VCCP Group, the global challenger network, has announced the launch of a global gaming proposition, VCCP+. On a mission to help brands navigate and leverage the 2.7 billion person Gaming Multiverse, VCCP+ will deliver data-backed solutions to help brands build long-term value in the space and challenge the ways gaming is traditionally viewed and activated. With a unique approach and offering, VCCP+ will aim to upskill and tip the balance for modern marketers. Despite its popularity and abundance of opportunities, brands, marketers and even agencies have only really scratched the surface of gaming’s potential as the force in marketing to leverage. Investment in gaming is currently 100 times less than ad spend on Facebook and four times less than in print. VCCP+ aims to disrupt this status quo and will arm future-facing brands with the right data, expertise, ideas, and partnerships for an immediate marketing future where a gaming strategy and an always-on plan will be a critical necessity.
UNLIMITED, the insight-driven, tech-enabled, integrated agency group has today unveiled, LUCA (aptly named after Luca, the ‘bringer of light’) – an innovative human insights platform that automates the gathering and analysis of digital data sources to deliver actionable human understanding for brands. Developed as part of UNLIMITED’s Human Understanding Lab, LUCA addresses the need for brands to tap into emotional context, gathering insights quickly and efficiently to support fast decision-making and responsiveness to market opportunity. The proprietary LUCA platform is AI-powered which reduces the need for teams to manually research, gather, combine, and analyse digital inputs to deliver insights back to the business. Consistent with UNLIMITED’s mission of creating business advantage for clients through insight and activation, LUCA has an ecosystem of capabilities including Trend Analysis, Content Intelligence and Customer sentiment Tracking, that support clients with delivering Human Understanding and increasing emotional resonance in marketing activations.
Media agency Starcom and Channel 4 have collaborated to produce a six-part short film series titled Brave Stories. The series encourages people who identify as coming from diverse backgrounds or marginalised communities to open up about their personal experiences of working in media. Episodes three and four launched on the 21st, which explore and highlight the journeys of Starcom individuals, interviewed by representatives from Channel 4. In episode three, Lucy Hughes, Agency Sales Lead at Channel 4 interviews three women from Starcom including Elspeth Spelzini (Strategy Director), Claire Kula (Managing Partner), and Caroline Moffat (Innovation Director). They dive into the journeys of each woman’s experiences with pregnancy and maternity; discussing post-partum depression, the balance of being a working mother, the adjustment of returning to work after maternity leave and all the challenges and emotional battles that come with it. Episode four features Amy Jenkins, Agency Sales Lead at Channel 4 discussing addiction and mental health with Starcom Managing Partner Danny Weitzkorn. Danny details his battle with addiction that started at an early age and how it’s shaped the rest of his journey throughout life, what it takes to make a change and how it’s impacted his career in media. The two 20-minute films can be found on Starcom UK’s YouTube channel, and channel 4’s 4Sales website. There will be further instalments of Brave Stories to follow, addressing different protected characteristics such as ageism and ethnicity next.
Jargon PR has announced its appointment to provide PR support for Manchester Tech Week- the North’s largest ever digital transformation event taking place from the 25th – 29th April 2022 – which will assemble the best of the northern tech community for a special week of innovation, showcase and collaborations. Jargon PR will work with Manchester Tech Week’s organisers to support the event and generate awareness of the key themes across the digital transformation landscape that will be covered at the show. The campaign will build excitement around the event, positioning Manchester Tech Week as a key show to unite the Northern technology community. The appointment follows Jargon PR’s acquisition of Souter PR, which saw the agency expand its presence within the North of England and open an office in MediaCity.
La Vosgienne is back in the spotlight with Ogilvy Paris. The famous French sweet pine drops brand in the vintage tin is back in the advertising spotlight with a new brand positioning illustrated by a saga of three short and funny films created by Ogilvy Paris. With these three films, La Vosgienne wanted to illustrate what nature in real life can be like, often idealized, especially on social networks. The brand is addressing a new target audience, enamored by nature and adventure of escapades and new experiences. And, if life in nature is often synonymous with escapes and freedom, La Vosgienne reminds us that it can sometimes be rough and unpredictable. Certainly not as sweet as a pine sap candy.
Hertfordshire-based digital transformation agency Cyber-Duck has unveiled ambitious expansion plans following the purchase of an Elstree property that has served as its rented headquarters for more than a decade. Santander UK has provided rapidly growing Cyber-Duck with a £950,000 funding package, which supports the property purchase and includes a working capital facility. The company has also switched its day-to-day banking to Santander UK. Cyber-Duck has used the funding to purchase the Grade 2-listed property, which is an old coach house and site of archaeological importance on Watling Street, an old Roman road running between Marble Arch and St Albans. It has plans to restore the historic features of the building as well as refurbish its interior, providing staff and clients with a cutting-edge hybrid working environment with spaces dedicated to in-person activities and equipping it with technology to digitally connect with people off-site.
