, L’Oreal, Beacon, Beacon Hot Chocolate, Nestle, iBurst, Clover Krush, Damelin, Hewlett Packard, Standard Bank and Eskom.

Relocating toJohannesburgto take up the position of Swipe Strategy Director, Balram’s speciality is sales promotion and below-the-line marketing using digital tools.

She says her passion for shopper insights and marketing began at Unilever, where she spent 9 foundation years gaining experience in various disciplines including quality assurance (development), supply chain (global sourcing and packaging buying) to customer development (trade and shopper marketing).

Before joining Swipe, Balram was responsible for leading new business development and shopper marketing strategies at Machine, and also started her own consultancy, Sublime Marketing.

In addition to working with like-minded retail enthusiasts at Swipe, she will be responsible for strategy development at 1886, a hot shop offering creative solutions to the fast-paced retail sector.

A national partnership initiative aiming to mobilise all sectors of South African society to stand for legal power use and stop electricity theft, Operation Khanyisa was launched in October 2010.

Since then, the on-going project has achieved high levels of awareness with a constant flow of information via radio, print, online and outdoor advertising as well as community outreach and education programmes.

The initiative’s success can be most easily measured by the number of tip-offs received about illegal connections. To date, over 6 000 South African’s have blown the whistle, a number that pleases Draftfcb Social Marketing and Operation Khanyisa’s partners.

The latest phase of the communications strategy being rolled out by Draftfcb Social Marketing focuses once again on reporting theft.

It is also the first in South Africa to use the Newspaper Advertising Bureau’s (NAB) latest creative media tool, the Power Note or ‘onsert’. Resembles a ‘Post it’-type sticker, this is stuck on the newspaper’s front page, and carries the ‘news headline’ of Operation Khanyisa’s article, enticing people to read more inside, thus driving them to the messaging content.

Draftfcb Social Marketing has created six different articles to highlight the dangers of illegal connections and carry the call-to-action.

These messages are being reinforced by an internet campaign, magazine advertising, billboards, mobile advertising and numerous radio executions, all overseen by creative director, Loyiso Twala. Importantly, all the radio spots, and many of the other campaign elements, have been executed in all 11 South Africa’s official languages.

“Electricity theft is a serious problem – for Eskom, South Africa, business and industry, communities and residents,” said Draftfcb Social Marketing’s Qingqile (Wingwing) Mdlulwa.

“Energy losses suffered by Eskom due to electricity theft are around R1.2-billion per year. Add the losses suffered by municipalities, and South Africa loses an estimated R4.4-billion a year because of electricity theft.

“This impacts on future economic growth and sustainability, the quality and stability of electricity supply as well as the quality and stability of electricity supply.

“Draftfcb Social Marketing is utilising its social marketing expertise to affect change and contribute to a more sustainable and caring society. We’re delighted with the success of Operation Khanyisa to date, and look forward to making a more dramatic impact in the months ahead.”

In addition to Eskom and the core partners on Operation Khanyisa, the agency works closely with Old Mutual, PetroSA, Endeavour, Department of Trade and Industry, South African Sugar Association, Groot Constantia and National Student Financial Aid Scheme to change behaviour in other industries and communities around South Africa.

Additional information:

The core partners in Operation Khanyisa are Proudly South African (Proudly SA), Eskom, Business Against Crime (BAC), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and Prime Media Crime Line.

AgriSA has joined to spearhead the campaign in the agricultural sector. Other organisations which have expressed interest in working with Operation Khanyisa are Telkom, Media 24, Shout SA, Metal Recyclers Association (MRA), the Association of Municipal Electricity Undertakings of South Africa (AMEU) and the South African Revenue Protection Association (SARPA).

During December 2011, in one of the biggest summer promotion campaigns ever, Operation Khanyisa reached more than 300 000 motorists at tollbooths on major routes. In February 2012, a comprehensive outdoor campaign took Operation Khanyisa’s messages to billboards, wall murals, building wraps, taxis, buses and bus shelters, street poles, supermarkets, airports, Gautrain stations, and on children’s play pumps.

More recently, residents in several townships have disconnected their illegal links to Eskom’s grid following Operation Khanyisa’s outreach at ground level to reduce the incidents of electricity theft and build a culture of legal, safe and efficient power use. In areas such as Moroke, for example, community members have removed illegal meters from their homes and handed these over to Operation Khanyisa campaign workers.

ends

This is the message delivered by the new 40 second TVC from Draftfcb Johannesburg and shot by Sweet Spot Content in Cape Town recently. View the ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2K1Q3gi9NY.

Tasked with communicating how leather seats make owning a Corolla an even greater joy, the agency opted to show how much families love ice cream and how messy that could be. Except in a perfect world where the Toyota Corolla comes standard with leather seats.

According to creative director, James Cloete, the ad was crafted to resonate with a broad target audience.

“Everyone’s had an ice-cream moment,” he said. “What better way to reach out and touch the target market’s heart and mind than evoking memories of that.

Cloete said each scene in the ad took its art-directional cues from different flavours of ice-cream. Everything from the cast and locations, to the props and wardrobe, to the colour of the sky and the paint on the walls, was considered,” he said.

“In this way our collaborators on this project, Sweet Spot Content, helped us enrich the visual appeal of the ad. Their hyper-real and idyllic world of Corollas, families and ice creams gave life to our concept and made certain the ad delivered on its brief in a smart and appealing way.”

Client credits:

Client – Toyota

Client: Toyota South Africa

General Manager; Marketing Communications - Kerry Roodt

Senior Manager: Marketing Communications and Planning - Pieter Klerck

Advertising Manager – Astika Chetram

Supplier credits:

Advertising Agency – Draftfcb

Chief Creative Officer: Brett Morris

Executive Creative Director: James Cloete

Creative Director: Tian van den Heever

Art Director: Louise Hutchinson

Copywriter: Frank Kunene

Executive Business Director: Mike Di Terlizzi

Senior Account Director: Naadira Borah

TV Producer: Barbara Clarke

Production house – Sweet Spot Content

Producer: Linda Notelovitz

Director (DP): Miles Goodall

Co-Director (Production Designer): Gareth Paul

Post Production – Left Post Production

Conceptualised and executed by 1886, a small hot shop within the Draftfcb South Africa fold, it was aired and shared in the three weeks preceding the first game of the new season, the clash between the Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers.

Within days of the critical component of the campaign being added to YouTube and Facebook, it notched up a phenomenal 209 700 views (March 11, 2013), a number many professional local musicians would be proud of.

Rugby players and fans through the country loved the campaign; it even drew compliments from the team’s arch rivals. Importantly, the campaign attracted the interest of a younger set of fans as well as non-traditional, less ‘hard-core’ rugby fans.

According to 1886 general manager, Wimpie le Roux, there is no doubt that the Vodacom Bulls is one of the most successful sports brands in South Africa. But, as a brand, it has a need to grow and reach new markets.

“Every year, the home of the Vodacom Bulls, Loftus Versfeld, sees many true-blue supporters and season ticketholders go all out to support the team. And every year, the players return this support by facing the most brutal opponents and putting their bodies on the line, week in and week out.

