Time is precious

Nike is an iconic brand with over 50 years in the game; products such as “Air Jordans” that are both cultural and historical icons; a tagline "Just do it" which is arguably one of the best born out of the 20th century, a logo that is recognisable to a three year old; a top competitor on the worldwide stage of sports; a favourite in the world of advertising. What more can we say. Nike is Nike.

Nike is an iconic brand with over 50 years in the game; products such as “Air Jordans” that are both cultural and historical icons; a tagline "Just do it" which is arguably one of the best born out of the 20th century, a logo that is recognisable to a three year old; a top competitor on the worldwide stage of sports; a favourite in the world of advertising. What more can we say. Nike is Nike.

This year’s “Time is Precious” commercial is certainly one that you can imagine will be reposted to blogs and Facebook accounts millions of times over. It’s the simplicity of the ad that stands out, but more than anything, it’s the humour - the ad is simple and hilarious for most of us, as we can all see ourselves in its bizarre descriptions.

The commercial begins with a statement telling us it will only last a minute, nothing compared to the 32 years of our lives we statistically spend glued to our screens. Doesn’t sound too bad, only a minute, right? At this point, we are expecting to be blasted with an array of beautiful images and loud exciting music as with most of Nike’s commercials. Think again, could you have ever imagined a Nike commercial using a black screen with a couple of white words showing in the centre of it?

The commercial reminds us of our daily habits, watching, liking, swiping, commenting, following, swiping, adding, posting, reposting, swiping again, sharing, liking, swiping again, and so on. The references are excellent and specific. From ‘liking’ someone’s café macchiato, to watching vloggers opening boxes or a year’s worth of shows in an evening to deciding whether a picture is a labradoodle or a fried chicken… just some of the hilarious examples of things we all do.

The conclusion is… “Are we running today?” How guilty do we feel about being reminded how many years of our lives we spend clicking away, and then being asked if we would like the option of jogging. Brilliant! All in all, this ad is a win/win whichever way you look at it. Who wouldn’t want to go for a run after all that swiping? The truth is, Nike doesn’t really need a multi-million dollar commercial showing us how beautiful, practical, stylish and advanced its products are, we already know this!

So this Christmas when you are sitting around clicking, swiping, liking and reposting pictures of Chihuahuas dressed in Santa hats, maybe you will think twice. Start the New Year knowing you WILL fulfil your New Year’s resolution!

#Nike

#Justdoit

#TimeIsPrecious

#NewYearsResolutions

"See Impossible"

It’s the time of year when we want to make films and take photos of our special moments, festive events and family gatherings, and a time to spoil the people who love capturing these moments which will come with a whole new year ahead. All you need is Canon!

Since the 1930s, Canon has been at the cutting edge of technology. Their official slogan “See impossible” effectively summarises the brand’s promise to design digital imaging solutions which fulfil increasingly complex and diverse consumer needs.

In 2014, Canon launched a stunning commercial, which was part of its ‘No one sees it like you’ campaign. This commercial comprises of an array of extreme close up shots of eyes of all shapes and colours, from all corners of the globe. However, it is not the colour or shape of the eyes that draws us in, but the emotion we see in each of the eyes as they appear in front of us on the screen. The story accompanying each image definitely reinforces what we are seeing, with each precise moment showing a different and accurate emotion with just one look. Whether it be fame, as she looks up at a crowd with her long eyelashes – excitement and pride in her eyes, or trust as he looks up at someone for guidance and security, or perhaps freedom as he looks on with excitement as we see the shadow of a surfer in his pupil.

Not only has Canon managed to attract people with a truly cinematic short film, but the iconic brand has also managed to show us what one is capable of achieving with a Canon camera, one of its quality lenses, and a bit of imagination. This commercial is able to appeal to all people whether young, old, introverted, extroverted, happy or melancholic; there is something for everyone in this emotionally driven campaign. An ad like this can enable any photographer or filmmaker to dream of what is possible with their Canon!

