Tag: Marketing

Sydney, Australia – Hyundai, in partnership with Innocean Australia, FINCH, and Maker Real has launched a new reality TV show, ‘The Big Trip’, showcasing its range of electric and hybrid vehicles. 

The reality show will be a four-part series following four teams of celebrities as they embark on a journey from Perth to Sydney. The teams, composed of comedians, atheletes, and actors, will undergo challenges on the road while highlighting the brand’s spirit of trying.

Hosted by comedian Dave Thornton, the show introduces a new format combining the themes of community and car challenges. Winners will get the chance to give away the four cars to their fans.

The show aims to highlight the capabilities of Hyundai’s electric and hybrid vehicles, such as the IONIQ 5 N, Kona Electric, SANTA FE Hybrid, and TUCSON Hybrid N Line. By putting these vehicles to the test on a road trip, Hyundai is set to demonstrate their features.

An integrated campaign will also be released across social media, television, and OOH.

The Big Trip premiered on the Seven Network on Nov. 13, airing every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. until Dec. 4. It is also available for streaming on 7plus.

Andrew Tuitahi, Hyundai director of marketing and product, said, “Multi-channel brand campaigns are one thing, but collaborating on a TV show in an iconic environment, showing our incredible product line up while also paying homage to Australian culture, took immense effort on behalf of everyone involved including our Marketing team. It’s testament to our ambitions as a brand in Australia.”

“Extending the fourth wall beyond advertising and into entertainment is where a brand can unaffectedly express itself, but so few do it. With the combined upshot of brave clients, media sharing a desk with creative, and an unfaltering brand strategy, the possibilities are endless, and not least powerful. Driving a fleet of EVs and hybrids across Australia to create multiple campaigns, while making a prime-time TV show, is testament to the best creative and media minds coming together,” Adam Hosfal, managing partner at Innocean, commented.

Loren Bradley, head of FINCH Entertainment, said, “Our collaboration with Hyundai and Innocean to create this fun format reflects our commitment to fresh and entertaining storytelling. ‘The Big Trip’ is a perfect example of how brands can show up differently for audiences, a concept that we are so excited by at FINCH Entertainment.”

New Zealand – Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) has announced its sponsorship of Auckland FC with a campaign launch via marketing communications company TBWA\NZ.

The campaign aims to celebrate the new Auckland FC team, rewarding football fans through an activation. Under the ‘Auckland Forever’ platform line, TBWANZ launched the campaign across print, online, and OOH.

Drawing on fan culture, ANZ began a scavenger hunt of limited-edition Auckland FC shirts. 

Over 200 shirts were strategically placed in various locations across Auckland, free for fans who find them on a first come, first served basis. ANZ posted clues about the shirts’ location through their Instagram page.

“There will never be another day one or game one. ANZ is incredibly proud to play a role in helping all of Auckland get behind this exciting new team right from the start,” Matt Pickering, ANZ general manager of marketing, said.

“As back of shirt sponsor for Auckland FC we needed a unique way to bring our sponsorship to life and demonstrate our support for the club and the region at Large. It was incredible to see so many people in their Day 1 shirts at the match and reward the fans whom have already shown so much passion for Auckland FC. What a special moment to be part of. Well done to the agency team for sending this one straight to the back of the net!” Pickering added.

“We wanted to create something that spoke to not just football fans, but recognised the city as a whole and the buzz that exists for the club. Football is on a huge growth trajectory with a fan culture that offers us such rich territory,” Shane Bradnick, chief commercial officer of TBWA\NZ, commented.

“The integrated solve between TBWA\NZ and Eleven, with support from AO Studios, was an incredible piece of work that generated a phenomenal amount of hype whilst smartly focusing on ANZ’s back-of-shirt sponsorship placement. The activation in particular was great to see, we had people camped out for hours, driving around for miles and generating a huge amount of goodwill for ANZ. It demonstrated how a bank can show up in culture, in a disruptive way,” Bradnick added.

Sydney, Australia – GumGum, a digital media company that specialises in contextual marketing, has appointed Matt Coote as country manager for Australia, focusing on business growth.

In his new role, Coote is tasked to lead the sales team and the expansion of GumGum’s presence in Australia. He is set to oversee revenue growth and strengthen relationships with partners and clients.

Coote joins the company with 13 years of experience in media, including television, digital, and social platforms. He formerly worked with Snap Inc. as one of the founding members of its ANZ team. At Snap Inc., he held the role of head of agency development and head of sales.

Through the appointment, GumGum is looking to enhance its cultural impact and widen its reach in the Australian Market. It aims to reinforce the company’s positioning as a frontrunner in digital advertising.

As a contextual-first technology company, GumGum is known for leveraging artificial intelligence to help advertisers.

Coote commented, “I have had the privilege of working in roles that prioritise innovation and technology, which aligns perfectly with GumGum’s commitment to driving progress in digital advertising. What really excited me about this role was hearing about the strong cultural foundation GumGum has built.”

“I look forward to collaborating with the team to build on what’s already here. As Bill Marklein says, ‘Culture is how employees’ hearts and stomachs feel about Monday morning on Sunday night.’ That’s where the magic happens, and I can’t wait to help make that even stronger at GumGum,” Coote added.