“It’s a tough job facing charging Maoris, larger-than-life forwards and razor-sharp backs at full pace. Being a Vodacom Bulls player isn’t for the faint-hearted.

“Our big idea was to take this do-or-die attitude a step further. We wanted the Vodacom Bulls to do something so outrageous, fans would stop at nothing to support them.”

The agency asked the Vodacom Bulls players to face their most terrifying fear in the lead up to one of their most crucial games – make a music video.

The campaign kicked off with a teaser ad (www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLEc-fb1u1w) and various online and email components. This featured the Vodacom Bulls talking about fear, about something in their future which was going to be ‘the scariest thing they’ve ever done’. The setting and tone of the ad encouraged the viewer to think the players were talking about the upcoming clash with the DHL Stormers.

A week ahead of the game, the ‘reveal’ was aired (www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYRRAvi3cpw). This opened in the locker room with the players looking rather nervous, stressed and serious. Then, captain Pierre Spies steps forward and begins to ... sing a rendition of ‘Stand by Me’. The team joins in with a raw, open-hearted, bare-all, humorous appeal to the fans to support them.

“Making a music video was a strategic decision; we know music appeals to the youth, music is also engrained in the Vodacom Bulls brand through the Hougaard/Liefling connection.

“The Vodacom Bulls now stand apart from other teams, the video is creating great likability for the players and the brand. It’s a brand property which the Vodacom Bulls own and which can be activated at live events throughout the SupeRugby season,” said le Roux.

Blue Bulls Company Marketing Manager, Richard Papo, said the team – players, coaches and coaching support and management – is relishing the opportunity to connect more personally with their fans using online platforms.

With back to back victories for the Vodacom Bulls against the DHL Stormers and Western Force respectively, opinions and analysis has been shared by the Bulls faithful via Facebook, Twitter and www.thebulls.co.za.

He said the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BullsOfficial) is loaded with team and player news, live score updates and photos which have attracted fans to the page like a moth to a flame. The number of Likes on this page grew by 6 248 since January with just over 10 000 talking about the Vodacom Bulls. @BlueBullsRugby has seen an increase in Twitter followers from 14 000 in January 2013 to just over 20 000 in the beginning of March.

“In addition to the phenomenal response to our ‘Stand By Me’ video, our fans have expressed their thoughts and opinions on the video as well as on the team’s SupeRugby results on Facebook and Twitter.

“It’s a great way to connect with our fans, gauge their thoughts, wants and needs from our Union, which is particularly important for us in 2013 as we celebrate our 75th Anniversary. We have a host of special events lined up throughout the course of this year in celebration of our 75 year history which leads me to believe that our online presence will further increase in the months ahead,” he said.

ends

Note:

In the 2002 Currie Cup final against the Golden Lions and at the start of his career, Derick Hougaard broke Naas Botha's 15-year record for points scored in a Currie Cup final of 24 by scoring 26. This, plus his kicking success in subsequent games, earned him the accolade ‘Liefling van Loftus’, meaning the ‘sweetheart of Loftus Versfeld Stadium’. Each time he scored at Loftus, the chorus of a Gé Korsten song named ‘Liefling’ was played in the stadium.

“Moose” was directed by Greg Gray of Velocity Films and conceptualised by Mike Barnwell, Doug Larter and Trevor Sacks of Draftfcb. View the TVC here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glfkB2CODhA&hd=1

Commenting on the new setting for the beloved South African cider brand, Savanna Global Marketing Manager Gillian Skinner explains: “This is the first time that Savanna will be seen in unfamiliar surroundings. After 13 years in the same bar it was time to experiment in new spaces. First stop The Angry Moose bar. A slightly over the top themed bar dedicated to the noble moose.”

In true Savanna style, “Moose” maintains the brand’s dry humour and wit. “Savanna has always been famous for its off-beat humour and dry wit and the new campaign shouldn't disappoint even the most ardent Savanna fans,” says Skinner.

Every brand has cycles and we are fortunate to have had great success with campaigns that have stood the test of time. Savanna has been voted South Africa’s most loved cider brand in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 TGI Icon Brand Awards and was again ranked one of the top cider brands in South Africa in the Sunday Times Top Brands Awards of 2012,” says Skinner.

“As we take Savanna into a new era it is important that the new TVCs remain true to the brand's quirky persona and retain its DNA which has become well entrenched with the South African public over the years,” says Executive Creative Director on the campaign, Mike Barnwell, of DraftFCB. The award-winning agency has been with Savanna for 10 years and has won industry prizes for their work on the brand.

“Moose” was directed by Greg Gray of Velocity Films and conceptualised by Mike Barnwell, Doug Larter and Trevor Sacks of Draftfcb.

To launch the campaign, Savanna took the moose to its social media channels. On the Savanna Facebook page fans receive entertaining daily updates on the campaign and are also encouraged to check out #SavannaMoose on the @SavannaCider Twitter account and YouTube. Fans also stood a chance to win Savanna hampers if they shared funny Moose-isms like their favourite moosicians (Moosey Gray), their favourite Moose-icals or Movies (Sound of moosic) or fa-moose actors (William h Moosey).

The agency is no stranger to the list having won more places than any agency in history. This time they managed to notch up 2nd place and 20th position on the 2012 edition for client Wimpy with ‘Missing Lunch’ and ‘Grand Grillster’ and 17th place for ‘Amazing’ for the Lexus RX300.

The list is compiled using data from Millward Brown’s Adtrack™, a proprietary advertising testing system that has evaluated the impact and liking of all brand advertising in South Africa over the last 29 years. The resultant database stands at almost 75 000 TV adverts tested, and more than 1.1 million interviews conducted making this database one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Draftfcb Johannesburg managing director, Alistair Mokoena, and Group Creative Officer, Brett Morris, are both thrilled by the news.

“Most often in our industry it is our peers who bestow the accolades but, in this instance, these have been chosen by the consumer as South Africa’s best 20 ads of 2012.

“We’re thrilled to have made the list again, as reaching ordinary South Africans with messages and creative executions that touch their hearts and minds is what builds brands and makes the tills ring; it’s our most important job.

“Over the past few months, our clients have met their financial targets, they’ve retained or taken up positions as number 1 or number 2 in their sectors, and now consumers have stood up and voted. We’ve delivered in all three areas, and we’re very proud of that,” said Mokoena.

Added Morris: "It's fantastic that we've featured in the list yet again. As an agency we pride ourselves on creating ideas that really matter to consumers and there's no better acknowledgement than the vote of the people who our communication is aimed at. And it's great that an iconic South African brand like Wimpy is at number 2."

Three seemed to be the lucky number for this year’s list with two other agencies accounting for three positions – The Jupiter Drawing Room Johannesburg (6^th, 14^th and 18^th – the 6^th spot a collaboration with Metropolitan Republic) and Black River Football Club (7^th, 13^th and 19^th).

The only other agency to notch up more than one slot on the Top 20 was Cheil USA with 2.