#PSoTW

#Canon

#SeeImpossible

#CanonExperience

“Better sound through research”

It sometimes feels as though buying Christmas presents gets harder every year, but recently technology has become a convenient way to find a cool, fun present that you know the recipient will enjoy.

Bose has recognised this and taken full advantage, with their styling and innovation helping to propel them from premium home speaker systems to one of the most popular and accessible tech brands to buy.

Bose’s slogan “Better sound through research” originates from the technological principles upon which the company was founded.

To get this across to a mass market, they have focused on the feelings we have when we listen to music we like. Their ads therefore combine both scientific and music-loving aspects, to connect the customer emotionally with technology.

In certain respects, the slogan relates to the process a customer goes through, in that we - the consumers – undertake research and gather information relating to prices and reviews to make our decisions.

Their most recent ad ‘Get Closer’ depicts a woman dancing her way through the iconic streets of London, without a person, pigeon or vehicle in sight. The catchy sound track and some sharp moves help us understand her love and connection with music, before revealing that she was in fact lost in her own world, dancing with hundreds of people around her.

Last year Bose used humour in their ad showing viewers the emotional connection between a teenage girl and boy, and as they lean in for the kiss, the eavesdropping dad from the other room changes the speaker to play children’s music from a device.

Not only did this bring a giggle to the viewer, it demonstrated what the Bose speaker could do, rather than tell us, in using relevant situations of life and the scientific aspect of being able to control the sound system from another room on another device.

#PSoTW

#Music

#BOSE

“Make the World Sparkle”

Thinking about gifts as Christmas approaches? Aren’t we all! Whether it be for your close friend or a relative, anything that arrives in a little turquoise blue box is always going to be cherished for years to come.

Taking us back to those moments in our lives when Christmas was truly the most magical moment of the year, the latest commercial from Tiffany’s will have you daydreaming of cherished memories.

Beginning with its emotive music and glittery snowflakes, the ad takes you to a snow-coated New York avenue and a divine interior with signature ‘light medium robin egg blue’ Tiffany’s gift boxes falling from the heavens above. If there could be a perfect Christmas this year, it would be one in a Tiffany’s world.

Shot in black and white the commercial starts off with a magical and traditional New York culture inspired feel, and transitions into a spectacular fast-paced edit of little turquoise blue gift boxes, an adorable little blonde-haired boy catching them as well as the gorgeous Elle Fanning dancing among a concoction of snowflake-like lights… And let’s not forget the fast cuts of the immaculate jewellery. Glitter, snowflakes and everything that shines! How could anyone not want a little bit of Tiffany’s paradise delivered on Christmas morning?

Thanks to the cinematic vision and beauty brought to us by Tiffany, that magical time of year that can sometimes seem lost as one grows older has returned in the form of a beautiful marketing campaign. With just a little over a month left before the bells start ringing on Christmas morning, the iconic brand, celebrating its 180^th birthday this year, has again proven to us why it remains one of the most precious brands of all time.

#PSoTW

#TiffanyAndCo

#ATiffanyHoliday

"Melts in your mouth, not in your hand"

With Halloween around the corner, we all start getting excited about dressing up in spooky costumes, embellishing homes with creepy decorations, and carving out jack-o-lanterns. Besides all these exciting things you should not forget to stock up on sweets for the popular Halloween custom of trick-or-treating. Not sure what sweets to buy? Well, you can’t go wrong with purchasing M&M’s as out of all sweet brands out there, it's one of the most desired by trick-or-treaters.

 

Earlier this year, the brand marked its 75^th anniversary. Consumers are currently able to purchase M&M’s in more than 100 countries. Therefore, it comes to no surprise that every 8 hours 2 billion colourful button-shaped chocolate sweets are being produced in the New Jersey factory. Furthermore, every October the brand surprises its consumers by putting a great deal of effort into designing Halloween-themed packaging.

