American Express has joined forces with leading figures from the worlds of music and food to launch ‘Backed By’, a nationwide initiative offering two members of the public the chance to win backing from music legend Nile Rodgers or culinary innovator Gizzi Erskine.

Launched as a continuation of its new brand campaign, ‘Powerful Backing: Don’t Do Business/Don’t Live Life Without It’, ‘Backed By’ celebrates the powerful backing American Express has been giving customers throughout its 168-year history.

In addition to advice and practical support – whether that’s words of encouragement, industry introductions or constructive criticism to help further their musical dreams or foodie business idea – the two winners will have access to life-enriching experiences, such as spending time in the world-famous Abbey Road Studios alongside Nile Rodgers and joining him on the road or cooking in the vibrant Mare Street Market kitchens in Hackney alongside Gizzi Erskine. The successful applicants will be given inspiration and support to propel their passion forward.

In addition to Backed By, as part of its new brand campaign in the UK, American Express has also created an immersive experience that will be bringing the message of powerful backing to life in London’s EC1.

Popping up in in Exchange Square beside Liverpool Street Station, the experience runs from Tuesday June 12^th to Thursday June 14^th and is open to the public between 11.00am and 8.00pm.

Soundtracked by DJ and broadcaster Maya Jama, there are three zones to explore – a restoring Japanese Forest, the Neon Jungle dance space and the Inspiration Zone.

The PR and content-led campaign will be supported through a media partnership with the Huffington Post on a newly created ‘Backed By’ channel on their website.

To be backed by one of these inspirational ambassadors, applicants are invited to submit a portfolio of their work at backedby.co.uk from June 12th 2018.

Caroline Bouvet, Vice President of Brand and Marketing UK, American Express, says: “At American Express we recognise the importance of powerful backing and have a rich heritage championing both new and established talent in the worlds of music and food through our Amex Invites entertainment programme. We are thrilled to be working with Nile Rodgers and Gizzi Erskine on ‘Backed By’ and giving one budding musician and one passionate foodie this once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the best.”

The post Nile Rodgers and Gizzi Erskine back American Express ‘Backed By’ initiative appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Quidco, the UK’s leading online cashback website, has launched a football-themed digital promotion to drive brand awareness this summer.

Players of ‘Quidgoal’, hosted on the brand’s site, must complete a footballing challenge for the chance to win instant cash prizes.

There are three challenges in total: taking penalty kicks, saving penalty kicks and evading tackles. Players are assigned one at random, and must complete it to stand a chance of winning a share of the £25,000 prize pot.

Repeat plays are unlimited, meaning users can increase their chances of winning by playing multiple times.

Users must be signed up to Quidco’s free service before they can participate, as winnings are deposited directly into their Quidco accounts.

The Quidgoal experience can be played on both desktop and mobile devices. A dedicated campaign to drive traffic to it will incorporate email, social media and word-of-mouth.

Quidco partnered with creative agency Ready on the campaign. Ready has previously helped Quidco use gamification to drive awareness of its service around seasonal events including Easter and Christmas.

Ready’s creative director Jake Xu said: “Creating a highly addictive game that offers instant cash prizes is the perfect way to showcase just how simple it is to earn cashback by shopping online through Quidco.”

The campaign, which launched this week, will run for three weeks.

It is sponsored by several of Quidco’s retail partners including Littlewoods, Microsoft and Paddy Power, generating exposure for each brand and encouraging members to earn cashback by purchasing from their ecommerce sites.

The post Quidco launches football-themed online promotional campaign appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Hyperion Adjusters, which provides specialist promotional marketing insurance and risk management products for brands and agencies, has sold a majority interest in its business to leading specialised loss adjuster, QuestGates.  The two businesses will be integrated but Hyperion will continue to trade as Hyperion Adjusters and the current management team and staff will all be retained.

The investment comes as Hyperion Adjusters beefs up its specialist promotional marketing offering with the recruitment of new staff and the launch of a redesigned website (www.hyperionadjusters.com), which highlights the company’s in-depth knowledge and experience in the field of promotional risk management, the handling of over-redemption insurance claims and the provision of judging and adjudication services.

Andrew Pinnion, Co-Founder and Director of Hyperion, says: “With new technology adding to the complexity of the promotional landscape, and with consumers who have become far more savvy about promotions of all kinds, brands and agencies must be ultra-careful when they run promotions.”

Hyperion Adjusters is a member of the Institute of Promotional Marketing and has been working with most of the major promotional risk management companies for the past 10 years.