Ends

Two African originals – Amarula Cream and Alek Wek – have been united by Draftfcb Cape Town in a beautifully shot and elegantly edited television ad breaking ahead of the summer festive season.

Conceptualised by the agency’s creative director Doug Larter, art director Annie Ibbotson and copywriter Liora Friedland, the spot draws attention to Amarula’s distinctiveness and reminds consumers of its uniqueness, sub-Saharan roots and luxuriousness.

An internationally distributed brand, Amarula ranks as one of the fastest-growing spirits products worldwide. Spirits Business rates it as a Brand Champion, an honour reserved for those brands achieving double-digit growth in 2011 compared with 2010. It is also a member of the prestigious Millionaire’s Club for selling in excess of a million 9-litre cases a year.

The new TVC by Draftfcb Cape Town clearly positions Amarula as an African original, and can be viewed on http://youtu.be/vu2lhosZQJU.

"What makes Amarula unique is the fact that it is the first of its kind and also the best established and most widely internationally recognised. Given these factors, the natural positioning for the brand is as ‘The African Original’,” explained Larter.

“There are parallels between its story and that of Alek in that she, too, was born in Africa but is today an international icon. Despite her amazing success on the world’s catwalks and behind its speaker podiums, her roots are still in Africa.

“This majestic African is also an artist, published writer and well-known spokesperson for the humanitarian cause in Sudan. She’s an African original, and aligning Amarula with her legendary beauty, spontaneity and uniqueness serves to highlight Amarula’s claim to that status.”

This is the first time brand owner Distell has engaged an international celebrity for Amarula.

Global marketing spokesperson Siobhan Thompson said: “"We chose Alek Wek for her ability, like Amarula, to encapsulate what it means to be an African original. She is a natural, charismatic beauty with a unique and compelling presence. She embodies the grace and poise of Africa with an ability to succeed wherever she goes.”

The television commercial is supported by print, radio, outdoor and a national promotion which runs from October till December. There is also a digital and social media component: see www.facebook.com/amarula. The campaign is being adapted for Amarula’s major markets worldwide.

Note to editors:

Alek Wek was born in South Sudan in 1977 and raised as part of the Dinka tribe. At the age of 14 she was forced to flee her homeland to escape the civil war, arriving in London as a refugee. Her life took a new turn in 1995 when she was spotted by a model agent in a London park, becoming a runway success almost overnight.

In 1997, the international edition of Elle made her its first African cover star, and she was named Model of the Year by MTV. Her natural elegance and grace quickly established her as one of the world's top fashion icons. By 2000 she was booked by Revlon to star in its worldwide advertising campaign, shot by Herb Ritts. She continues to work with a number of the most prestigious brands, including Chanel Couture and YSL.

During her career she has been named Model of the Decade by i-D magazine, and one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.

In 2007 she published her best selling memoirs, Alek, from Refugee to International Supermodel and in 2009 she was chosen as one of a handful of designers to create a unique piece of jewellery for ethical diamond brand Forevermark, subsequently judging its esteemed African Shining Light jewellery design competition in 2010.

She is as well-known for her charity work as her modelling, lending real support to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), where she serves on an advisory board to help highlight and alleviate the plight of refugees worldwide. This year she spent two weeks travelling throughout South Sudan with the UNHCR to galvanise international support for the hundreds of thousands of refugees still displaced.

She speaks in New York schools to empower youth and helped launch the Bracelet for Life campaign with Médecins Sans Frontières. She also works actively to raise funds for those affected by AIDS, and with other children’s and Breast Cancer Research charities.

She is an established designer in her own right with a luxury handbag range established in 2001, called WEK1933. The collection is sold worldwide through high-end retailers. She continues to develop her collection while collaborating with other influential brands on special projects.

ends

Inaugurated to encourage and showcase a pioneering spirit in creativity and innovation, the Hack-a-Thon offered prize money totalling R10 000, and was open to teams of no more than 5 members active in the marketing, communications and IT industries … or not. The only prerequisite was that each team combined creative and technical skills.

Their brief? To hack something, anything, as long as the final product was the epitome of geek-awesome, said Hellocomputer group executive creative director, Mark Tomlinson.

“One definition of ‘hack’ from the Urban Dictionary is ‘To break into computer systems with malicious intent’. At Hellocomputer, we prefer another interpretation, one said by the same source to be more faithful to its original meaning – ‘To program a computer in a clever, virtuosic, and wizardly manner’.

“The Hellocomputer Hack-a-Thon was launched to celebrate a ‘do anything’ attitude, one that would see the teams combining simple technology and inspired creativity to produce ground-breaking results.

“That’s the way we have approached every brief at Hellocomputer from the outset, and we wanted to foster this philosophy on an industry level. The Hellocomputer Hack-a-Thon was our way of doing that.”

For 48 hours, the teams participating in the inaugural event hacked their computers into the most unsuspecting of items – nine technicolor slinkies, a hamster cage, an augmented reality (AR) drone and, in one inspiringly-leftfield case, a cardboard box. Blood, sweat and river of coffee flowed freely as each team worked through the night to bring their creations to life.

After two days, the hacked constructions were scrutinised by Draftfcb South Africa group creative officer, Brett Morris, and Gloo deputy managing director, Templar Wales.

First up for judging was a made-from-scratch Quant-music equaliser from Martin Pretorius, Jacobus Prinsloo, Herman Rossouw and Bernhardt Garlipp. Using nine slinkies arranged in a 3x3 layout, some catgut and a nifty bit of coding, the team had crafted a fully functional equaliser that danced to any music it heard.

The Hellocomputer team of Trent Goulden, Ryan Wild, Muano Mainganye and Samuel Goldenbaum was next up with a hacked AR drone. By far the most ambitious project of the weekend, this team recoded an off-the-shelf drone to respond to their laptops and planned to hook in some image-recognition so it could tweet what it saw as it flew around. Unfortunately, the 48 hours was not long enough to complete such wizardry.

The third entry, from Jesse Coetsee, Ernst Van Der Merwe, Jans De Jager and Ross Cohen, was a mishmash of cardboard, arcade computer buttons and a nest of wiring – it was the world’s cheapest and easiest-to-assemble midi-player.

However, it was the fourth team comprising Rory MacRobert, Eras Gous, Matthys Esterhuysen, Johan Pieterse and Ben Fourie which put up the winning idea.

In the words of the judges, it delivered the ‘best blend of tech and concept’. Using heat, movement, light, vibration and pressure pads, the winning entry was a hamster cage that tweeted every action-packed moment made by its inhabitant, a personable dwarf hamster by the name of Squeaks. His followers therefore knew when he ‘checked into his love nest’, or ‘stuffed his hamster pouches at the food bin’.

Hellocomputer executive creative director, Kerry Friend, was more than thrilled with the outcome of the event. “For us to have such a high level of entrants in our very first event is beyond awesome. I wasn’t entirely sure about how this was going to play out, but it has far exceeded my expectations,” she said.

Friend said that the next Hellocomputer Hack-a-Thon, scheduled for April next year, will be bigger and better. If you want to get involved, start getting your team together now.

Follow Squeaks on @Hchamster, or visit www.hchack.co.za.

ends

This is the first time that Vodacom, the long-term sponsor of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, has portrayed supporters squaring off against each other.

Vodacom Managing Executive: Marketing, Enzo Scarcella, said he briefed the agency to create a campaign that inflames passion, and creates a link between this passion and the Vodacom brand. In the long-term, he wants this passion to build brand loyalty, and lead soccer supporters to buy-in to products and promotions specifically developed for Kaizer Chief or Orlando Pirate fans.

Draftfcb Johannesburg’s response was to tap into historic club rivalry; Chiefs and Pirates fans are notorious for going the extra mile to prove their team and its supporter base is better than that of their rivals.

The team comprising Chief Creative Officer Brett Morris, Executive Creative Director Neo Mashigo, Creative Director Grant Sithole, Copywriter Melusi Mhlungu and Art Director Archi Malinga built the campaign on a war cry: ‘Ayeye, liyez’ iKhosi’ and ‘Ayeye, liyez’ iBhakaniya’ or ‘Beware, Chiefs are coming’ and ‘Beware, Pirates are coming’.

In the TV ad targeting Kaizer Chiefs supporters, two taxi drivers are shown a video of cheering Pirates fans. This inflames them to muster as many Chiefs fans as they can and march to Orlando Stadium (Pirates’ home ground) singing ‘Ayeye Bhakaniya, liyez’ iKhosi’ (Beware Pirates, Chiefs are coming).

The Pirates version follows the same storyline, but issues the warning to the Chiefs. Shot in and around Soweto in four days, these will flight from November 2012 to May 2013.

View the ads here:

Chiefs: http://youtu.be/JIxM6BCxdcc

Pirates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVurWRZ-FOc&feature=plcp

The campaign also comprises radio spots, print executions and – because the target is predominantly young and connected male aged 18-34, online and mobi banners, a website, and social media elements.

“This campaign has been an incredibly interesting and exciting one for the agency,” said Mashigo.

“Exciting because, for the first time, we have actively set out to take advantage of the rivalry between Chiefs and Pirates. It’s interesting because we’ve worked with Draftfcb’s digital agency, Hellocomputer, to take the fan into the virtual realm.

“Here, the online campaign challenges fans to vote for either Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates By clicking on certain banners, they work to ensure that banner becomes either a Chiefs or Pirates branded space.

“They can also claim virtual territory online by selecting which region they are from – the most votes for a particular team in each region will claim that region as either a Chiefs or Pirates stronghold. If the fans really get behind their team, they can build boost the team’s online presence and ensure the team dominates in cyberspace as well as on the field,” he said.

Client credits: Vodacom

Enzo Scarcella – Managing Executive: Marketing

Fatima Hassim – EHOD: Regional Marketing and Sponsorship

Rowen Gangulu – Sponsorship Brand Manager

Agency credits: Draftfcb Johannesburg

Brett Morris – Chief Creative Officer

Neo Mashigo – Executive Creative Director

Grant Sithole – Creative Director

Melusi Mhlungu – Copywriter

Archi Malinga – Art director

Romaine MacKenzie – Managing Partner

Struan Bourquin – Group Account Director

Sivu Rangqa – Account Director

Gontse Chipane – Account Executive

Published annually by the South African business weekly, Financial Mail, AdFocus tracks the progress of the industry and its players, and awards those who have achieved greatness during the year at its awards show.

This year, AdFocus 2012 named Draftfcb South Africa CEO John Dixon as its Agency Leader of the Year and awarded Draftfcb Johannesburg ECD Neo Mashigo its New Broom Award.

Before calling Dixon to the podium, editor David Furlonger said that it takes strong leadership to steer a diverse group like Draftfcb South Africa. He asked what makes a real leaders in an organisation? Is it the people who make the day-to-day decisions that determine business success or failure? Or is it the person at the very top of the chain, creating the environment that allows executives to flourish?

Furlonger said he believed Dixon fits firmly in the second category and that, in the four years since becoming CEO (he was previously MD of the Johannesburg ad agency), he has done a remarkable job of building on the foundations created by his predecessor.

“It's no coincidence that Draftfcb's agencies are flourishing. But it is the success of clients — the measure by which Dixon says any agency must be measured — that gives the greatest cause for group satisfaction. In the 2012 Sunday Times brands survey, Draftfcb Group clients Toyota, Engen, Koo, Panado, Coca-Cola, Old Mutual, Momentum and Vodacom were all ranked top in their categories. Draftfcb itself was recognised as the Brand Agency of the year.

“The group has a reputation of producing advertising that resonates with the full spectrum of South Africa’s population – a fact that’s evidenced by their perennial dominance of the Pendoring Awards which recognise communication produced in indigineous langauges.’This reputation has helped the Group land some handy new accounts last year, including Wimpy, Clicks and Beiersdorf. In total, the group added R35m in new business, while shedding R4,2m with the loss of Spur, Hollard and Emirates Airlines.”

In his 12 years in the advertising industry, Draftfcb Johannesburg's 35-year-old executive creative director and AdFocus 2012 New Broom Award recipient, Neo Mashigo, has been driven by the need to raise the profile and quality of vernacular advertising as well as transformation of the industry at ground level. His aim, he says, has been to "influence the conversation around SA-style work and black work in particular".

AdFocus journalist Zweli Mokgata praised the fact that Mashigo and his creative team have consistently produced cutting-edge work in indigenous languages as well as campaigns that are distinctly South African. They have been a consistent top performer at the Loerie Awards in the New Voice category, which awards excellence in non-English radio advertising, and have also dominated in the Pendoring Awards' Truly SA category.

Mashigo also strives to see the advertising industry output more representative of SA. As a member of the Creative Circle's executive committee and a Loerie Awards committee member he strives to bring young black talent into the industry.

ends

Featuring rugby ‘rock star’ Schalk Burger, a lanky look-alike and a group of unwitting Australians, it was devised by the creative team of executive creative director Mike Barnwell, creative director Doug Larter, Anthony de Klerk, Jason Wiltshire and Chris de Villiers. It was directed by Slim of Egg Films.

Neels, the iconic stalwart of many previous ads, is behind the counter when the Australians enter the bar and mistake a tall, fair-haired young man for Schalk Burger. Encouraged by Neels, he plays along, lapping up the adoration, posing for photographs, and teaching the Sheilas how to scrum, when he’s not signing ‘his’ name on their taut and toned tummies, that is!

The raucous good times suddenly halt when the real Schalk enters the bar, looking like thunder. The two tall men eyeball each other for several long seconds before Schalk, having overheard Neels ask if the group was ready for another drink, breaks the silence: ‘Make it a double’. And the revelry continues.

“Synonymous with the word ‘brandy’ in the heart of the South African consumer, Klipdrift will be found wherever South African’s are imparting their unique flavour of generosity and hospitality. In this ad, they may be deceiving the Australians but the manner and tone in which they do so is without malice,” said Barnwell.

“In fact, it’s almost a rite of passage, of acceptance into the Klipdrift family. By the end of the spot, there’s no doubt that the Aussies feel right at home, underscoring the brand’s pay-off line: Make yourself at home.”