The M&M’s tagline ‘Melts in your mouth, not in your hand’ is the fourth most recalled one in the world, according to the study conducted in 2014. Over the years, M&M’s has released a number of humorous TV commercials, which are sure to evoke your Halloween spirit!

#PSoTW

#CelebrateWithM

#Halloween

#HappyHalloween

"For the Way It's Made"

Today you can indulge in sweets guilt free because it’s National Dessert Day! To celebrate this sweet occasion you might choose to visit your favourite bakery. Yet, nothing can replace the taste of a homemade dessert, so we suggest you roll up your sleeves and get baking. If you’re a baking enthusiast you’ll certainly enjoy reading today’s post as it is all about KitchenAid - one of the most respected brands in the world when it comes to baking tools and accessories.

If you love baking chances are that you’ve already heard about the iconic KitchenAid stand mixers. The brand’s slogan ‘For the way it’s made’, accurately portrays the company’s promise to create timeless kitchen appliances to last you a lifetime. KitchenAid mixers feature sturdy designs, which come in a variety of different colours. Recently the company launched the KitchenAid Mini, which will not only save you a lot of time in the kitchen, but also will make every moment of baking so special. Check out KitchenAid’s latest campaign called Mini Moments.

Recently, KitchenAid opened an ‘experience store’ on Wigmore Street in London, where customers can participate in a wide range of cooking classes and demonstrations. Certainly check out this spot as it’s a great place to meet likeminded people or perhaps discover your inner baker with KitchenAid.

Hopefully, this post inspired you to get baking. If you lack ideas of what to bake, here’s a quick recipe for a pumpkin cake for you!

Super Moist Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients

120g chopped walnuts

440g plain flour

400g dark brown soft sugar

100g caster sugar

2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

500g pumpkin puree

225ml vegetable oil

160ml coconut milk

50g desiccated coconut

Method

Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4. Grease and flour two 500g loaf tins.

Spread walnuts in a single layer on an ungreased baking tray. Toast in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, caster sugar, bicarb, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Add the pumpkin puree, oil and coconut milk, and mix until all of the flour is absorbed. Fold in the desiccated coconut and toasted walnuts. Divide the cake mixture evenly between the prepared tins.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven, and cover loaves tightly with foil. Allow to steam for 10 minutes. Remove foil, and turn out onto a cooling rack. Tent loosely with the foil, and allow to cool completely.

Enjoy!

#PSoTW

#NationalDessertDay

#KitchenAid

"Nespresso. What else"

Yesterday all coffee lovers around the world were marking International Coffee Day. Indeed, for many people drinking coffee is an essential part of their morning routine. Thanks to Nespresso, now all coffee drinkers can brew the perfect cup of espresso in the comfort of their own home.

Founded in 1986, Nespresso has been revolutionising the coffee experience around the world by further developing a capsule coffee concept. Currently, it is one of the fastest growing brands in the Nestlé Group. Nespresso is now present in 64 countries with 450 luxurious retail boutiques where customers can purchase the Nespresso coffee machines, the capsules, and a wide range of accessories.

Since 2006, Hollywood star George Clooney has been the face of the brand. In his first commercial George Clooney featured the brand’s slogan ‘Nespresso. What Else’. The actor has been great at portraying the brand’s image as elegant, luxury, and effortless. The brand’s commercials tend to be slightly humorous, maybe that is why Jack Black, another great American actor and comedian, was invited to join George Clooney in filming one of the latest commercials for Nespresso.

In late June 2016, Nespresso opened its first coffee shop in the City of London. The unique aspect of this café is that customers are not being served by traditional baristas. Instead, the café has a built-in automated self-service facility called Nespresso Cube, which is designed to prepare orders. It’s a place definitely worth visiting as it offers a great selection of unique coffee flavours, such as a rose cappuccino, a minty mojito, and a macaroon latte. Those who are feeling a little hungry will certainly enjoy a variety of premium food options which can be paired with different coffees.

