I am a big charity bug. I love charity and when big companies do little things to solve big problems, I love it even more! This week I've seen a number of adverts on television that showcase companies doing something other than promotion - they're raising awareness for good causes. It's nice to see that it's not all about profits for some companies - although effectively, by taking the time to do charity work it will boost their corporate image and alter the public's view of them; increasing the number of sales etc - equalling in more sales = more profits. I digress, despite the over thinking, it is still nice to watch and take part. Below are the latest charity efforts I've seen.
So innocent smoothies have decided that they are teaming up with 'AgeUK' to create the lovely idea of providing hats on their bottles which inevitably provide donations to the charity which ensures health and well being of the elderly population. Knitting is a hobby we connect to our Grandmothers so I like this idea to knit your own little bottle hat, which will actually be sold to a delightful shopper whose 25p of the £1.25 they spend on the smoothie will be donated to AgeUK - great! It's an inspiring way to connect consumer to brand and develop the relationship as well as instilling the idea that innocent drinks care about our older generation. N'aww.
Yes, a dog one (what else do you expect from me?). Pedigree are donation 'One Million Meals' to homeless dogs across the country. It's an emotional advert; here I'll let you watch it as I won't do it justice with words.
I am crying now, writing this after watching it. If it doesn't touch a piece of your heart when you watch it, then you need to visit the doctor's as I think you may possibly be a robot. It's an incredible project that Pedigree are initiating and supporting. Dogs are harmless, defenseless animals that can easily be mistreated and misguided so it is nice to see a big company changing the harsh realities some of these poor animals face.
^^ Read some of the incredible stories of the little doggies by clicking on the picture above ^^
These are just a handful of quotes from my housemates describing the torture of the new Andrex television advert. Watch it here, as long as you're not pregnant, have heart problems or easily distressed by annoying rubbish adverts;
I know, it's come as a surprise to you, because we know how I love dogs.. and this is a dog advert. But my gosh, even my love for the canine critters cannot stop the hatred for this ad! It's just so, stupid. The narrator of the advert, her voice is so mono-tonal and boring! I understand she's meant to sound serious as the irony of the advert is of a phobia of used bog rolls. But deary me, even she sounds like she hates the advert too. The concept of the ad - the whole roll-o-phobia idea - is creative and someone got paid a lot to think of it, but it's not been executed well. Andrex adverts are usually cute and sweet with all the little pups running round with toilet roll, but this is grey. Grey - stuck in the middle of white and black - undefinable, lost and miserable. Grey isn't a favourite colour of anyone.
The original cutesy adverts of Andrex
Andrex, if you're reading, please revert back to what you know. Don't venture out into the grey unknown to dismal boring adverts! Keep toilet roll fun and cute because that's exactly what it's not! The whole Roll-O-Phobia makes us think of sitting on the toilet and the crisis of sitting and acting before planning and researching the toilet roll scenario and then had to either shout for help or quietly pull your pants up half way and locate some roll (we've all done it). So let's think of puppies in word association with roll - not the haunting idea of roll-o-phobia!
As you know from my previous posts, I am a dog woman. I love dogs. So you can picture my elation when I discover O2's latest campaign is based on the great canine creatures!
But to my dismay, they began the campaign with a cat. A cat. "Be more dog" with a cat. At first, I wasn't a fan, I don't like cats, cats don't like me - it's a mutual understanding - a hate hate relationship. But then I saw the real reason why they chose a cat to star in the add - because dogs are amazing and cats should clearly be more like dogs because then that would make them better too! How it relates to a mobile network company, I have yet to figure that out. Watch the identity crisis here;
I like this advertising campaign, it's creative and weird - a bit like me. The tagline 'be more dog' denotes that you should act without thinking, be bold, be brave, be stupid, be dog like, not in the sense of pooing on your kitchen floor or licking your privates, but in the sense of irrationality rather than cat like laziness. Today I saw a television advert of someone blowing a hair dryer into a dogs face and the dog was trying to bite the air. Unfortunately, I can't find it online to share it with you, so watch out for it on TV because it's a funny one. If you have a dog, try it. They all do it, it's comical! My dog acts like she's on a photo shoot when I do it to her! I'm hoping that with this 'be more dog' campaign, I'm going to see a lot more quick quirky video footage of doggies doing silly things.
Talented pooch
Tell me what cat do you know that can do tricks like these?
These adverts don't make me want to go out and be on O2, but it does enhance the company's likability. To me, it's always been a great brand and respected too. Now I love it a little more, as now we have the same interests in dogs. woof.