“At the same time, our characters and the choice of bar and music – while distinctly South African – were selected to reflect the fact that Klipdrift appeals to a wide range of consumers, from the traditional salt of the earth, as demonstrated by the first ‘Met Eish’ ads, to the young and ambitious,” added Larter.

“The common thread, however, is the honesty and integrity of the brand, and of the people who drink it. This not only gives the brand timeless appeal, it ensures its relevance to South Africans of all ages and races who share its values,” he said.

‘Mistaken Identify’ is currently flighting on national television but you can view the ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1UJcNciFho.

Ends

Client credits:

Client: Distell Klipdrift Export

Marketing Director: Karl Schutte

Agency credits:

Creative agency: Draftfcb Cape Town

Key account management: Marius Schreuder

Executive creative director: Mike Barnwell

Creative director: Doug Larter

Art director: Anthony de Klerk

Copywriter: Jason Wiltshire & Chris de Villiers

Strategic planner: Jacques van der Merwe

TV production: Caz Friedman

Production company: Egg Films

Production company director: Slim

Editor: Ricky Boyd (Deliverance)

The fuel launch follows market research conducted by Engen, which found that petrol motorists were tired of choosing between fuels with only one benefit.

“In the past, motorists would have to choose Brand A’s economical petrol or Brand B’s performance petrol,” said Lesley McDonough, Engen Group Brand Manager. “Engen Primax Unleaded offers the consumer state-of-the-art detergency, superior performance and improved driving economy in one complete package.”

The fuel launch is supported by a far-reaching advertising campaign produced by Draftfcb Cape Town. View the 30 second commercial plus a longer 70 second version at these links:

http://youtu.be/3eNMTpGoYRw, http://youtu.be/mAOdocHKl6U.

"It’s hard to imagine what Engen Primax Unleaded does to a car engine,” said Mike Barnwell, Executive Creative Director at Draftfcb Cape Town. “So we decided to explain with the help of a little demonstration.”

“To show off the two key benefits of Engen Primax Unleaded, we decided to create a hybrid car with a difference,” added Aaron Harris, Creative Director at Draftfcb Cape Town. “The result is a vehicle that has the V6 engine of a performance car with the frugal fuel tank of an economy car.”

The resulting TV commercial, which aired across a variety of channels on November 11, features a team of technicians cutting two cars in half and reassembling them into a single vehicle that combines the best of both - with the front of a performance car and the rear of an economical runaround.

“There was never any question about us creating the car for real. We all agreed that the car had to be fully functional,” said Mike Barnwell. “We’re planning to take the hybrid car on a cross-country tour, making appearances at Engen forecourts and motor shows across South Africa.”

ends

While remaining true to the company’s over-arching promise of ‘Power to You’, the promotion is a major component of Vodacom’s intention to give customers more this summer.

The creative team from Vodacom’s long-standing marketing partner, Draftfcb Johannesburg, interpreted ‘more’ as ‘double’.

Comprising Brett Morris, Erin Brooks, Napoleon Masinga, Innocent Mukheli and Collette Wasielewski, the team gives meaning to the concept in a South African-spiced television commercial following the life of Mrs Reddy, an Indian mother who became obsessed with doing things in doubles after the birth of her twin boys.

The over-riding take-out from the fast-paced spot is ‘If it’s nice, then you have to do it twice’. It’s given extra appeal and memorability by the agency’s use of worldwide hit and YouTube phenomenon, ‘Gangnam Style’ from South Korean rapper, PSY.

Setting the scene for the ‘Double Your Summer’ initiative, the ad is just one element of a 360° campaign seamlessly delivering the message nationally. Utilising out-of-home, radio, print, digital and activations, it kicked off on November 1.

View the TVC here: http://www.youtube.com/user/VODACOMTV?v=DB-KbvKcHkI.

ends

Key sponsor Puma, which has a long-term deal to supply full technical kit to both the Blue Bulls and Bulls teams and is the official distributor of the teams’ match replica gear, unveiled a shocking pink and purple away jersey at the start of the 2012 Super Rugby season.

Supposedly inspired by the purple Jacaranda trees that characterise the Bulls’ hometown of Pretoria, the colour marked a significant image shift for the Bulls. In addition, the dramatic ‘smash’ design taking its lead from the phrase ‘bull in a china shop’ expressed the Bulls’ powerful playing style.

Fans either loved or hated the new shirt, and even those that loved it were a little taken back when Bulls management decided the team would adopt the away jersey for all matches.

The Bulls required a campaign to fill the Loftus Versveld stadium to maximum capacity (51 762 seats) for the derby against the Stormers.

When it suggested to advertising and communications partner, Swipe, that the pink jersey be the focus of the campaign, the agency immediately saw the benefit, agreeing that the Bulls teams with the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and fans be challenged to turn Loftus pink.

The Bulls’ 'Get your Pink on' CANSA initiative was launched in press, radio and online as well as at http://www.getyourpinkon.co.za to create hype, to give people a reason to get behind the pink jersey, to go to the game at Loftus, and also to give them the opportunity to make donations toward this worthy cause.

To activate the campaign on the ground, CANSA provided a mobile health unit for clinical breast exams and skin examinations and ticket holders attending games at Loftus could also get their heads sprayed in pink or blue, white and black at ‘Sprayathon” stations inside the stadium.

The Bulls’ main sponsor, Vodacom, also promised to donate R20 000 for every try scored by the Bulls against the Stormers on the day.

‘Get your Pink On’ filled all 51 762 seats and raised a total of R501 920 for CANSA on the day of the match.

But the campaign has had residual impact, too. The number of women attending games has increased dramatically, and sales of the new pink jersey – at R599 – have outstripped those of the traditional blue.

“Often, it’s the simplest ideas that grab the public’s imagination and this was no exception. All we had to do was add the excitement, the sex appeal if you will, and the warm-hearted Bulls fans did the rest,” said Swipe managing director, Wimpie le Roux.

“I’d like to think that the idea of a ‘pink’ Loftus was one that never entered into anyone’s head, but it is a sight that many will treasure for many years to come.”

ends

The agency was awarded with a total of 10 accolades across a variety of categories demonstrating its ability to deliver results-orientated creativity.

“The Bookmark Awards recognises work that is not only creatively commendable but is also accountable to performance. It’s a true testament of delivering value to our clients,” said Mark Tomlinson, Group Executive Creative Director. “We are happy with our showing on the night.”

Hellocomputer’s awards are:

Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation

Silver – Continental ‘Power of Stop’

Bronze – Hunters Dry ‘Urban Oasis’ Tour

Bronze – Adidas NEO ‘Weather Widget’

Microsites & Websites

Bronze – Toyota Etios ‘Smile Hub’

Bronze – Toyota Yaris ‘You set the Pace’

Bronze – Hyundai Accent

Social Media Campaigns

Bronze – Toyota Etios ‘Tweets for Sweets’

Integrated Digital Marketing/Campaigns

Bronze – Toyota Etios ‘Smile Hub’

Bronze – Toyota Yaris ‘You set the Pace’

Integrated / Mixed Media – Multi-Channel Retailer

Bronze – Toyota Etios ‘Here to make you smile’

Hellocomputer was acquired by Draftfcb South Africa earlier this year. The company now has over 80 staff across it offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg. For more from Hellocomputer please visit http://www.hellocomputer.com or follow the twitter handle @hellocomputer

Making the announcement, soccer mad Draftfcb CEO, John Dixon, said he regarded the signing of Mokoena as a ‘big signing’ for the agency, which has scored several other goals over the course of the year.

