Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – MR D.I.Y., has unveiled an exciting new chapter in its journey to add value to the lives of Malaysians – the ‘MR D.I.Y. PANDAi Jaga Anda’ (MR D.I.Y. Knows How to Care for You) community initiative. As part of this, the company has unveiled it newest brand mascot, a charming and friendly panda mascot named PANDAi.

With ‘MR D.I.Y. PANDAi Jaga Anda’, the retailer reinforces its role not just as a store, but as a part of the community it serves.Visitors to Bukit Bintang were greeted by an impressive 14-foot PANDAi display, drawing the attention of families and passersby.

Throughout November, KL-ites will have opportunities to meet PANDAi at various malls, including Fahrenheit 88 (7 Nov), MyTOWN Shopping Centre (9 Nov), IOI City Mall Putrajaya (23 Nov), and Pavilion Bukit Jalil (30 Nov). Adding to the initiative, MR D.I.Y. will be setting up panda-themed seating areas at MyTOWN Shopping Centre and Pasar Seni MRT station to create welcoming, family-friendly spaces.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative held in the vibrant Bukit Bintang district in Kuala Lumpur, Alex Goh, head of marketing for MR D.I.Y. Group, emphasised the retailer’s dedication to the community.

“As the country’s leading home improvement retailer, we’ve made it our mission to care for Malaysians since our inception in 2005. The ‘MR D.I.Y. PANDAi Jaga Anda’ initiative is a testament to that promise. Whether you need a lightbulb, kitchen tools, or any hardware, we ensure that ‘semuanya ada’ [everything is available] at affordable prices. Our new initiative encapsulates this commitment – because ‘MR D.I.Y. PANDAi Jaga Anda’,” Goh said.

Goh also explained the choice of a panda as the new mascot, commenting, “Pandas are universally loved for their friendliness, cuteness, and intelligence. Like pandas, MR D.I.Y. is cherished for being close to the hearts of Malaysians. We ‘PANDAi’ Jaga our customers by staying true to our promise of ‘Always Low Prices.’ We believe that PANDAi will bring a sense of joy and fun, enhancing our customers’ shopping experience.”

Singapore foodpanda, leading delivery and grocery platform in Asia, celebrates its 10th anniversary with the unveiling of its first-of-its-kind brand ambassador — Pau-pau. The mascot will be given its own unique characteristics and will be featured on foodpanda’s different marketing platforms.

The introduction of Pau-Pau builds on foodpanda’s earlier brand refresh. The pink panda is the platform’s venture towards new brand representation, where, aside from the traditional marketing environments, the new brand ambassador will also be utilized to maximize digital marketing touchpoints.

Idan Haim, foodpanda’s vice president for growth and marketing, commented, “Pau-Pau is a first-of-its-kind among food delivery platforms in Asia! More than anything else, we wanted to create a personality that evokes love among customers. We want Pau-Pau to be an inspiration for people to live life on their own terms and to its fullest. We are excited for our customers to meet Pau-Pau, as we mark the start of a new decade for foodpanda in Asia,” Haim said.

Pau-pau will be featured on the LINE and Instagram apps as an available sticker to bolster use in consumer expression and communication. It will progressively be rolled out into all of foodpanda channels and interfaces, namely the app, website, digital and social media platforms, as well as live-environment activations and more.

The mascot has been developed with a unique set of characteristics that will further help it relate with a wider range of audiences across the Asian market; foodpanda said Pau-pau believes in caring for the environment, empowerment, and living freely.

Eunha Bhang, chief creative officer of delivery hero Asia, gave her thoughts on the uniqueness of the character.

“In creating Pau-Pau, we wanted him to also have a dimension of purpose — that he stands for something more than just being an adorable mascot. Pau-Pau embodies and brings to life the foodpanda spirit by helping our communities reimagine how they use delivery and thereby adding vibrancy and fun in their lives,” she shared.

With the announcement of Pau-pau, one of the character’s key projects will be spearheading the campaign for plastic-free and environmentally-friendly consumerism with foodpanda’s Global Sustainable Packaging Programme to encourage merchant and consumer responsibility.

The one-of-its-kind ambassador was first rolled out in Japan, Taiwan, and Cambodia in December 2021, which was subsequently followed by its appearance in other foodpanda networks namely Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Laos. The next phase will introduce the ambassador in the Philippines, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Last November, foodpanda also announced its partnership with Chinese tech giant Xiaomi to venture into q-commerce allowing the option of purchasing consumer electronic products and appliances through its apps. 

Singapore – In an appeal to encourage more people from the younger generation to donate blood for a better cause, the Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has revamped the look of its existing mascot, ‘Blood Buddy’, or more commonly known as ‘BB’.

Officially launched back in 2005, ‘Blood Buddy’ has traditionally been recognized as a physical mascot at malls, mobile blood donation drives, and outreach activities run by SRC.

The revamp of the mascot stems from SRC’s objective to engage the youth and advocate blood donation with a consistent brand voice. With a refreshed image that reflects its adorable and lively personality, ‘Blood Buddy’ is well-positioned to connect with young and potential donors who are at the early stages of their blood donation journey. 

“We also recognize the importance of inculcating the habit of giving blood from a young age, and we hope to encourage youth to adopt blood donation as a lifestyle. This is where Blood Buddy will be a lively and relatable voice of encouragement for those getting started on their blood donation journey,” said Prakash Menon, director of the Blood Donor Programme at Singapore Red Cross.

The revamp also comes in line with the organization’s ‘One More Step’ campaign, which encourages potential donors to take small, incremental steps towards the eventual goal of being a regular blood donor who donates at least twice a year. Through the campaign, ‘Blood Buddy’ serves to empathize with the physical and emotional concerns all blood donors have and to showcase the small steps one can easily take to give blood and help save lives.

“Over the years, we’ve observed that many potential blood donors are deterred by prevailing misconceptions towards blood donation. Through ‘One More Step’, and with the help of Blood Buddy, we want to dispel these concerns and at the same time remind people of the power of their individual actions. Each of us can contribute in our own way to create a culture of good, by taking the next step in our blood donation journey,” Menon added.

As part of the ‘One More Step’ campaign, SRC will introduce a series of activations including videos and comic strips to engage potential donors on social media. Members of the public may also win SRC memorabilia by participating in a giveaway from February 7 to March 8, where the public must submit photos of ‘Blood Buddy’ as seen in buses island-wide.