Moreover, earlier this year, Nespresso also released its first Internet-connected coffee machine called Prodigio. The main feature of this machine is that it enables coffee drinkers to brew coffee remotely. Users of this machine can connect them to a Nespresso smartphone app via Bluetooth. Not only that, this coffee machine allows the owner to set up specific times for automatic coffee brewing, as well as having additional handy features including automatic turn-off and maintenance alerts.

So, ‘What else’ if not Nespresso, can provide you with such a luxurious and great tasting coffee experience? Just note, if you are about to purchase one of the coffee machines for your own home or maybe already have one, Nespresso aluminium pods are recyclable! Therefore, after having enjoyed your perfect cup of coffee, make sure you recycle the aluminium capsules correctly, by bringing them to one of the Nespresso boutiques or ordering the home collection service.

#PSoTW

#NationalCoffeeDay

#Nespresso

#NespressoUK

#WhatElse

#GeorgeClooney

#JackBlack

"Where Dreams Come True"

This week our Pure Slogan of the Week is Disneyland's "Where Dreams Come True".

Walt Disney himself saw to the development and success of Disneyland; "I want to have a place that's as clean as anything could ever be, and all the people in it are first-class citizens, and treated like guests."

 
While the amusement park itself was primarily intended for children, Disney's vision was to create a safe environment where even parents could relive their carefree childhood memories.

Today, the park has evolved into one of the world's most popular amusement resorts, with eight different theme parks, each of them embodying unique values of the Disney universe - a true testament to Disney's slogan.

#PSoTW

Show someone they're loved this Christmas

Of course this weeks Pure Slogan of The Week had to be the highly anticipated "Show someone they're loved this Christmas" from John Lewis' 2015 Christmas ad #ManOnTheMoon.

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/

#PSoTW

Tastes Good, Does Good

Innocent was founded in 1999 by three Cambridge university graduates, Adam Balon, Richard Reed and Jon Wright. Their venture began at a music festival, where they set up a stall selling smoothies.

They raised a big sign asking whether they should give up their jobs and start selling smoothies, encouraging their customers to vote “yes” or “no”, by putting their empty smoothie bottles in different bins. Needless to say, they quit soon after...

As they developed their unique identity and spontaneous culture, they differentiated themselves by being active in charity work and involved in various environmental projects, embedding these values on Innocent's foundations - hence the slogan "Tastes Good, Does Good"

Coca Cola is now the majority shareholder in the company. Innocent prides itself on core values (much like our good selves) and are deserved winners of this week's PSotW.

#WearTheRose: Make Them Giants

With the Rugby World Cup now in full flow, a ruck has formed among brands keen to showcase their products and services to mass audiences. One campaign that has emerged from this scrum and stood taller than most is that of O2’s “#WearTheRose: Make them giants”.

Launched by Pure’s sister agency VCCP with a TV ad in Gogglebox on the night of the first game, the multimedia campaign has been skilfully constructed to garner support from the nation for England Rugby.

It has taken only two weeks of the World Cup for the campaign to achieve more than 4,200,000 “Acts of Support” using the #WearTheRose on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The engagement has been gathering momentum and in order to maintain this, they have increased the frequency of the O2 ads across media channels to correlate with and build on the positive awareness.

By centring on the atmosphere and anticipation around the country, the brand has sought to hook an already engaged nation and hope that response will reach fever pitch.

With a giant match tomorrow night, we simply had to choose this as our ‘Pure Slogan of the Week’.

Come on England!!! Swing low, Sweet chariot…

Other Great Rugby World Cup 2015 Ads

Lucozade made it clear that the sports drink is Strictly For The Home Nations Only while Beats by Dre has used some emotional videos featuring stars such as Chris Robsahw, Richie McCaw and Wesley Fofana to promote their headphone range.