Most significant of these were the acquisition of leading digital agency, Hellocomputer, and winning The Top Brand Agency of the Year Award, which recognises the creative agencies behind the big brands in the Sunday Times Top Brands Survey.

Mokoena has a blue chip academic background – he has a Bcom LLB from Rhodes University; completed the Management Development Programme at UCT Graduate School of business; is a Chartered Marketer and is currently reading for an MBA.

His hands-on marketing experience is equally impressive, having contributed to brands like Skip, Ponds, Shield and Axe at Unilever; some of the most important brands at Tiger Brands as a senior brand manager; Castle Milk Stout as brand manager and international premium brands as marketing manager at SAB Miller; and the gum and candy portfolio as marketing director at Cadbury.

Mokoena joined ABSA in December 2011 after a stint as an entrepreneur and marketing consultancy to a wide range of government and commercial brands.

“It gave me immense pleasure to inform Draftfcb employees and clients about our great new addition to the senior leadership team,” said Dixon.

“Alistair's blue chip marketing experience brings a diverse and interesting perspective to the current management team at Draftfcb, and by extension to its clients.

“However, as impressed as the Draftfcb Exco was with Alistair's experience, what really attracted us to him was the values he shared with us and his desire to be great.

“Alistair may have a business brain, but he has a creative soul. Like us, he is passionate about communication that talks to all South Africans and believes in the power of creativity to change the world.”

Mokoena’s appointment is effective on November 1. In addition to his role as Managing Director of the biggest agency in the Draftfcb group, he takes on responsibility for its retail arm, Swipe, and specialist agency, 1886.

ends

The cheeky television commercial featuring the suburban miss who takes on a tougher personality when she uses her husband’s Hilux to go shopping just got cheekier with a brand new edit to highlight Toyota’s participation in the 2013 Dakar Rally.

Watch the ad here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neRg9YCyJqc&feature=youtu.be.

Created by Draftfcb Johannesburg, the new advert joins the heroine as she emerges from the shopping centre and bumps into Toyota’s Dakar rally driver, Giniel De Villiers.

Having picked up his car keys by mistake, she decides to drive the even more rugged Dakar Rally Hilux home where she – once again – dispatches her husband to the kitchen to make her a sandwich.

Draftfcb Johannesburg sister company, Hellocomputer, has put together a web site for fans to follow the Toyota team’s progress: http://dakar.toyota.co.za.

A relative unknown compared to the company’s petroleum brand, Chemicals and Special Products wanted to demonstrate to other Engen employees its abilities and the role it has played in bringing innovative and effective products into South African homes and businesses.

The agency’s response was to commission Lynette Bester, a Cape Town based artist, to build a life-size room made entirely from the products Engen Chemicals and Special Products have a hand in creating.

Executive Creative Director at Draftfcb Cape Town, Mike Barnwell explained: “Because of their ability to create something out of nothing, the people at Engen’s Chemicals and Special Products division should be seen as more than just chemists and scientists.

“They are alchemists, magicians, creators and artists ... and have a hand in creating almost everything we touch every day from plastic containers to multi-surface cleaners, paints and tar roads. These products literally create the world around us.

“However, the division’s existence goes unnoticed, not only by ordinary South Africans who use these products but by other employees of the company.

“This activation demonstrates the notion that Engen Chemicals and Special Products quite literally ‘Creates the world around you’. A simple idea, beautifully brought to life by Lynette Bester.”

To maximize impact, Draftfcb Cape Town took the room created by Bester on a road show and erected it in the foyers of Engen’s offices across South Africa. The installation was supported with 3D desk drops, pull-up banners, posters and a micosite which explained how the room was created as well and offered visitors the chance to win one of 50 hampers made up of the various products the division has a hand in creating.

Engen Chemicals and Special Products Marketing Manager, Sithsaba Xhala, is exceptionally pleased with the campaign, saying it met the brief spot on.

“This campaign broke through the clutter of conventional internal communications at Engen. It effectively raised the division’s profile internally and promoted collaboration between internal divisions.”

With prize money totalling R10 000, the hack-a-thon is open to teams of no more than 5 members. These can be active in the marketing, communications and IT industries … or not. The only prerequisite is that each team combines creative and technical skills.

Said group executive creative director, Mark Tomlinson: “Hellocomputer has from day one approached projects with a ‘do anything’ attitude, often combining simple technology and inspired creativity to produce ground-breaking results.

“This is the essence of our new hack-a-thon initiative, where we co-create freely, inspiring the greater digital community to deliver unlimited solutions with limited resources.”

At the start of the 48-hour session, the teams will be tasked with creating a prototype of their idea. This will then be presented to attendees and a panel of judges made up of technologists and creatives.

The brief at the inaugural hack-a-thon will be quite broad: to combine creativity and technology in an innovative and engaging way.

However, the ultimate aim of each event will be to hack for good. The outcome will be to develop practical and open-source solutions to affect positive change, using the skills of the creative and tech industries.

Venues will vary, but the aim is to have at least 2 hack-a-thons a year, 1 in Johannesburg and 1 in Cape Town.

Details of the first Draftfcb/HC hack-a-thon are:
• 10 and 11th of November 2012 @ Draftfcb, Pinmill Farm, 164 Katherine Avenue, Sandown, Johannesburg
• Deadline for entries 30th of October
• First prize 8K, runner-up 2K
• Enter at www.hchack.co.za

ends

Screening weekly on eTV for 12 weeks, ‘Drive It to Win It’ will pit two lucky shoppers against each other; the shopper completing the fastest lap in a virtual Ford Figo will get to keep the car.

Draftfcb Cape Town managing partner, Nadja Srdic, said the promotion forms part of Engen Retail’s annual drive to assist the individual QuickShops to reach their targets.

“This year, the agency was briefed to deliver a campaign that not only boosted sales, but linked it to this quarter’s QuickSave Combo, a regular promotion run with the support of various QuickShop suppliers,” she said.

“The challenge was to differentiate Engen’s ‘win a car’ offer from those currently cluttering the media scene.”

Added Draftfcb Cape Town creative director, Aaron Harris: “Our solution was to partner with one of the brand’s key media partners and give away the 12 Ford Figo vehicles live on television.

“We went live on October 1 with our build-up communication, and will be running the ‘Drive It to Win It’ portion of the campaign from November 1 to January 31.

“The production company, Wishbone, did a fantastic job bringing the concept to life and we’re really confident that the campaign will deliver the results Engen Retail and QuickShop are looking for.”

