The average American saw more than 1,800,000 advertisements this year. Can't remember them all? Don't worry, we've got our favorites ready for you!
Tim: Gillette — “We Believe: The Best Men Can Be”
How often do corporations go out on a controversial limb to do the right thing at the risk of damaging their bottom line? Almost never. Gillette (Proctor & Gamble) did just that in “The Best That Men Can Be.” Offering a nick on their longtime slogan of “The Best a Man Can Get,” Gillette weighs in on the Me-Too movement by bravely conceding that masculinity isn’t necessarily about domination and power. It’s about doing the right thing “because the boys watching today will be the men of tomorrow.” Further, they also pledged to give $1 million a year for the next three years to nonprofits aimed at supporting and helping boys and men be the best versions of themselves. Backlash be damned, this campaign to me is the best an ad can be.
Benjamin: Dagoma – “Operation Toy Rescue”
According to Dagoma 3D Printer’s Ad, more than 40 million toys are thrown away each year. This ad is so relatable, arguably almost everyone has encountered a broken toy, their own, or someone else’s. Until now, there has never been a solution that was worth the effort. The video created by TBWA\Paris not only takes the audience back to childhood through the inclusion of iconic toys, it shines a light on this environmental epidemic caused by the everyday casualty of a broken toy.
The best part of the ad is that there is a solution that is immediate, free to download and challenges the audience to find the part to their broken toy, and if you can’t, there’s a solution to this, upload your request to the open-source community so that the replacement part can be created for you and others.
This ad has a lot of baked in love, kids, toys, saving the environment and providing more kids with more access to toys and play which helps build a better brain. According to Sergio Pellis, a researcher at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, the experience of play changes the connections of the neurons at the front end of your brain."
Julie: T-Mobile – “Are You With Us”
It’s a commercial series! These spots aired throughout the Super Bowl and were each uniquely funny and memorable. Following a very clear pattern, they were heavily branded and each presented a relatable situation that, along with the choice of background music, made me laugh. Cleverly tying in a couple T-Mobile partners, it was a refreshing big game marketing campaign without the special effects or high budget schtick that seem to be expected.
Paige: Burger King – “Burn that Ad”
There’s no doubt Burger King absolutely slayed the ad game in 2019, but the one that stands out in my mind is the “Burn that Ad” campaign. Augmented reality and filters took over social media this past year and BK took notice and took advantage. Using the Burger King app, users could virtually burn BK competitor ads to reveal a free Whopper message and directions to the closest Burger King. Literal marketing genius.
Here are a few reasons why this campaign rocked:
• BK reinforces the flame-grilled slogan by allowing users to literally grill the competition
• The campaign drove app downloads which increases data collection and loyalty
• Social sharing was encouraged, leading to an increase in brand awareness
• Store traffic suggested to increase by including location targeting in the offer
Julian: IKEA – “Real Life Series”
With streaming services at an all-time high, binge-watching television series is now just part of our weekly routines.
This year, IKEA took advantage of the trend by recreating some of the most iconic television living rooms. “Ikea Real Life Series” from Publicis Spain is the simplest, yet perfectly executed campaign. We all feel attached to the shows we love, and IKEA captured our attention by creating a connection to their products. As you’re racking your brain trying to recall the famous living rooms and scan the ad for accuracies, it’s impossible not to recognize IKEA’s low prices as well.
Interested in seeing your favorite settings from The Simpsons, Friends and Stranger Things brought to life?
Martin: Walmart – "Famous Cars"
This Walmart commercial is awesome! It brings all of the iconic movies we love together and focuses on the cars. Even without their notorious drivers, it made me realize how recognizable these movie cars are. This Super Bowl ad also made me laugh, which in any ad, makes it memorable. Walmart’s message is clear, and it caters to a wide demographic of both children and adults.