“Too big to miss” featuring Charles Dance is a genuine mix of spine-tingling sentiment and humour but as it is an online-only spot, it has perhaps been missed by a fair few..!

Samsung School of Rugby featuring Jack Whitehall alongside some past England legends has been a massive hit. It has focused on connecting the wider (perhaps less rugby-savvy) public with the sport through an amusing series of videos. 

One of the simplest, but more impactful ads has come from that grizzled veteran Guinness, who used this simple yet powerful image to sum up the unity of the Japan team that shocked South Africa (and the world) in the opening round of matches. Bravo! 

Should've gone to Specsavers

This week’s Pure Slogan of the Week is Specsavers’ “Should’ve gone to Specsavers”.

“Should’ve gone to Specsavers” slogan was launched in 2002 by their in-house creative agency. Their ads have a humorous approach, often portraying members of the public with unattractive glasses or in outlandish situations due to bad eyesight before advising them that they “Should’ve gone to Specsavers”.

One of the great things about their campaign is that it has evolved with the times; thanks to their “shgts” hashtag that allows Twitter users to post their own “Should’ve gone to Specsavers”, inspired photos and tweets.

We love the Specsavers campaign because it does what all great marketing strategies should do, it creates something that is memorable through humour while still maintaining a solid brand identity. The message of what they’re promoting never gets lost or distorted despite how eccentric their adverts can get, and to top it all off, customers can engage in the campaign by upload their own funny stories. 

#SHGTS #PSoTW

"Does exactly what it says on the tin"

 This week’s Pure Slogan of the Week is Ronseal’s “Does exactly what it says on the tin".

Ronseal, a wood stain paint and preserver, began working with ad agency HHCL in 1994 in an attempt to “de-mystify” the product and move away from marketing campaigns that Ged Shields, Ronseal’s then marketing director, felt were “trying too hard”.

Created by Liz Whiston and Dave Shelton, they decided not to use puns or elaborate creatives but to create something that was simple and straight to the point instead, much like the product itself, resulting in “It does exactly what it says on the tin”.

  

Initially, it was poorly received by the public and industry when sent out for market research.  Whiston and Shelton chose to trust their instincts and with Ronseal’s support decided to run the ad anyway.

Surprisingly the ad was a huge success; Ronseal saw an increase in sales and became a brand leader. “Does exactly what it says on the tin” is one of the rare examples when a slogan becomes bigger than the brand it’s promoting.  Also immediately after its launch, it was the focus of a number of spoofs by other brands, including an anti-smoking campaign and soft drink Irn Bru showing how influential it was from the beginning.

  

In the years since, the phrase has become a part of British pop culture and the vernacular. It was entered in to the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms. We love this iconic slogan because of how it was able to create something that is fresh and innovative out of a relatively simple idea, an example of great marketing.

@Ronseal

#PSoTW, #PurePoint, #NoNonsense

Play On

It's mid-Summer and although the schools are still out, the sun hasn't always been. 

The saving grace for indoor play? Lego.

From the Danish phrase "leg godt", which means "play well", Lego began producing plastic toys in 1947.

In 2002 Lego changed its slogan from "Just Imagine" to (this week's Pure Slogan of the Week) "Play On" as part of marketing change designed to focus on the importance of playing for a child's development and growth. 

The past two decades has seen Lego move into other play-areas, including video games, magazines, amusement parks and movies, becoming one of the world's most recognized brand. 

And to think that, as with every single Lego model ever made, it all started with just one brick. 

Think Different...

This week the Pure Slogan of The Week we have selected is "Think Different" from Apple

This brand is so much about style, design and technological innovation - there is no doubt that every step of the way all of Apple's 10,000 or so employees across a variety of disciplines think differently.

Apple's infamous "bitten apple" logo was introduced in 1976 and has evolved over time (as above), however, it was not the first logo the company had, which as per the logo on the left, included Newton sitting under an apple tree.#PSoTW