Briefly…BP Express gives Graffit’s Jock the nod; Three cheers to Loerie winners from AdVantage and PocketMedia; MySubs launches HTML5 Digital Edition Reader; MediaVest picnic goes outdoors; and ABF Vital Support Fund thanks primary sponsors of bursary fundraiser
BP Express gives Graffit’s Jock the nod
Visitors to any BP Express store might have noticed a fairly ferocious-looking giant dog awaiting them at the entrance. Standing almost two metres tall, the Jock of the Bushveld G-Frame visuals can be found on the doors of BP Express stores around the country in an attempt to draw attention to the stores’ new Jock Nodding Dog promotion.
Manufactured and implemented by branding experts Graffiti, the new Jock Nodding Dog G-Frame installation is the third creative execution utilising the PVC graphic tensioning advertising mechanism since it was first implemented in 180 BP Express stores last year.
The new promotion ties in with the recent nationwide launch of the much-anticipated Jock of the Bushveld movie. To participate in the promotion, customers are encouraged to purchase a Jock Nodding Dog Toy available exclusively from BP Express Stores. If spotted by the BP Express Ground Patrol at any BP Express Store, the lucky owner of the Jock Nodding Dog can win a spot prize R1000.00 in cash.
“BP Express has been very creative with their utilisation of the G-Frame medium. From the outset, they have taken advantage of the ease of implementation of the mechanism and have regularly changed their creative to keep their communication fresh and innovative. And the Jock Nodding Dog promotion is certainly one of the most innovative G-Frame campaigns to date,” says Graffiti Director, Gavin Schlaphoff,
Three cheers to Loerie winners from AdVantage and PocketMedia® Solutions
PocketMedia® Solutions has teamed up with AdVantage Magazine for the third consecutive year to ensure that The Loerie Awards’ winners get the recognition that they so rightly deserve. It has designed and produced the 2011 post-awards Z-CARD®, detailing all the Loerie Awards’ winners by agency, title, advertiser, product and medal received.
“The special edition Loeries Z-CARD® listing all this year’s winners will be inserted into the October issue of AdVantage magazine which is distributed to key people in the media, marketing and advertising industry in South Africa. It is certainly a handy keepsake and reference guide,” says Louise Marsland, the editor-in-chief of AdVantage Magazine.
PocketMedia® Solutions also sponsored the production of the 33rd Annual Loerie Awards’ programme, shuttle schedule, event location key and street map which featured a handy QR Code on one of the inners which award-goers could scan to take them to the IDIDTHATAD.COM website where they could view all Loerie updates.ash and be entered into the final draw that will happen on October 31.
MySubs launches HTML5 Digital Edition Reader
Digital newsstand, MySubs, has launched a browser-based reading application that makes use of HTML5 and JavaScript to render digital newspapers and magazines. This application replaces the existing Flash-based solution and will make MySubs one of the first digital content aggregators to replace Flash for the purposes of viewing “same as print” editions.
While a number of vendors have been experimenting with HTML5 beta’s, largely aimed at mobile viewing, the MySubs application is designed to be device agnostic with the initial version being optimised for use on a computer with subsequent versions for tablets and smartphones to follow. MySubs joins other players such as Amazon and Financial Times who are embracing this technology as their platform for future development.
“The approach adopted by MySubs is also popular with publishers who wish circumvent app stores in order to retain customer data and a greater share of revenue. However, the application is not intended to replace the existing native applications for iOS and Android. It is an additional option developed as part of MySubs’ intention to give both publishers and their customers the choice as to how they wish to consume their favourite publications,” says Bryan Hooley, business development manager at On the Dot.
In future, this application is also intended to serve as a foundation for a number of exciting features and developments. These include optimisation for a wider range of devices (including smart-phones), extension to other content types e.g. books and support for purpose-built and enhanced content.
MediaVest picnic goes outdoors
Full service media agency MediaVest celebrated the warmer weather by hosting a Spring picnic while giving the outdoor media owners a chance to show off their creative skills.
MediaVest invited their outdoor media partners to bring along a picnic basket for four people and to share it with management and staff from MediaVest. NuVenture ensured that invitations were sent out to the media owners while Provantage supplied the music for the afternoon.
“Building relationships between the agency and media owners are core to both businesses. Too often, media owners are seen as suppliers as opposed to partners, and we go to great lengths to foster long term relationships,” says Gretel James, senior implementation planner at MediaVest.
The Spring Picnic festivities included a Rugby World Cup quiz, after which everyone was split into their company teams and given a blank canvas to illustrate how they saw their respective companies.
“Since spring is meant to be enjoyed outdoors in sunny South Africa, we decided to involve the outdoor media owners and give them the opportunity to network, catch up and show off their latest offerings,” says Gretel. “It was a time to let our hair down for a while and enjoy the company and friendship of like minded people.”
ABF Vital Support Fund thanks primary sponsors of bursary fundraiser
The ABF wish to thank their main industry sponsors who have made their Bursary Fundraiser possible. The comedy evening, due to be held on the October 19, is already sold out.
“Our donations and support from the industry means that we can fund a bursary for a second year student which is a really big deal for us and for the student involved,” says Sharlene Vallance, event co-ordinator and fund raiser for this event.
“The fundraiser is taking place at Joe Parkers in Montecasino and we are fully sold out. The one elephant in the room that we were trying to address is the venue hire and food costs. We can happily say that those costs have now been taken care of.”
The following companies and industry leaders have stepped up with generous sponsorship deals. The venue sponsors are: DSTV Media Sales; OMD and Outdoor Network. All three of these companies have made equal contributions. “It is very difficult to run an event when the money raised is going towards paying hard costs. We are very grateful for our partners who are assisting, and in so doing, are enabling us to give more money to a student,” says Vallance.
“NAB (the Newspaper Advertising Bureau) and Beith Digital came to our rescue by agreeing to sponsor all our food costs. We are very relieved and can only thank them so much for the vital contribution that they have made to the event,” she says.
“It is always very difficult to ask for sponsorship when times are tough, but when the ABF gets overwhelming support like this from the industry, we can only express heartfelt thanks to the various companies. We are anticipating a really great event. We are sure that our laughs will be plentiful, the food great and the venue excellent.”