To stand a chance of driving their way to a new car, customers must purchase any two participating QuickSave bundles and enter via their mobile phones while at the till. Each week, two potential winners will be drawn, and they will then compete against each other on the ‘Drive It to Win It’ simulator, live on TV. The fastest lap wins the Figo, the runner up receives a R10 000 cheque from Engen QuickShop.

The campaign comprises a 30 second television promotion spot on a national TV station (eTV), 12 three-minute gameshows each Thursday night (just before Rhythm City), in-store point-of-sale and digital support.

The brand, owned by the global drinks business, became the first owned by Pernod Ricard to smash the 10 000 fan mark in South Africa thanks to the Steve Aoki Tour Facebook campaign devised by Hellocomputer’s social media management skills.

American electro house musician, record producer and the founder of Dim Mak records Steve Aoki will be in South Africa in December this year on an Olmeca Tequila sponsored tour.

The Facebook campaign devised by Hellocomputer makes the most of Aoki’s crazy antics, including crowd surfing in a canoe at the end of his high-energy, foot-stomping, head-banging onstage performances.

It includes information relating to the South African tour, the Cake your Mate application, a local DJ challenge and an innovative twitter campaign based on Aoki's infamous #aokijump. This gives entrants the opportunity to win tickets to the event for doing the #aokijump with a bottle of Olmeca Tequila in hand.

View elements of the campaign here:
http://www.facebook.com/OlmecaTequilaSA
http://www.facebook.com/OlmecaTequilaSA/app_195532990510444
http://www.facebook.com/OlmecaTequilaSA/app_358975134181448

Social media management is core to Hellocomputer’s full service digital offering, and plays an integral role in the agency’s clients’ online marketing efforts.

“We pride ourselves on developing sound social media content and marketing plans for our clients’ brands, and then executing these with the award-winning strategic and creative flair that Hellocomputer is renowned for,” said the agency’s managing director, David Moffatt.

“We’re thrilled with the response to the @Olmeca_SA #aokijump – it’s affirmation of our abilities, and sets an extremely high standard for us to maintain when it comes to delivering for the other Pernod Ricard brands that have come on board with us. We’re looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

In addition to Olmeca Tequila, Hellocomputer handles Red Heart Rum, The Glenlivet and Havana Club for Pernod Ricard in South Africa and Jameson Irish Whiskey, Absolut Vodka and Chivas Regal in East Africa.

It was acquired by Draftfcb South Africa earlier this year and recently walked away with 5 Loerie accolades for 4 clients in 4 different categories demonstrating its breadth of experience when it comes to the digital environment and the industries in which its clients work.

For more information visit http://www.hellocomputer.com and http://www.pernod-ricard.com.

ends

Centred around the grand prize of a customised Café Racer motorcycle, the ‘Style Your Ride’ campaign lives on Facebook, the brand’s core social media presence, and allows users to engage with Red Heart Rum by generating content in a fun and hands-on way.

Staying true to the brand’s essence of ‘Bold and Uncompromised’, the ‘Style your Ride’ promotion allows users to customise their own Café Racer style motorcycle using an interactive bike builder tool on the brand’s Facebook page.

Entered designs will be judged by legendary South African rugby player Victor Matfield, and one lucky entrant will win a Triump motorcycle that has been customised in line with their winning design.

The ‘Style your Ride’ bike builder, developed by Hellocomputer, is a Facebook application programmed in HTML5, and features 3D renderings of the various parts of a Triumph T100 motorcycle.

Users are able to customise the colours, decals and parts of the bike, resulting in over 30 000 possible combinations. Once they have submitted their entry, users are prompted to share their design with friends on Facebook, delivering a campaign that generates large amounts of talkability.

‘Style Your Ride’ has already seen a considerable amount of success, with over 5 000 customised motorcycles having been styled within the first three weeks. The number of fans on the Red Heart Rum page has increased by over 230% and, more importantly, and the number of people talking about the brand has increased substantially.

View the campaign here (https://www.facebook.com/RedHeartRum/app_118527194963151), but note it is only live till October 31, 2012 when the competition closes. Alternatively, follow the story on http://www.facebook.com/RedHeartRum.
Ends

Social media management, which is core to Hellocomputer’s full service digital offering, will play an integral role in these brands online marketing. The agency will be developing sound social media content and marketing plans for these brands and execute these with the award winning strategic and creative flair that Hellocomputer is renowned for.

Hellocomputer recently had cause for celebration along with its client Olmeca Tequila when the agency managed to get the brand to be the first Pernod Ricard brand inSouth Africato smash the 10 000 fan mark.

“We look forward to seeing the plans Hellocomputer have put forward for the year come to life across our digital platforms, especially those on our brands Social Media platforms,” said Johann Van Zyl, Marketing Manager, Pernod Ricard SouthAfrica.

“Although likes are the flavour of the day, we believe our strategic approach to social media and focus on engagement rather just fan numbers will ensure that the Pernod Ricard brands we are partnered with realise great success,” said David Moffat, Managing Director, Hellocomputer.

Hellocomputer was acquired by Draftfcb South Africa earlier this year and recently walked away with 5 Loerie accolades for 4 clients in 4 different categories demonstrating its breadth of experience when it comes to the digital environment and the industries in which its clients work.

For more information visit http://www.hellocomputer.com

Pernod Ricard is the global leader in the Premium Wine & Spirits category.

For more information visit http://www.pernod-ricard.com

The high-performance coupe made a grand entrance with a television commercial that tells potential buyers to ‘go play’. This is being supported by a through-the-line campaign.

Senior Manager for Marketing Communications and Planning, Pieter Klerck, briefed Draftfcb Johannesburg to develop a campaign that showcased the new car’s road-holding capabilities and dynamic abilities.

“Positioned in the sports coupe segment, theToyota86 is gutsy, sleek and speedy; a true driver’s car,” he said.

“With design input from a Japanese Drift King, Dorikin Keiichi Tsuchiya, the 86 has been welcomed by the motoring world and hailed as one of the most exciting to break onto the scene this year. The execution needed to convey that.”

Moody and performance driven, the resultant ad burst into television lounges around the country with heart-stopping direction and impactful audio.

It was conceived by a Draftfcb Johannesburg team comprising executive creative director James Cloete, creative director Tian van den Heever, copywriter Liam Galt and art director Danni Meneghin off a strategy put together by strategic planner Justin Cloete.

Draftfcb Johannesburg Executive Business Director, Mike Di Terlizzi, commented: “The motoring world has been waiting for a vehicle to shake it out of its doldrums ... and many are predicting theToyota86 is it.

“Drifting was the ideal motoring technique to use to showcase its capabilities. Shot at The Rock drifting race track in Brakpan over one day by production house Bioscope, the ad debuted mid-August and is being supported by an extremely edgy print and outdoor campaign.”

Ends

Note to editors:

Drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers to such an extent that often the front wheels are pointing in the opposite direction to the turn. As a motorsport discipline, professional drifting competitions are held worldwide and are judged according to the speed, angle and line taken through a corner or set of corners.