“We’re excited to welcome Matt Coote to GumGum. His deep expertise and dedication to cultivating a strong team culture make him an excellent addition to our team. The energy and perspective Matt brings, along with his focus on fostering cross-market collaborations will be invaluable. By partnering with stakeholders across the company, we believe Matt will refine our strategies and drive impactful results in this market,” Niall Hogan, general manager for JAPAC at GumGum, said.

Singapore – Nativex, a digital marketing platform, has forged a partnership with Google to further help brands expand to international markets, boosting their presence.

The partnership enables Nativex to leverage Google’s ecosystem of ad platforms, solutions, and global reach. Through this, Nativex can offer end-to-end services such as account management, optimisation, policy support, and data analytics.

Using Google’s different ad formats, Nativex creates campaigns depending on client needs. By leveraging search, display, video, and app ad formats, brands can widen their audience reach. They can also access Google’s data insights and targeted ad strategies.

Additionally, Nativex is set to maintain its aim of empowering brands through its ‘global localisation’ strategy, which helps brands grow in international markets.

Within a month of leveraging Google’s ad ecosystem, Nativex has already recorded an increase in visibility and sales.

Cheryl Huang, business partner at Nativex, commented, “For global brands, Google’s multi-platform ecosystem covers every stage of the consumer journey, from awareness to conversion. Coupled with Nativex’s expertise in ad placement and optimization, we help brands gain deep customer insights and develop high-impact strategies for global market expansion.”

Singapore – Starbucks has teamed up with Universal Pictures to celebrate the cinematic release of Wicked through new beverages and merchandise launches.

In time for the film’s debut in theatres, Starbucks is set to release Wicked-themed products on Nov. 20 across select markets in Asia-Pacific.

Inspired by the characters Glinda and Elphaba, Starbucks is releasing two handcrafted beverages for a limited time.

The Glinda-inspired Mango Dragonfruit beverage combines coconut milk and ruby-red cookie crumbs, reminiscent of the character’s pink potion. Meanwhile, Elphaba’s Cold Brew combines Starbucks Cold Brew with matcha foam and a hint of peppermint.

The beverages will be available in Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam.

In addition, a variety of cold cups, tumblers, keychains, and other merchandise will also be available. Customers can also avail of Starbucks Cards and eGifts, also with Wicked-inspired designs.

The merchandise line-up is available for customers in Australia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“As Wicked makes its long-awaited big-screen debut, we’re thrilled to be celebrating its enduring legacy of friendship and community, electrifying the senses in ways only Starbucks can,” Samuel Fung, vice president of product and marketing at Starbucks Asia-Pacific, said.

“By joining forces with Universal Pictures, we invite customers and Ozians to a magical Third Place where they can connect over this pop culture moment while indulging in Oz-themed beverages and merchandise. Together we’re unlimited – in our potential to create unforgettable experiences that uplift the everyday,” Fung added.

Australia – Rifle, a brand partnership company, has partnered with Digital Turbine, a mobile advertising platform to enhance mobile advertising in Australia.

Through the partnership with Rifle, Digital Turbine provides Australian brands and agencies with access to mobile campaign capabilities and its software development kit.

By combining the companies’ expertise and solutions, brands in Australia can connect to their target markets better. With innovative mobile solutions, brands can drive growth through digital means.

Since Digital Turbine’s acquisition of AdColony in 2021, it has strengthened its position in the market as a provider of mobile solutions.

James Rogers, vice president of brands in Asia-Pacific at Digital Turbine, commented, “We are excited to collaborate with Rifle to enhance mobile experiences in Australia. With our technology and Rifle’s strong expertise in sports, gaming, and entertainment channels, Australian brands can look forward to seeing more innovative and engaging in-app experiences.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Digital Turbine in Australia. With our strong presence in the local gaming sector and the exclusive integration of Digital Turbine’s leading mobile advertising solutions, we’re confident we have the capabilities to help Australian brands and agencies create powerful mobile campaigns that captivate audiences and achieve their growth objectives,” Andrew Christopher, managing director at Rifle, said.

“This new expansion to our gaming portfolio will integrate seamlessly with our other core pillars of sports and music, positioning Rifle as the go-to partner for brands seeking expert guidance and innovative solutions across the top three pillars of consumer entertainment,” Christopher added.

Singapore – Revolut, a global fintech company, has launched a debit card vending machine at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

In partnership with Visa, Revolut’s initiative aims to provide students with access to financial services. Since some students below the age of 21 may not have access to traditional banks, Revolut can provide them with debit cards and access to money management tools.

The Revolut cards enable students to send and receive money locally and internationally, use budgeting and analytics features, and enjoy incentives such as cashback. It also allows them to start their investments.

Revolut also offers a group bills feature, which allows students travelling in groups to settle payments regardless of the currency in the app. The app also allows users to store up to 34 currencies and spend in more than 150 currencies worldwide.

Additionally, students can use a virtual card and add it to their e-wallet, enabling them to use it in both physical and online stores.