Among the services it provides are:

• Promotion and insurance policy analysis.
• Pre-risk assessment which includes identification of the controlling elements and ensuring that satisfactory and adequate processes and procedures are implemented and adhered to.
• Audit and assessment of service providers, including web design agencies, handling houses and recyclers.
• Promotional website functionality and analysis.
• Systems, data encryption solutions and processes for the secure receipt, verification and storage of confidential data.
• Statistical analysis of large volumes of data.
• Security marking.
• Loss quantification.

In addition to the services it offers promotional marketers, Hyperion also advises on issues including handling production losses for Film, Television and Music Video together with contingency and non-appearance claims, lottery and gaming mechanics, systems, processes and security, verification of jackpots and winners and detailed analysis and supervision of televised quiz/game shows.

The post Hyperion Adjusters sells majority stake, unveils new website appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Pet insurer MORE TH>N (More Than) has launched the Pet Paws-Port Photo Booth, a free service offering dog owners the chance to have a high-quality passport photo taken of their pet pooch.

The insurers point out that pet passports have doubled over the past two years, and that one in 10 owners is considering taking their dog away with them this summer.

Located in Victoria Park, one of London’s dog walking hotspots, the Paws-Port photo booth is an experiential activation aimed at promoting the company’s insurance services for pets.

Owners and dogs who want to take advantage of the offer will first be directed to a dog grooming station, where pet stylists and groomers will be on hand to prep pets that come along to ensure they are looking their best in front of the camera. Haircuts, brushing and grooming will be available, but MORE TH>N is asking owners to ensure their dog has had a bath the night before, to make the job of grooming a lot easier for both stylists and dogs.

Once prepped and ready, dogs will pose for their photo in the Pet Paws-Port Booth, which includes:

• A pet friendly basket adjustable seat catering for any size dog, to ensure dogs both big and small can be seen on the camerw;
• A speaker which will play a variety of noises such as dogs barking and whistles being blown to alert the dogs to the camera
• Peep holes next to the camera containing squeaky balls which owners can squeeze to get their dog’s attention, and raw meat to heighten their senses
• A drawn curtain to give the dog privacy prior to being snapped;
• A viewing window to help owners encourage their pets to look at the camera;
• Toys and treats on hand for distraction;
• Touch screen camera capability which dog owners can control with the ability to post pictures to social media directly from the booth.

Resulting photos which will be available in squares of four for owners to take home and use in their pet’s passport.

The Pet Paws-Port Photo Booth will be located at The Hub Café, Victoria Park, Grove Road, London E3 5TB between 11.00am and 4.00pm on Thursday June 22 2017. The event will not be ticketed; instead, a queuing system will be in place throughout the day to ensure everyone gets a perfect picture of their pet.

The Pet Paws-Port Photo Booth will also be making an appearance at DogFest, the UK summer festival for dogs and owners, on June 24 and 25 at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire (see http://dog-fest.co.uk/hertfordshire).

In January 2017, MORE TH>N launched what it said was the world’s first ever city tour bus for dogs, with every element of the experience designed to appeal to man’s best friend, in London. The tour was created to promote MORE TH>N DOGGYSSENTI>LS, a new pet care and protection offering which the insurer claims provides “all the essential items for a happy and healthy dog, delivered direct to your door each month.”

The post More Than launches first passport photo booth for dogs appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Insurance brand More Than has launched what it claims is the world’s first ever city tour bus for dogs, with every element of the experience designed to appeal to man’s best friend, in London.

The tour was created to promote MORE TH>N DOGGYSSENTI>LS, a new pet care and protection offering which the insurer claims provides “all the essential items for a happy and healthy dog, delivered direct to your door each month.”

Owners and their dogs were invited to sign up online for tickets for the tours via London-focused ticketing website www.billetto.co.uk. Tickets, offered on a first come, first served basis, entitled two humans and one large dog or two small dogs to experience a whistle-stop sightseeing experience of London last week, with three tours a day over three days (January 17th through 19th).

The carefully crafted bus route picked up passengers by Lambeth Palace and then took in some of London’s best parks and city centre dog walking spots, including Hyde Park, Kensington Palace Gardens and Green Park. Along the way, live onboard commentary for dog owners explored London’s canine history, including the ministerial dogs of Downing Street, the many corgis that have shared Buckingham Palace with the Queen, the location of London’s only dog cemetery and the home of the Kennel Club, with London’s biggest collection of dog paintings.

The route itself centred on a number of London’s most scenic dog-walking hotspots, including Hyde Park and Green Park, for owners to disembark the bus and take their pooch for a stroll if they chose. Guests were also provided with a handy leaflet mapping dog-friendly pubs, bars and restaurants in the area, where owner and dog can refuel together post-walk.

