THE CRYSTAL
Whilst running PBJS London, I helped launch the Crystal, a global knowledge hub for urban sustainability, a kind of Eden Project for cities. We branded it, created graphics and films for the exhibition spaces, launched it with a grand gala including projection mapping, advertised it to the public and marketed the hell out of it. We even created a student film project to generate original content and persuaded Academy Award winning director Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) to act as mentor and judge.
Find out more at thecrystal.org
MICROSOFT OFFICE 365
A launch for the company that can't do launches
PBJS were asked to pitch for the global launch of Microsoft Office 365, their first cloud based subscription version of the Office suite of tools.
Microsoft are renowned for spending millions on flash launches that backfire on them so we recommended that this time they use the money in a better way. We suggested the best way to demonstrate that Office 365 sets you free was to give away 1 million copies for free.
After a press PR launch in Alcatraz, a million key codes would be set free globally to be found by the public anywhere from under your cup in Starbucks to branded onto the side of a cow in Wyoming. Social media channels would carry clues and reports of unusual sightings and successful key captures.
Microsoft decided to go with lots of branded buses and celebrities instead. Hey ho!
PAYPAL SHOPPING SHOWCASE
The future of retail as predicted by Paypal
Long before Amazon opened its retail store with no checkouts, Paypal wanted to show big retailers what the future of payments could look like. Working with the team at PBJS Seattle, we came up with the idea of a pop-up mini mall where Paypal representitives could show off how their products like Paypal Wallet and mobile checkout could change the way people shop and pay. The flagship pop-up in New York was followed by others in San José and London.
GREAT BRITISH BEAN POLL
Beanz Meanz Branston
To launch Branston's first ever foray into baked beans, we decided to go straight to war with Heinz. 'The Great British Bean Poll' was a Nationwide side by side taste test. It used mobile 'Bean Polling Stations' and an on-pack text mechanic to allow customers to vote for their favourite beans. It caught the Nation's attention and even Richard and Judy's (See below). The result was to go from £0 to £10 million in sales in less than a year and to capture 10% of the market off Heinz.
Awards: ISP Promotional Marketing Awards Grand Prix, IPA Effectiveness Gold
TEDx NEWHAM
Where Resilience Lives
Whilst working on the launch of the Crystal for Siemens we got to work with some amazing local community groups like Momentum. They told heart wrenching stories of social deprivation and life affirming tales of resilience in the docklands community so together we decided to host a TEDx dedicated to the area and the topic of resilience.
Speakers ranged from Guerilla Gardeners to the Mayor's brother, Leo Johnson and topics covered all aspects of resilience from urban regeneration to avoiding falling in poo (literally).
We worked on every aspect of the event from hiring speakers, creating a look and feel, building a website, promoting via Facebook, Twitter etc to staging the event.
It was a day none of us will ever forget.
