Posts made in March, 2021

on Mar 2, 2021

By Sam Bradley Each week, we ask readers of The Drum, from brands, agencies and everything in between, for their advice on real problems facing today’s marketing practitioners. Throughout the pandemic, misinformation has remained a constant opponent of government, brand and media efforts to communicate the truth about Covid-19. The past year will provide a rich library of examples of successful and failed efforts to combat pandemic misinformation – which can hopefully inform comms efforts in the future. What have marketers learned over the last (give-or-take) 12 months about misinformation? And are those lessons relevant for brands as they evolve the ways in which they Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Mar 2, 2021

By Abi Wendt Back in March 2020, everything from pasta kits and pyjamas to exercise equipment and ergonomic chairs flew off the online shelves. As well as buying from online brands, people recommended them to others. In lockdown 1.0, online orders across the five most popular retail sectors increased by 162%. Referrals increased by 425%. Almost a year on, we’re in our third lockdown. Consumers and businesses alike continue to adapt. Restaurants have created at-home diy meal kits. Fashion retailers have swapped sequins for sweaters. Travel companies are focussed on post-lockdown summer holidays. To understand the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on ecommerce, we’ve analysed Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Mar 2, 2021

By Daniel Gilbert The Drum’s Digital Agency Census, released in stages this month, has revealed a treasure trove of findings about the most respected agencies in the UK, as voted for by their own rivals. Here, Daniel Gilbert, chief executive officer of Brain Labs – voted the best agency in the country by its digital advertising peers – discusses the staff policies and client work that earned that reputation. Although the agency landscape is always changing (especially after a transformative year like 2020), there’s one thing that remains a constant: as a services business, the agency model relies on serving the Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Mar 1, 2021

By Sam Bradley The impact of narrow gender stereotypes on men’s mental health is better understood than ever before. But as adland grapples with how to tackle the problem, there’s debate over whether it’s best to reinvent expectations around gender stereotypes or try to abandon their use altogether. Alex Grieve has a problem with Peppa Pig. “Or, more specifically, Daddy Pig. Because as a daddy, I don’t see myself reflected back.“ The chief creative officer of AMV BBDO avows that: “I am not inept, lazy or hopeless. I like flowers, cooking and, as it happens, cleaning. When my football shirt gets dyed pink in the Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Mar 1, 2021

By Rebecca Stewart ‘Kids Yoga with Ivana’, ‘Bake with Hazel’ and ‘Story Time with Debbie’. You’d be forgiven for thinking this rundown was perhaps the lunchtime programming schedule for CBeebies or a bunch of Sesame Street specials, however – this just the latest output to come out of Publicis Groupe. Last week, Publicis.Poke unveiled Publicis.Playtime a half-term initiative which seen the agency run a week-long series of virtual distractions for kids belonging to their staff. The purpose? To give working parents and carers a breather. The creative shop’s chief executive Nick Farnhill spearheaded the initiative after noticing that working parents (like himself) were experiencing “exhaustion, Read full story › Source: The Drum...