To celebrate the launch of MORE TH>N DOGGYSSENTI>LS, every dog owner joining the bus tour was also gifted a travel-size version of the MORE TH>N DOGGYSSENTI>LS box, containing treats and throwing balls.

More Than’s PR company, Cow PR, came up with the idea for the tour and created and executed it.

The post More Than runs first London bus tour for dogs appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Visa is promoting its sponsorship of the Rio Olympics with the “Heart of the Olympian” campaign, alongside a collection of promotions and activations that will offer Visa customers the opportunity to be at the heart of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad.

The “Heart of the Olympian” campaign is designed to drive awareness of Visa’s sponsorship and generate excitement ahead of the Games.

Visa has been the exclusive payment services sponsor and only card accepted at the Olympic Games since 1986.

The campaign centres on a film directed by Juan Cabral, following an athlete preparing to compete and depicting the journey he goes through in the build up to the ultimate moment; the competition.

A 90″ version of the film will be shown in participating cinemas in the UK. Versions will also run across a range of channels including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, created especially for the campaign.

The athlete’s everyday life is interspersed with images of a beating heart, drawing parallels between the heart of an athlete and Visa. Visa is positioned as the beating heart of payments, always ready, always performing, whenever people need it.

Gary Twelvetree, Executive Director, Brand & Central Marketing at Visa Europe, says: “Visa’s dedication to the Olympic movement, National Olympic Committees and individual athletes has helped ensure the continued success of the Olympic Games. As an Olympic sponsor, Visa Europe can bring fans closer to the heart of the Games in Rio. Visa is the beating heart of payments – our system never stops and works whenever and wherever it’s needed. Just like the Olympians that will compete in the Games this summer, Visa is always on and ready to perform. This film is a celebration of that synergy.”

To watch the film click here: https://youtu.be/A5zFYqQWX54

The post Visa Europe celebrates Olympic link appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Bacs Payment Schemes Limited (Bacs), the organisation behind Direct Debit in the UK, has launched a new national marketing campaign offering organisations which let people pay by Direct Debit the chance to promote two £10,000 prize pots to their customers.

The campaign, Freedom Guaranteed 2016, is open for entry to anyone setting up a Direct Debit over the course of the year, while there will also be a number of other prizes on offer.

For billers who decide to get involved in the initiative, there is the opportunity to offer their customers even more incentive to switch payment method by doubling the chance of winning one of the £10,000 prize pots.

All consumers need to do to be in with a chance of winning a prize is register a new Direct Debit online at www.directdebit.co.uk/freedom. Bacs says it only takes a minute to enter and multiple Direct Debits can be registered, as long as they are with different billers and set up in 2016.

Bacs says that by making the switch to Direct Debit payments, consumers can free up more time to do the things they want, benefiting from less time spent standing in queues at the bank or juggling bill payments. Furthermore, with the Direct Debit Guarantee, consumers can enjoy the peace-of-mind of paying this way.

Graham Callaghan, Senior Market Sector Manager at Bacs, says: “The national Freedom Guaranteed campaign is all about supporting organisations in increasing Direct Debit sign-up rates and, as there are two £10,000 prizes on offer during 2016, billers have the freedom to participate at a time which suits them and their billing cycles.”

Callaghan adds: “There’s still time for organisations to get involved and tap-in to the benefits of the collective campaign, while also offering their customers double the chance to win one of the cash prizes.”

Billing organisations can get more information on the Freedom Guaranteed campaign at www.bacs.co.uk/freedom

Bacs has been maintaining the integrity of payment related services since 1968. It has responsibility for the schemes behind the clearing and settlement of UK automated payment methods, Direct Debit and Bacs Direct Credit, as well as the provision of managed services for third parties, such as the Cash ISA Transfer Service, and the development, management and subsequent ownership of the Current Account Switch Service. More than 110 billion transactions have been debited or credited to British bank accounts via Bacs since its inception.

The post Bacs national campaign offers £20,000 prizes appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Comparethemarket.com has linked up with Warner Bros. Pictures to offer limited edition Aleksandr and Sergei toys with the two brand characters as Batman and Superman respectively.

The promotion, which celebrates the upcoming release of the new film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, opening in UK cinemas on March 25^th. It neatly links the long-running and highly successful Meerkat toy promotion with Comparethemarket.com’s more recent Meerkat Mondays two for one cinema ticket promotion.

In addition to a year’s worth of 2 for 1 cinema tickets, for a limited time customers can also get their hands on a Limited Edition Meerkat Movies Toys inspired by either Batman or Superman when they buy insurance or switch energy with comparethemarket.com.

The Aleksandr toy is dressed in Batman’s trademark suit, complete with cape and mask, while Sergei is transformed into Superman, the Man of Steel, complete with biceps and sixpack.

Mark Vile, Marketing Director at comparethemarket.com, says: “Since launching Meerkat Movies in March last year, we have seen over a million members enjoy the magic of the movies for less. We’ve now super-charged our rewards offering, Meerkat Movies, by partnering with Warner Bros. Pictures and one of the most hotly anticipated films of the year.”

A new TV ad shows the two characters having to find their inner superheroes as car problems put them in danger of missing the film.

Meerkat Movies was unveiled to the nation last year, with 2 for 1 cinema ticket redemption available across the UK via a voucher code on the Meerkat Movies app, which is available to Apple and Android users, or via the comparethemarket.com website.

Since then, it has been promoted with TV ads featuring cameos by Hollywood stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nicole Kidman.

The post Comparethemarket offers Super Meerkat toys appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

BRIT Award winning singer-songwriter, Ellie Goulding, gave two of her biggest fans the surprise of a lifetime when she joined them on stage for a live, impromptu duet of her latest single, Army.

Ellie Goulding’s surprise was part of MasterCard’s Priceless Surprises campaign, created by McCann London, and promoted and celebrated the 2016 BRIT Awards, which took place last night.

MasterCard holders who visit www.pricelesssurprises.co.uk/ can register for the chance to win a ‘meet and greet’ with Ellie Goulding herself.

MasterCard’s Priceless Surprises campaign involves an ongoing series of surprises and gigs featuring global artists such as Goulding, Mark Ronson, Usher and Mary J Blige surprising cardholders and sharing their love of music.

In the Ellie Goulding surprise, 20-year-old King’s College students Martha and Lucy thought they were recording their cover of Goulding’s new track Army for a documentary about music superfans.

During the recording, a curtain lifted on their recording booth to reveal they were actually on stage performing in front of a live audience. Ellie Goulding herself then stepped out on stage to perform the track alongside them. A full-length version of the performance is on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGAlZOfgE60

Shaun Springer, Head of Brand and Sponsorship, MasterCard UK & Ireland, said: “Ellie is one of the biggest and most talented artists in the UK right now, and we’re proud to be working with her. Her new track epitomizes everything that our Priceless Surprises campaign is about, sharing your love of music with the people around you. Music fans should keep their eyes peeled for more surprises to come this year.”

The Priceless Surprises campaign was created for MasterCard by advertising agency McCann London.

The post MasterCard surprises Ellie Goulding superfans appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Insurance company Aviva has been running experiential activity at Waterloo Station asking people to vote for who they thought were better drivers.

The challenge supports its current advertising campaign, where an ordinary family competes to see which of them is the better driver.

Passers-by were given options including Women vs. Men, under 60s vs. over 60s, Mums vs. Dads and so on. The public could cast their vote via Twitter using voting buttons placed on the experiential stand.

As a voting button was pressed, an automatic tweet was released and the results of the poll were displayed in real time on digital out-of-home poster sites showing the campaign’s ads, including the giant Waterloo Motion screen in front of the stand.

People could visit the site to cast their vote or vote on Twitter by using hashtags like #over60sdrivesafer or #under60sdrivesafer.

The activity generated nearly 2,000 votes which were fed into the Liveposter system and displayed onto the Motion screen.

The activity was part of the insurance firm’s current campaign, which includes a TV ad and other messaging that urges motorists to test their own driving skills using the free Aviva Drive app.

The app rates how safely people drive, based on acceleration, braking and cornering over 200 miles. The campaign is the first initiative launched as part of Aviva’s new global brand strategy, Good Thinking.

Using smartphone technology that records the motorist’s driving style, users of the Aviva Drive app will be given an individual score out of 10. Drivers may then be able to use their score to achieve discounts on their Aviva car insurance.

Apparently, people who score above 7.1 out of 10 on the app can qualify for lower rates from Aviva which could get them on average £150 off their Aviva car insurance.

As well as the app, people will be encouraged to think about their own personal driving behaviours with a series of interactive tools which will be available online during the campaign.

The campaign will also include outdoor advertising, social media and radio and TV promotions.

Lindsay Forster, UK & Ireland Customer Marketing Director for Aviva, said of the new app: “The app is a fantastic way for people to test how safely they drive and we’d encourage as many people as possible to take the challenge. We also believe it’s good thinking to reward safer drivers with lower premiums, so as well as encouraging drivers to make our roads safer, motorists could see the benefits in their bank balances too.”

The post Aviva Safer Drivers Waterloo experiential appeared first on IPM Bitesize.