Client credits:

Client:ToyotaSouth Africa

General Manager; Marketing Communications - Kerry Roodt

Senior Manager: Marketing Communications and Planning - Pieter Klerck

Advertising Manager – Astika Chetram

Creative Credits:

Agency: Draftfcb Johannesburg

Key account management: Mike Di Terlizzi, Greg Baker

Executive creative director: James Cloete

Creative Director: Tian van den Heever

Copywriter: Liam Galt

Art director: Danni Meneghin

Strategic planner: Justin Cloete

TV production: Barbara Clarke

Media planners: Gwen Bezuidenhout, Thulani Nombewu

Production companies: Bioscope

Director: Juniper

Editor: Neil Gouu - Glasshouse

Post-production: Blade

Established in 1994 by all the leading Afrikaans media role players, the Pendoring Awards focus on promoting and rewarding outstanding Afrikaans as well as truly South African advertising.

As such, it has grown into a prestigious event on the advertising calendar, with considerable cash prizes for category winners, bursaries for students and a study tour abroad for the Prestige Award winner.

Created by the 2011 winners of the Pendoring Prestige Award (the equivalent of a grand prix), Riaan van Wyk and André de Wet, the 2012 campaign highlights that – thanks to the R50 000 prize awarded to the creator of the Prestige Award on the night – entrants stand to win the opportunity to take over a city of their choice.

Of course, with R50 000 in their pockets, they could opt to conquer another city anywhere in the world; Van Wyk and De Wet recently returned from their prize trip to America and France where they attended the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival and walked away with a Bronze Lion for the same piece that won them the Pendoring Prestige Award.

The 2012 campaign includes a direct mail piece (Godzilla feet), posters, a radio campaign, an online game, designing the Pendoring web site, and a television commercial which was also used virally.

Pendoring TVC:

youtu.be/GYsJ_GAdoIk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYsJ_GAdoIk&feature=youtu.be

Pendoring web site:

www.pendoring.co.za

Radio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtuU7KAdgvg

Pendoring game:

http://vatoor.buynary.co.za/

The 2011 Prestige Pendoring winning work can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=oXWlPy16KJU.

ends

Web version:

The 2011 winners of the Pendoring Prestige Award (the equivalent of a grand prix), Riaan van Wyk and André de Wet from Draftfcb Cape Town, have created an awesome campaign for the 2012 Pendoring Awards. It includes a direct mail shot (Godzilla feet), posters , a radio campaign, an online game, reskinning the Pendoring web site, and a television commercial which is also being used virally. Check it out: youtu.be/GYsJ_GAdoIk

Recognising the creative agencies behind the big brands, the award is calculated on a points system for agencies with clients that achieved first, second and third place in the Sunday Times Top Brands Survey.

Commissioned by Avusa Media and conducted by TNS, this survey involves interviews with 400 senior business people, as well as 3500 consumers over the age of 18.

Ranked by consumers, Draftfcb South Africa’s clients achieved first places in the car category (Toyota), petrol/gas station (Engen), tinned food (Koo), headache tablets (Panado), cold drink (Coca-Cola), long-term insurance (Old Mutual), and telecoms service provider (Vodacom).

Business people ranked Draftfcb South Africa clients first in the telecoms service provider (Vodacom) and long-term insurance (Momentum Life).

When it came to the survey’s Grand Prix awards, Koo was named as the Overall Favourite Brand while Coca-Cola received three Grand Prix - Done Most To Uplift The Community, Done Most To Promote ‘Green’ Or ‘Environmentally Friendly’ and Most Desired Company To Work For.

Celebrating the agency’s achievement, Draftfcb Chief Creative Officer, Brett Morris, said it was a result of a professional and committed client-agency relationship supported by critical strategic insights and creative advertising that touched the hearts and minds of ordinary South Africans.

“Draftfcb enjoys long-term partnerships with client. For example, we celebrate 52 years with Toyota, 19 years with Vodacom, 36 years with Tiger Brands and 39 years with Adcock Ingram this year.

“These clients and their brands, as well as many of our other clients, are leaders in their sectors, but many did not hold that position before they partnered with us.

“By developing advertising that resonates with the market, we’ve helped build their brands and their businesses. It’s an impressive achievement, and one we’re particularly proud of,” Morris said.

Links to examples of the work Draftfcb does for the above winning clients and brands:

Koo - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHwY33WrQ5E

Coca-Cola - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7xVbosE16Y,

Toyota - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ysch8WAy-4, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rspUSej_MFE

Engen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky8HwcxqfDY, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90r_NXQQAKo

Old Mutual – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtB2k0CfsNE

Vodacom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta2m8ryIYaM, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk3NvKOh_ik

With immediate effect, the agency group’s own digital arm, Mesh Interactive, will be rebranded as Hellocomputer and incorporated into the acquired concern to boost the merged entity’s total staff complement to more than 80 people working out of Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The new Hellocomputer will immediately rank as one of the top 5 digital agencies by size in the country.

Draftfcb is recognised for its ability to build South Africa’s favourite brands using integrated advertising solutions that resonate with the man-in-the-street to win his heart and mind. This deal provides a formidable boost to this offering.

Hellocomputer emerged as the undisputed creative leader in the digital arena at the 2011 Loerie Awards, winning the coveted Grand Prix for its ground-breaking work in the Interactive Tools and Applications category.

It was also awarded the lion’s share of the 2011 Bookmarks, with a grand total of 14 demonstrating its ability to deliver results-orientated creativity across a broad spectrum of categories including microsite, technical innovation, display advertising, integrated digital media, social media, games, digital mixed media and design.

Internationally, it recently received its third FWA, a second Webby Honouree and was named as the first South African digital agency to feature on ‘The Agency List’.

The acquisition can be regarded as a coup for both parties – Draftfcb South Africa has acquired the skills and expertise of what is arguably the country’s most creative agency in the digital arena; whereas for Hellocomputer the deal provides an opportunity to produce truly integrated campaigns with some of the biggest brands in the country.

Draftfcb in South Africa is one of the flagship subsidiaries of the NYSE-listed Interpublic Group (IPG). The deal bolsters IPG’s already impressive roster of digital agencies, notably RG/A, which recently won the Titanium Cyber Lion at Cannes for Nike.

Commenting on the acquisition, Draftfcb CEO John Dixon said that in a communications landscape where outstanding creative that delivers clear results is increasingly demanded, Hellocomputer was a perfect fit.

“Apart from its undoubted creative pedigree, Hellocomputer possesses comprehensive strategic skills and development capabilities in web and mobile, measurement and analytical skills, and social and emerging media prowess. It also happens to be comprised of really nice people, which is critical to us.”

Managing Director of Hellocomputer, David Moffatt, added: “Hellocomputer has always subscribed to the principle of integrated communications. The timing, opportunity and cultural resonance with Draftfcb make this deal the optimal next step in our history.

“While we will continue to be defined by creatively inimitable, sublimely crafted solutions that achieve compelling results, our ambition has expanded to one of becoming a world-class interactive agency. We know working with Draftfcb’s integrated agencies will help us achieve that goal,” he said.

ends