The Broken Britain Billboard
A response to the rising far right sentiment in the UK. One that exploited its birthplace - the increasing difficulty of British life.
No client. No budget. No PR. Just a single billboard, running at one site, in Liverpool.
323 words, that made their way online, and were seen hundreds of thousands of times.
We never released the film we made. But I'm proud of that, too.
In a rather wonderful 'coincidence', it ran next to this poster:
VOSS - In My Bag
We're all chronically online, and chronically over-sold to. So, these ads for VOSS ripped a page straight from the luxury playbook: say very little, and assume people desire the product. A quiet flex of confidence.
Creative: Alec Carluen
The Lunch Hour Sacrifice
The cost-of-living crisis, an inadequate social security system, and low incomes have thrust 3.8 million UK people into destitution since 2019 (up 61%). Only a few days before launch, England's children's commissioner told us some children are living in "Dickensian" levels of poverty.
The Lunch Hour Sacrifice was a way to try and help.
The thinking was simple:
UK emergency food need: ↑ 94% in the last 5 years
Child destitution: ↑ 88%
1 in 3 food parcels now feeds a starving child.
But the average working lunch break - when most people are being paid to eat, was worth £16.85. That could feed a child for a week.
So, we asked workers across the UK to ask their boss to donate the cost of their lunch break to a food bank.
(That’s your annual salary x 0.0005.)
The best bit was, as a charitable donation from your employer's business - it wouldn't be taxed - even further incentive for businesses to get involved.
Media Company Build Hollywood joined our launch campaign, running our posters all over London.
Design: Catalin Margarit
ECDs: Michael Scantlebury, Al Mills.
Assorted Coverage: Campaign, MediaShotz, Marketing Beat, LBB Online, Ads of the World, The Stable, Creative Rounds, Ads of Brands, Best Ads on TV, BM Outdoor, Creative Brief, Creativity Club, FAB News,
Loop Earplugs - Cult
Bad sleep, bad decisions. Simple.
ECDs: Michael Scantlebury, Al Mills.
Ken Cheng: Chief Chief Publicity Evangelist and Viral Marketing Conversation Architect
As an April Fools' Day joke, we made Comedian Ken Cheng someone rather important at Impero. Then, we 'fired him' just 2 days later.
Impero's reach increased 5000%. Journalists asked if it was legit. People's Mums asked 'Who is Ken Cheng?'
Not bad for a few silly posts. Copycats ensued not long after, which is usually the sign of a good idea.
ECDs: Michael Scantlebury, Al Mills.
Jameson - Tasting Notes
Creative: Beatriz Zambrano
Jameson wanted to show the world it's funny bone for Father's Day, Christmas, and beyond. They were looking for a simple on-pack promotion. We sold them an on-pack, AI Cloud Mega-machine*. It turned Voice Notes about how lovingly absurd your Dad is, into a song, complete with an Irish wink.
*Not the technical name
Coverage: Campaign, MediaShotz, Ads of Brands, Marketing Beat, LBB Online, Roast Brief, Ads of the World, PR Week.
A wee song about how it worked:
