Advertisers Watching Ads is a weekly video series where brands watch other brands’ ads and discuss their merits. The purpose of the show is to give the industry insight into how brands think about other brands - and what inspiration they take from their peers. We are proud to have Contagious as our partner, choosing ads each week.
Episode 131 - Maybelline Through Their Eyes Ad Reviewed by U of Digital and Haleon
What’s it really like to be a female-identifying gamer? Maybelline’s Through Their Eyes ad sheds light on the online abuse you could get simply by having a female voice. Watch this week’s episode to see it and to hear how it landed with our guests Shiv Gupta (Founder of U of Digital), Meredith Herman (VP, Head of Global Marketing Services and Consumer Experience at Haleon) and Akash Pathak (former Associate Vice President, Marketing at Humana).
Episode 130 - Hilton For the Stay Ad Reviewed by PensionBee, Kumospace and Caterpillar
Hilton’s latest ad mimics a TikTok feed - for an ultimate “Inception-style” advertising twist. But our guests Jasper Martens (Chief Marketing Officer at PensionBee), Drew Moffitt (Marketing at Kumospace) and Atilla Vékony (Global Marketing Lead at Caterpillar) weren’t exactly convinced by it. Have a look and see what you think!
Episode 129 - Wholly Veggie Ad Reviewed by TikTok, The Responsible Marketing Agency and Virgin Media O2
Wholly Veggie makes veggies fun, but who's their audience? Their latest ad jokes about kids and targets a new generation of parents. Our guests Ed Wilson (Brand Partnerships Manager at TikTok UK), Hannah Mirza (Founder of The Responsible Marketing Agency), and Johnny Winn (Head of Advertising at Virgin Media O2) had mixed opinions on the catchy song, humour, and references to childhood trauma. See what they said in the latest episode.
Episode 128 - Heinz Vintage Drip Ad Reviewed by Bose, E.On and Automated Creative
Heinz is expanding… into fashion! The Vintage Drip ad chosen by Contagious this month has some interesting shout-outs to sustainability, but it’s not quite convincing. Our guests Jim Mollica (Chief Marketing Officer at Bose), Scott Somerville (Chief Marketing Officer at E.On UK), and Dan Moseley (Managing Director of Automated Creative North America) wanted more. Have a look and see what you think!
Episode 127 - McDonald's Sweden Deals Stuck in Time Ad Reviewed by TANK Worldwide, Goodfella's Pizza and Haleon
McDonald’s Sweden are running a throwback ad for Deals Stuck In Time, but how much effort does it require for a slightly cheaper burger and which audience is it targeting?
Watch this week’s Advertisers Watching Ads, featuring Gus Nwanya (Associate Creative Director at TANK Worldwide), Samantha Dolan (Head of Marketing at Goodfella’s Pizza), and James Sharman (Marketing Performance and Content Lead at Haleon), and see what they thought!
Episode 126 - eBay Wear 'Em Out Ad Reviewed by L'Oréal, MPB and Automated Creative
What can eBay do for hardcore sneakerheads who don’t often get their pick of their favourite new shoes? In the Wear ‘Em Out campaign, the brand’s pop-up store tries to address this issue - but how does this help the brand?
Episode 125 - LEGO Find Your Flow Ad Reviewed By Beam Suntory
Who doesn't love LEGO? Whether it's a stress-reliever or just fun for the kids, the classic toy has been around forever and is now tapping into its adult market.
But Jerry Daykin only gave their ad this week a measly 3 out of 5! See if you can figure out why…
Episode 124 - Burger King All About The Whopper Ad Reviewed By The Digital Voice, Unilever and Logitech
When Burger King realised most people only know the Whopper off their menus, they went all out on advertising their signature burger. Was there a point? How did our guests Kasey Long (PR and Client Services Director at The Digital Voice), Seb Bardin (Head of Ecommerce Marketing at Unilever), Johann Evanno (Global Marketing Director at Logitech) feel about this ad? Find out in the first AWA episode of 2023!
Episode 123 - Australian Federal Police Ad Reviewed By WeTransfer, One Green Bean and Mars
How did Australian Federal Police run a subtle recruitment campaign… via podcast? Find out in the latest episode of Advertisers Watching Ads, featuring Ela Osterberger (VP of Data at WeTransfer), Nick Dodd (Head of Social and Content at One Green Bean (Havas)), Surya Kant Trivedi (Digital Lead at Mars) and Richard Mashiter (UK Media & Content Director at Mars)!
Episode 122 - Spotify #ListenToYourFans Ad Reviewed
Spotify pulled an interesting PR stunt by influencing artists playing in Colombia to feature their most played songs in their setlist. Is this a genius marketing move? What do our guests Pablo J. López (former VP of Marketing for Mexico at Netflix) and Henry Brown (former Head of Marketing for JUBEL Beer) think about it? Watch the latest episode to find out!
Episode 121 - Carlsberg 'Car - z - berg' Vietnam Ad Reviewed by Infosys and Scott Grenz
Carlsberg’s new ad in Vietnam is reviewed by Infosys’ Associate Vice President for Marketing, Noushir Jagmag, and Genco Pura Media’s President & Founder Scott Grenz.
Episode 120 - British Airways A British Original Ads Reviewed by Mars and The Digital Voice
In their first campaign with British Airways, Uncommon have chosen to focus on the reasons why we fly. Watch some of their clips from A British Original and hear what our guests Virginia Barnes (former Brand Director at Nuffield Health), Cordelia Linacre-Brown (European Brand Director for Maltesers at Mars), and Julia Linehan (Founder and CEO of The Digital Voice) thought about this approach!
Episode 119 - Budweiser Whtspp Records Ad Reviewed by Henkel, Vodafone and Big Black Door
Updating the old “Whassup” slogan that made Budweiser ads so well-known around the world, this week’s ad is about creating WHTSPP Records in Latin America. What did our guests Nikki Vadera (Marketing & Digital (Consumer Brands) Director at Henkel), Sara Belardi (Senior Brand Manager for VOXI at Vodafone) and Gareth Turner (Founder of Big Black Door) think about it? Watch the latest episode to find out!
Episode 118 - John Lewis For All Life's Moments Ad Reviewed by All Angles Agency, Uber and AB InBev
What have John Lewis done? From changing their brand strapline to focusing on a completely new marketing strategy after 97 years in the business, their new ad is certainly a change. But how does it land with our guests from All Angles Agency, Uber and AB InBev? See our latest episode to find out!
Episode 117 - KFC Anything for the Taste Ad Reviewed by Wavemaker and De Beers Group
There’s loving KFC, and then there’s impersonating a food inspector and travelling the whole country to eat as many free portions as you can! This week’s ad, “Anything for the Taste”, is (maybe) based on a true story… What do you think?
Watch the episode to hear from our marketing experts Elliot Parkus (Managing Partner at Wavemaker UK) and Beatrice Boue (Global Head of Media at De Beers Group) and see the full ad.
Episode 116 - Tesco Voice of Checkout Ad Reviewed by PHD Media and Metro Bank UK
Would you try out to be Tesco’s Voice of Checkout? It’s the latest ad from the supermarket chain, featured on TikTok and enjoying quite a bit of success.
Watch how our guests Pollyanna Ward (Director at PHD Media) and David Brewerton (Head of Growth Marketing at Metro Bank) reacted to it in the latest episode of Advertisers Watching Ads!
Episode 115 - Samsung Join the Flip Side Ad Reviewed By Adobe, Bluestripe Group and Beam Suntory
What would it take for you to join the flip side? Samsung’s new ad for the Galaxy Z Flip4 plays on the thoughts that might go through our heads as we consider a phone change. Is it effective? Or just a bit of fun?
Watch the ad and hear from our experts from Adobe, Bluestripe Group and Beam Suntory in the latest episode.
Episode 114 - Wingstop Thighstop Ad Reviewed By Schbang and Logitech
Our guests Harshil Karia (Founder of Schbang) and Johann Evanno (Global Marketing Director, Streamers & Creators, at Logitech) review a complete rebrand case study this week. Watch the Wingstop - Thighstop transformation case study and see why they rated it a 5 out of 5!
Episode 113 - Liquid Death Ad Reviewed By Microsoft and TPA Digital
Canned water company Liquid Death thinks it’s time to put the spotlight on the NFL’s “unsung heroes” - hydration assistants. Watch their latest “Hydration Assistant Scouting Combine” ad to see a new and unusual campaign, then hear expert opinions about it from Andrea Katsivelis (Director Global GTM Lead - Nuance Business Unit at Microsoft), Wayne Blodwell (Founder and CEO of TPA Digital) and Robert Beckman (Head of Growth at Automated Creative).
Episode 112 - Heinz AI Ketchup Ad Reviewed By Al Ain Water and Unilever
What happens when Heinz ask an AI to draw ketchup? This episode of Advertisers Watching Ads looks at the brand’s Canadian campaign “AI Ketchup”, reviewing their efforts to show how iconic Heinz still is in today’s pop culture.
Watch the ad and hear from our guests Falak Jalil (Marketing Manager for Al Ain Water & Innovations at Agthia Group PJSC), Seb Bardin (Head of E-commerce Marketing at Unilever) and Adrian O’Brien (Senior Manager in the Global Skincare Team at Unilever).