Publicis Groupe UK has announced the launch of LeSHOP, a creative agency specialising in building brands in the commerce space. LeSHOP’s offering, which includes brand activation, retail experience, and omnichannel marketing, will aim to help clients integrate brand and commerce, seeking to drive growth in both brand equity and commercial performance for clients. The creative shop will be led by Amanda Farmer. Since joining Publicis•Poke in 2022, now Publicis London, Farmer has led the agency’s commerce offering as Chief Client Officer. Farmer is joined by Mark Jenkins as Chief Strategy Officer, Gabriela Lungu as Chief Creative Officer and Maria McDowell as Operations Director.
Sky Broadband has launched a brand-new campaign, starring Idris Elba, to coincide with the launch of the broadband industry’s One Touch Switch process. The advert, developed by Sky Creative, will run across TV, OLV, radio, display, social, OOH, and DM and features Idris Elba as the facilitator of the broadband ‘switch,’ helping Sky customers ‘eject’ from their old providers.
Grey London has launched a new network campaign for Vodafone Ireland. Grey produced a hero TV commercial (TVC) that sees a mother returning to cycling after a long hiatus. She struggles to keep pace with her friends across the Irish countryside. But she receives a message from her daughter, using the Vodafone network, and finds the spirit to carry on. The campaign aims to highlight how ‘Every Connection Counts.’ The TVC, directed by BAFTA award winning director Charlotte Wells, is supported by a campaign across out-of-home, digital, and radio.
McCann Demand has launched its latest campaign for Acer, bringing its Predator Gaming collection to life by personifying product features as characters within the superhero squad: ‘Predator Force.’ Each “superhero” represents a different feature in the range. The campaign launched across social media with supporting assets, including digital banners and a campaign playbook.
Dentsu has launched its Business Transformation (BX) practice in the UK&I to propel growth for brands and businesses. BX brings together dentsu’s creativity with management consulting and design with the aim of sustainably growing organisations and preparing them for the future. Born in Japan, and now live to clients in the UK&I, BX works with businesses to create new models to aid revenue diversification; launch new products, services, and strategies to market; redesign organisations to ensure they remain adaptable amid today’s dynamic economic environment; and deliver cultural and change management programmes. Dentsu’s UK&I BX practice will form a core part of the wider UK&I strategy community, led by Dan Truman, UK&I Group Chief Strategy Officer.
Hilltop Honey, the UK’s second largest honey brand, has appointed independent media agency Bountiful Cow to deliver a disruptive media strategy which drives consideration, brand awareness, and re-appraisal of honey among both users and non-users.
Having announced the removal of its fees for private sellers, eBay has worked with JOAN London to spread the message further. The ‘See Things Differently’ campaign follows a couple moving in together who realise they have very different tastes and turn to eBay to sell their unwanted items. The campaign is running across TV, video streaming, online video, cinema, radio, out-of-home, digital display, influencer, and social.
Retailer Freemans has launched a digital advertising campaign, featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor, that takes over some of London’s best-known shopping and tourist destinations, including Oxford Circus Station, Bond Street Underground, High St Kensington Station, Waterloo Station, London’s two Westfield shopping centres, Wandsworth roundabout, Putney Tower, and Battersea Power Station. It’s also running on bus sides throughout Greater London. The campaign has been created to highlight the retailer’s range of piece for 40+ women. It’s supported by a TV and social media ad. MullenLowe‘s creative team developed the concept with Freemans in-house team. Media strategy and outputs were developed by the7stars.
Shared electric vehicle company Lime has partnered with creative and media agency Cutwater to launch a national out-of-home campaign spotlighting the harsh realities of car ownership. The campaign spotlights the brand’s LimePass minute bundle, which offers discounted rates and unlimited free unlocks, by pointing to the daily struggles and hefty prices that come with car ownership. The creative assets were developed and produced entirely in-house by Lime’s creative team.
Creative agency Neverland has partnered with international executive search firm The Blueprint, to launch a global creative agency franchise: Imagine Neverland. In exchange for 25% of their business, franchisees will be given exclusive access to a start-up package from Neverland. This package will include the licence to use the Neverland name and brand, business advice, consultancy, and direct input from the Neverland’s Founders Jon Forsyth & Simon Massey to help fund, launch and grow their business. The first two franchises created through Imagine Neverland are set to open imminently, with a team sourced by The Blueprint opening a business in the US early 2025. This will be closely followed by the second business opening in Europe.
Independent creative agency, Exposure, has announced the launch of Everything Ahead, a creative technology company as part of the wider Casbah Group. Everything Ahead was founded to help brands embrace tomorrow’s technology, crafting solutions with the aim of driving growth, transforming experiences, and enabling businesses to capitalise on emerging technologies. Seb Bench, Chief Digital Officer of Casbah Group, will take on the role of Founder and CEO of Everything Ahead. Peter Eichhorn rejoins the group as Head of Technology, while Louise Lovejoy joins as Head of Delivery.
Rochdale AFC has brought in creative advertising agency AML to create a forward-looking creative identity that helps drive development plans for the club and the town. Together, the new team aims to follow the success of clubs with clear purpose beyond football such as Forest Green, Lewes, and St Pauli in Germany.
Ecommerce agency Burgess Commerce has announced a full rebrand, now being called Refined Commerce. Founded by Director Rowan Burgess 15 years ago, the company has worked with a number of brands in ecommerce across the interiors, exteriors, fashion, accessories, and hobbyist. It has expertise across website design, development, and performance optimisation.