Raymond Ng, chief executive officer at Revolut Singapore, said, “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to make money management accessible to our customers. We are really excited to launch Singapore’s first-ever debit card vending machine in one of the most established and largest universities here, making it easy for students to get their cards. Whether it’s spending in 150+ countries around the world, splitting bills seamlessly with friends, saving for a new Playstation or learning about various investing tools, Revolut will be their all-in-one money companion.” 

“At Visa, we believe in the power of collaboration and innovation. Working with valued partners like Revolut, who are at the forefront of creating innovative products tailored for the Gen Z segment, is crucial. These products not only help young people manage their money effectively but also educate them about investments, supporting their financial journey,” Adeline Kim, Visa country manager for Singapore & Brunei, said.

“Based on our Gen Z research, close to 40% of Gen Z consumers indicate that convenience is a crucial factor in determining which product they use to pay, and the same number highlighted better rewards and offers would make them switch to alternative payment methods. By providing easy access for the youths to obtain their debit cards through the vending machines at NUS and providing great cashback when they shop and pay, we help to support this next generation to take control of their financial future,” Kim added.

Hong Kong – PURE Group has appointed London-based agency Bloodstream as its lead partner for brand marketing, strategy, and advertising, tasked with enhancing the identity of its premium lifestyle brand across Asia.

In this role, bloodstream will refine PURE’s vision, mission, and brand personality, develop a bold 2025 campaign, and elevate PURE’s app and websites to new heights.

In a LinkedIn post, Marc Scott, founder and creative director at bloodstream, said, “So happy to be back working with PURE—the best fitness and lifestyle brand in Asia bar none! ”

Gary Wise, founder and strategy director at bloodstream, also commented, “So happy with this news! Not only a massive milestone in the life of bloodstream, but a huge personal joy for me—working with a brand and team that I love! PURE Group.”

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Hong Kong, PURE Group has become a premier destination for premium gyms, yoga studios, pilates, and healthy cafes. Dedicated to promoting healthier, happier lifestyles, PURE Group’s renowned brands include PURE Yoga, PURE Fitness, PURE Pilates, PURE Nutrition, nood food, and FUZE.

PURE Group operates locations across Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore.

Colin Grant, founder and chairman of PURE, shared, “Excited to have bloodstream on board to bring PURE’s vision to life. Their great strategic thinking and creative skills will be a big boost for the brand as we grow.”

Singapore – StackAdapt, a multi-channel advertising platform, has announced its integration with Shopify, an internet infrastructure provider for commerce.

The update allows merchants and marketers on Shopify to integrate with StackAdapt, enabling them to automatically install StackAdapt from Shopify’s app store for business growth.

Through the integration, users can leverage pixels and audience activations while tracking conversion for monitoring. Consequently, they can optimise campaigns on the platform and create high-intent audiences.

Additionally, StackAdapt provides templates that allow users to define audiences through rule-based segmentation. It uses real-time customer data to create audiences while using first-party data.

The integration simplifies pixel installation for Shopify merchants and marketers, enabling them to streamline processes. It allows them to be more accurate in retargeting audiences while adapting to first-party data collection.

By allowing customers to adapt to a cookieless marketing environment, StackAdapt’s offering also improves how it engages customers.

“Enabling Shopify merchants to activate their first-party data through a simplified pixel onboarding process represents a major step forward in e-commerce advertising,” Vitaly Pecherskiy, chief executive officer of StackAdapt, commented.

“Our integration not only minimizes the complexities associated with digital advertising but also opens up new opportunities for merchants to connect with their audience in a more meaningful and personalized way,” Pecherskiy added.

Singapore – Havas CX,  a customer experience network under Havas, has launched in Singapore, expanding its presence in Southeast Asia. 

Havas CX’s expansion in Singapore is set to combine the expertise of Think Design in user interface and experience with the tech and digital capabilities of Ekino.

As part of the launch, Think Design will be supported by Ekino in providing solutions for brands’ customer engagement. The initiative aims to deliver innovation through leveraging technology and creativity to deliver seamless brand experience.

Havas CX has a vast network globally, with hubs in London, Paris, New York, and Mumbai.

“Expanding our CX capabilities in Southeast Asia, with Singapore serving as the strategic hub, is a key part of our broader Converged growth strategy in the region,” Rana Barua, group chief executive officer of Havas India in Southeast and North Asia (Japan & South Korea), said.

“While we establish a robust UI/UX design capability through Think Design, in the coming months, we’ll be introducing more of Havas CX Network’s services into Southeast Asia — reinforcing our commitment to delivering transformative customer experiences in one of the world’s most dynamic digital economies,” Barua added.

David Shulman, global CEO of Havas CX Network, commented, “As brands seek to create deeper, more meaningful connections with their audiences, the need for seamless, integrated experiences has never been greater. By expanding our CX capabilities in Southeast Asia, starting with Singapore, we are reinforcing our dedication to customer-centric innovation throughout the region, providing solutions that resonate with audiences at every step of their digital journey.”

“We are excited to integrate our CX capabilities into the region, positioning Singapore as a leading hub for digital innovation to drive significant growth across the region,” Deepali Saini, CEO of Think Design, and Rowena Bhagchandani, CEO of BLKJ Havas, said.