Dave Price
Executive Creative Director at McCann Manchester
Macclesfield, United Kingdom
TitleSquare
Agency
Campaign Durex Sperm. For a Hundred Million Reasons - SSL Healthcare
Advertiser SSL International
Brand Durex
PostedJuly 2001
Business Sector Contraceptives & Pregnancy Tests
Philosophy The solution was a fully integrated advertising campaign that involved the sponsorship of MTV dance programming together with live dance events, sampling, PR, on-line and other ambient media channels. Recruiting a new and younger audience was vital to the brand’s long-term goals.


CREATIVE STRATEGY

Approximately 100 million sperm are released every time a man ejaculates. The line: ‘Durex. For a hundred million reasons’ was based on this simple truth.

Secondly, a young male’s approach to sex is typically one dimensional and unsophisticated. This behaviour was portrayed by a bunch of equally unsophisticated but very focused sperm characters.

Importantly, both sexes were able to recognise male behaviour: vanity, clumsiness, sexual drive and even premature ejaculation. Crucially, in pre-testing, the commercial was not seen as preaching safe sex. Whilst it placed Durex at the centre of the sexual act and offered a reason for using condoms, humour and a sense of the ridiculous ensured that the message did not alienate the audience.


OTHER COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMMES

Television sponsorship, press and PR, event organisation/sponsorship, on-line, merchandising, sampling and corporate identity.


TOTAL MARKTING EXPENDITURE

Under €5 million


MEDIA STRATEGY

Every month, 20 million young Europeans go clubbing. More again are exposed to dance music and club culture in clothing, commercials, on the radio, in writing and on the screen. MTV was a natural conduit to reach this target. A programme was created which provided:

• Targeted broadcast airtime presence

• Brand association through sponsorship

• True event marketing that allowed merchandise sampling as a way to really connect with the audience


To build the dance association, Durex was the on-air sponsor of MTV ‘Dance Floor Chart’ programming across Europe. It was also taken directly to young clubbers via Durex-sponsored club nights across different European cities, including a showcase party at ‘Privilege’ in Ibiza, the world’s largest club. At live events and relevant public holidays (such as Valentine’s Day) appropriately dressed Sperm Men paraded through towns demanding that Durex be banned.


The durexdance.com site was promoted on the advertising and encouraged visitors to register, through a prize draw. On a city-by-city basis, the site offered information on the local dance scene. At the same time there were hyperlinks to the MTV and Durex.com sites. Content included:

• Global ‘sms’ mobile text messaging

• Personalised music content

• Music streaming

• Downloads: screen savers, wallpapers, viral ad

• Competitions
Problem SUMMARY

Despite being the brand leader in a number of European markets, Durex was developing a somewhat old-fashioned image, with new consumers rejecting Durex on the grounds that: ‘this was a brand my Dad used’.


CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES

Reverse existing brand perceptions and recruit young condom users to the brand.


TARGET AUDIENCE

The core audience was 18 to 24 year olds. However, the creative/media strategy should not alienate older users
Media Type Television
Length
Director
Art Director
Copywriter
Producer
Post Production
Actor / Celebrity
Actor / Celebrity
Managing Partner
Account Director
Creative Director
Creative Director
Media Director
PR Director
Advertising Manager
Advertising Manager
European Consumer Marketing Director
European Marketing Controller - Durex

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